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Rhiannan
How to Pronounce Rhiannan
Pronounced ree-AN-uhn /riːˈæn.ən/Low
Meaning: Rhiannan is a spelling variant of Rhiannon, a Welsh name descending from the older Rigantona, 'great queen' or 'divine queen.' In the medieval Welsh tales of the Mabinogi, Rhiannon is a radiant, horse-associated otherworldly figure. The final -an spelling is a small change that keeps the name's Welsh sound and its royal meaning intact.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Rhiannan is a variant of Rhiannon, one of the great names of Welsh myth. Its root Rigantona means 'great' or 'divine queen,' and the Mabinogi paints Rhiannon as a luminous, horse-linked figure of the otherworld. The slightly altered ending keeps that heritage while giving the name a personal touch.
Rhiannan was never common, given to only about fourteen girls a year around 1998 in the wake of the wider Rhiannon revival helped along by a famous song. A girl named Rhiannan then is in her late twenties today.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Rhiannan mean?
It is a variant of Rhiannon, a Welsh name from Rigantona, 'great queen'; she is a figure in the Mabinogi.
How do you pronounce Rhiannan?
It is said ree-AN-uhn /riːˈæn.ən/ - three syllables, stress on the middle.
Is Rhiannan a boy or girl name?
Rhiannan is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Rhiannan?
It was always rare, given to only about fourteen girls a year at its peak in the late nineteen-nineties.