Welsh Name Generator
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Create a character profileWelsh names feature sounds unique to the Cymric language: the voiceless lateral fricative Ll, the double-f (Ff) for /v/ sound, and Dd for /ð/. Many Welsh names descend from the Mabinogion and Arthurian legend, connecting modern Welsh identity to medieval literary tradition.
About welsh names
Welsh (Cymraeg) has some of the most distinctive phonetics in Europe. The voiceless lateral fricative Ll (as in Llanelli or Llywelyn) has no equivalent in English. Dd represents the "th" sound in "the." Ff represents "v" while single F represents "v" too (confusingly, W represents "oo"). These orthographic conventions make Welsh names look exotic while following perfectly logical internal rules.
The Mabinogion, Wales's medieval literary masterwork, provides a rich pool of names with Arthurian and mythological associations: Branwen, Rhiannon, Gwydion, Pryderi, Manawyddan. These names connect to deep Celtic mythology and remain in active use in modern Wales.
Welsh patronymic naming (ap/ab = son of, ferch = daughter of) was the standard until English law forced the adoption of fixed surnames. This is why Jones (from John), Williams, Davies, Evans, and Thomas are the most common Welsh surnames: they are frozen patronymics.
Naming tips
Don't shy away from Ll and Dd
These sounds are what make Welsh names Welsh. Llywelyn and Gwynedd are more authentic than anglicized approximations. If pronunciation is a concern, a brief note ("Ll is pronounced like a breathy "hl"") helps readers engage rather than avoid the name.
Draw from the Mabinogion
Names like Branwen, Rhiannon, Arianrhod, and Taliesin carry mythological weight that resonates beyond Wales. These are the equivalent of using Norse saga names for Viking characters.
Understand the surname problem
Wales has an extremely concentrated surname pool (Jones, Williams, Davies, Evans cover a massive percentage). If your story has multiple Welsh characters, they will realistically share surnames. Use given names and nicknames to differentiate.