Welsh Boy Names That Mean the Sea
Welsh boy names that mean the sea span myth, geography, and sound, from the wave-born Dylan to the elemental simplicity of Kai.
Names57
OriginWelsh
Meaningthe Sea
GenderBoy
Wales is a country wrapped in coastline and threaded with rivers, so it's no surprise its language keeps returning to water when naming sons. Dylan carries the oldest story here: Welsh mythology tells of a boy born of the sea itself, arriving with a great wave.
Look closely and the same meanings resurface under different spellings. Kai and Kye are the same short word for sea in two spellings, while Marvin, Mervin, and Merrick all circle back to a fortress or ruler of the sea.
Why Welsh boy names that mean the sea keep circling back to Dylan
Three names here are really one story told three ways. Dylan, Dilan, and Dillon all trace back to the Welsh sea-god Dylan Eil Ton, whose birth is said to have caused a great wave; Dillon also picks up a second thread from the Irish Norman surname de Leon. Bob Dylan's fame carried the sound worldwide, but in all three names the water came first — which is why this trio anchors the page's list of Welsh names that mean the sea.
Familiar names, unexpected water
The sea theme bends in different directions across this list. Morgan leans toward light, meaning 'sea brightness,' while Marvens — a modern -s flourish on Marvin, especially in Haitian families — leans toward 'sea hill.' Conway and Avan widen the theme toward rivers rather than open water — Conway from the River Conwy, Avan from the Celtic word for river, afon.
Names List
Dylan#41 in the U.S.Son of the sea; born from the ocean wavePronounced DIL-un▶Kai#93 in the U.S.Sea — from Hawaiian kaiPronounced KY▶Morgan#559 in the U.S.From Welsh Morgan, composed of mor ('sea') and cant ('circle') or gen ('bright, shining'), giving meaningPronounced MOR-gun▶Marvin#699 in the U.S.Sea fortress; from Welsh Merfyn or Old English Mærwine, combining mær (sea or great) and wine (friend) orPronounced MAR-vin▶Dilan#805 in the U.S.Son of the sea or born of the ocean; a phonetic spelling variant of Dylan, from the Welsh dyn (person or Pronounced DIL-un▶Dillon#930 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Dylan, from Welsh dy (great, large) and llanw (tide, sea); or from Irish Gaelic DilloPronounced DIL-un▶Kye#1195 in the U.S.Earth; sea; a spelling variant of Kai, from Hawaiian kai (sea) or Welsh Cai/Kay (a form of the Latin CaiuPronounced KY▶Merrick#1219 in the U.S.Ruler of the sea; Moorish personPronounced MAIR-ik▶Conway#1526 in the U.S.From the River Conwy; or Gaelic 'yellow hound'Pronounced KON-way▶Mervin#2408 in the U.S.Sea fortress; great lord; a variant of Marvin or Mervyn, from Welsh Myrddin (sea fortress) or Old Welsh MPronounced MER-vin▶Marvens#3647 in the U.S.Modern -s elaboration of Marvin — from Welsh, 'sea hill', or a form of Mervyn ('famous friend'); used espPronounced MAR-vens▶Murlin#3675 in the U.S.Murlin is a variant spelling of Merlin, the wise wizard of Arthurian legend, whose name comes through LatPronounced MUR-lin▶Avan#3786 in the U.S.From Sanskrit avana, 'protection, favor' — or the Celtic river-word afon/Avon; routes layeredPronounced AY-vən▶Calan#3796 in the U.S.From Welsh calan, 'first day of the month/season' (Calan Gaeaf, etc.) — or an anglicized Caolán, 'slenderPronounced KAL-ən▶Dyland#4334 in the U.S.Modern coinage extending Dylan ('great tide, son of the sea') with a -d; routes layeredPronounced DY-lənd▶Marv#4346 in the U.S.Marv is the clipped, everyday form of Marvin. Marvin descends either from the Welsh Merfyn (perhaps 'sea Pronounced MARV▶Gomer#4351 in the U.S.Gomer is a Hebrew name from a root meaning to complete or finish, borne in Genesis by a son of Japheth anPronounced GOH-mer▶Rhydian#4659 in the U.S.From Welsh rhyd, 'a ford (a river crossing)', plus a diminutive — 'of the ford; little ford'Pronounced RID-ee-ən▶Merwyn#4740 in the U.S.Merwyn is a -wyn spelling of Merwin or Marvin. The name traces to the Welsh Merfyn or the Old English elePronounced MUR-win▶Darvin#4906 in the U.S.From a Darwin/Marvin echo — Old English Deorwine, 'dear friend', or Welsh, 'sea friend'; routes layeredPronounced DAR-vin▶Dylam#5089 in the U.S.-m spelling of Dylan — from Welsh, 'great tide; son of the sea'; routes layeredPronounced DIL-əm▶Dylon#5090 in the U.S.-on spelling of Dylan — from Welsh, 'great tide; son of the sea'Pronounced DIL-ən▶Avon#5245 in the U.S.From the Celtic/Welsh afon, 'a river' (several English rivers, including Shakespeare's Avon)Pronounced AY-vən▶Carey#5258 in the U.S.From the Irish surname O'Ciardha, 'descendant of Ciardha (the dark one)'; also a Welsh place-name ('by thPronounced KAIR-ee▶Brylin#5457 in the U.S.Modern coinage joining a Bry- opening (echoing Brian/Bryn, 'a hill; strength') to the -lin ending ('lake'Pronounced BRY-lin▶Dillion#5485 in the U.S.-ion spelling of Dillon/Dylan — from an Irish surname (possibly 'like a lion'), and/or Welsh Dylan, 'the Pronounced DIL-ee-ən▶Lynn#6047 in the U.S.From Welsh llyn, 'a lake; a pool, a waterfall'; predominantly a girls'/unisex name; here for boysPronounced LIN▶Dylann#6532 in the U.S.A spelling of Dylan — from Welsh, 'son of the sea; the great tide; born of the ocean'Pronounced DIL-an▶Dyllan#6922 in the U.S.A spelling of Dylan — from Welsh, 'son of the sea; the sea; the tide; a great wave'Pronounced DIL-an▶Leelyn#7061 in the U.S.A modern blend of Lee ('a meadow; a clearing/wood') and Lynn ('a lake; a waterfall'); used for both sexesPronounced LEE-lin▶Leelynn#7062 in the U.S.A spelling of Leelyn — a modern blend of Lee ('a meadow; a clearing') and Lynn ('a lake; a waterfall'); uPronounced LEE-lin▶Merrik#7543 in the U.S.A spelling of Merrick — variously from the Welsh Meurig (a form of Maurice) and Old Norse, 'fame and powePronounced MEH-rik▶Aeron#8274 in the U.S.A Welsh name tied to the river Aeron and, by tradition, to Aeron, a figure linked to battle in early WelsPronounced AIR-on▶Alwyn#8319 in the U.S.From the Old English Aethelwine/Aelfwine, variously 'a noble friend' and 'an elf friend' (aelf, 'elf', + Pronounced AL-win▶Dylen#8473 in the U.S.A spelling of Dylan — from the Welsh, 'a great wave/tide; the son of the sea' (dy, 'great', + llanw, 'floPronounced DIL-an▶Dhilan#9182 in the U.S.A spelling of Dylan/Dhilan — variously 'the tide/sea; the son of the wave' (Welsh) and a Sanskrit-linked Pronounced DIL-an▶Dyllon#10011 in the U.S.Dyllon is a respelling of Dylan, a Welsh name meaning 'son of the sea; great tide,' borne by a sea-linkedPronounced DIL-un▶Dylin#10144 in the U.S.A spelling of Dylan — from the Welsh, 'a son of the sea; a great tide/flow'; a legendary sea-god in WelshPronounced DIL-in▶Konway#10429 in the U.S.A spelling of Conway, variously from the Welsh River Conwy ('holy/reedy water') or the Irish, 'yellow houPronounced KON-way▶Merlyn#10493 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Merlin, the Welsh Myrddin, understood as 'sea fort.' The name of the wizard of ArthPronounced MER-lin▶Dyllen#11099 in the U.S.Dyllen is a contemporary respelling of Dylan, a Welsh name usually read as 'son of the sea' or 'great tidPronounced DIL-uhn▶Dailon#11102 in the U.S.Dailon is a modern American spelling of Daylon, one of a cluster of -lon and -lan boys' names that circlePronounced DAY-lon▶Daelon#11149 in the U.S.Daelon is a modern respelling that reshapes Dylan, from the Welsh for 'son of the sea,' or the variant DaPronounced DAY-luhn▶Marbin#11627 in the U.S.Marbin is a Spanish-influenced respelling of Marvin, from the Welsh Merfyn, often read as sea friend fromPronounced MAR-bin▶Marvyn#11806 in the U.S.A -yn spelling of Marvin, from the Welsh Merfyn ('sea hill' or 'eminent marrow') or read as 'sea friend' Pronounced MAR-vin▶Dyllin#12591 in the U.S.Dyllin is a modern respelling of Dylan, a Welsh name usually read as 'great tide' or 'son of the sea,' frPronounced DIL-in▶Cardiff#12603 in the U.S.Cardiff is the capital city of Wales; its Welsh name (Caerdydd) is generally read as 'fort on the River TPronounced KAR-dif▶Dillian#12616 in the U.S.Dillian reads as an elaborated spelling of Dillon/Dylan; Dylan is Welsh, from 'dy' and 'llanw', usually gPronounced DIL-ee-un▶Dillin#12643 in the U.S.Dillin is a variant spelling of Dylan, a Welsh name usually read as 'great tide' or 'son of the sea', borPronounced DIL-in▶Dhylan#12683 in the U.S.A respelling of Dylan, from Welsh, often read as 'son of the sea; great tide' — the name of a sea-linked Pronounced DIL-un▶Dillen#12686 in the U.S.Dillen is a respelling of Dylan, a Welsh mythological name built from elements meaning 'great' and 'sea' Pronounced DIL-uhn▶Dillyn#12688 in the U.S.Dillyn is a modern respelling of Dylan, a Welsh name usually explained as dy ('great') plus llanw ('sea, Pronounced DIL-in▶Dilon#12689 in the U.S.Dilon is a simplified spelling of Dylan, a Welsh name usually read as 'son of the sea' or 'great tide'. IPronounced DIL-un▶Marven#13452 in the U.S.Marven is a variant spelling of Marvin, which comes from the Welsh Merfyn or an Old English name understoPronounced MAR-vin▶Meric#13506 in the U.S.Meric is the Turkish name of the river known elsewhere as the Maritsa or Evros, used as a boy's given namPronounced MEH-rik▶Mervyn#13538 in the U.S.Mervyn is the anglicized form of the old Welsh name Merfyn, borne by a ninth-century king of Gwynedd. ItsPronounced MUR-vin▶Merwin#13914 in the U.S.Merwin is a variant of Mervin and Marvin, tracing to the Old Welsh name Merfyn; it is commonly read as 'sPronounced MUR-win▶
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Frequently Asked
What is the most popular Welsh boy name that means the sea?
Dylan is the best known, currently at US rank #41. It comes from Welsh mythology's sea-born figure and was carried further into pop culture by singer-songwriter Bob Dylan.