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Welsh Girl Names That Mean God

Among Welsh girl names that mean God, the meaning rarely sits still — it shifts from 'my God is Yahweh' to 'holy' to plain old 'divine.'

Names70
OriginWelsh
MeaningGod
GenderGirl

Welsh naming has a habit of tucking the same root into very different-sounding names. Ellis is a Welsh form of Elijah — literally 'my God is Yahweh.' Evan and Evanna carry 'Yahweh is gracious,' and Jones, 'son of John,' traces the same line through a surname.

The same idea turns up again through Siân, the Welsh Jane: Sianna, Siani, and Jenny all soften to 'God is gracious.' Winifred and Glenda take a gentler path, meaning peace, purity, and holiness rather than naming God outright, while Rhiannon reaches back further still, to a Welsh goddess called 'divine queen' long before Christianity arrived.

Why Welsh girl names that mean God repeat the same root

Wales has spent centuries running its own names through the Bible's Hebrew roots, and one name did more work than any other: John, or Ioan. That single root produced Ellis, Evan, Evanna, and Jones, each a different-shaped Welsh answer to the same Hebrew phrase, 'God is gracious' or 'God is Yahweh.'

Familiar names, unexpected meanings

Some of these names hide the meaning in plain sight. Jenny and Jones read as everyday choices, the kind of names you'd never guess trace back to 'God is gracious' unless someone told you. Winifred and Rhiannon do the opposite, carrying their holiness and their divinity right out in the open, in stories parents still tell.

Names List

Meredith#469 in the U.S.From the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd, composed of 'mawr' (great) and 'udd' (lord, ruler), meaning 'grPronounced MAIR-uh-dith▶Jenna#679 in the U.S.Diminutive form of Jennifer or an independent form from the Cornish and Welsh Guinevere or Gwenhwyfar, mePronounced JEN-uh▶Ellis#682 in the U.S.Welsh form of Elijah / Eliseus; from Hebrew Eliyahu meaning 'my God is Yahweh'Pronounced EL-is▶Winifred#923 in the U.S.Anglicised form of Welsh Gwenfrewi, composed of gwen (white, fair, blessed) and frewi or frew (peace, recPronounced WIN-ih-fred▶Rhiannon#1310 in the U.S.Great queen, divine queenPronounced ree-AN-on▶Jenny#1388 in the U.S.God is gracious, belovedPronounced JEN-ee▶Sianna#2003 in the U.S.Modern elaboration of Siân, the Welsh form of Jane/Jehanne, from Hebrew via 'God is gracious'. Sometimes Pronounced SYAN-na▶Evan#2775 in the U.S. Yahweh is graciousPronounced EHV-uhn▶Evanna#2892 in the U.S. Yahweh is graciousPronounced ehv-AN-na▶Ariany#3117 in the U.S.Most holy or very holy, from the Welsh Arianrhod or related to the Welsh ariant meaning silver; also a vaPronounced ar-ee-AH-nee▶Siani#4441 in the U.S.From Welsh Siani — a pet form of Sian (the Welsh Jane/Jane), from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'Pronounced SHAH-nee▶Glenda#5334 in the U.S.From Welsh glan, 'clean, pure, holy', plus da, 'good' — 'clean and good; pure and holy'Pronounced GLEN-dah▶Jones#5344 in the U.S.From the surname Jones — 'son of John', from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'; here for girlsPronounced JOHNZ▶Angelyn#5617 in the U.S.Blend of Angel ('a messenger of God', Greek angelos) with the -lyn ending ('lake'); also echoes Angeline;Pronounced AN-jə-lin▶Griffin#6223 in the U.S.From the Welsh Gruffudd, 'a strong lord; a strong grip' (Latinized as Griffinus) — also linked to the mytPronounced GRIF-in▶Jenni#6244 in the U.S.A pet form of Jennifer — from the Cornish/Welsh Gwenhwyfar, 'fair, white, smooth; soft, holy' (gwen, 'faiPronounced JEN-ee▶Evanny#6445 in the U.S.A modern feminine of Evan (the Welsh John) — from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious'; no single fixed rooPronounced eh-VAH-nee▶Evyn#6704 in the U.S.A spelling variously of Evan (Welsh form of John, 'God is gracious') and a short form of Evelyn ('a littlPronounced EV-in▶Rianna#6850 in the U.S.Variously a spelling of Rhiannon (Welsh, 'a great, divine queen'), Rihanna, and Brianna ('noble; strong')Pronounced ree-AH-nah▶Elis#6993 in the U.S.A Welsh/Scandinavian form of Elias/Ellis — from Hebrew, 'my God is Yahweh; the Lord is my God'; used for Pronounced EL-iss▶Gracelynne#7015 in the U.S.A blend of Grace ('grace; favor; God's grace') and Lynn ('a lake; a waterfall; a pool'); routes layeredPronounced GRAYS-lin▶Siaani#7180 in the U.S.Siaani reads as a modern spelling of Siani or Sianni. Siani is a Welsh pet form of Sian, the Welsh Jane, Pronounced see-AH-nee▶Evanie#7332 in the U.S.A modern name, variously a feminine of Evan ('God is gracious', Welsh form of John) and an echo of EvaniaPronounced EV-uh-nee▶Reanna#7491 in the U.S.A form of Rhiannon — from Welsh, 'great/divine queen' (linked to the goddess Rhiannon); also read as a blPronounced ree-AN-ah▶Rhianna#7494 in the U.S.A spelling of Rhiannon — from Welsh, 'great/divine queen' (linked to the goddess Rhiannon)Pronounced ree-AN-ah▶Sianny#7875 in the U.S.A modern Latin-American name, variously echoing Sian (the Welsh form of Jane, 'God is gracious') with an Pronounced see-AH-nee▶Gwynn#8087 in the U.S.From the Welsh gwyn, 'white; fair; blessed; holy'; used for both sexes; here for girlsPronounced GWIN▶Gwyn#8600 in the U.S.From the Welsh gwyn/gwen, 'fair; white; blessed; holy'; used for both sexes; here for girls (a short formPronounced GWIN▶Ariann#8976 in the U.S.A form/spelling of Arianne/Ariana — variously from the Greek Ariadne, 'most holy', and the Welsh arian, 'Pronounced air-ee-AN▶Nesta#9353 in the U.S.A Welsh form of Agnes — from the Greek hagne, 'pure; holy; chaste'Pronounced NES-tah▶Danilynn#9674 in the U.S.A compound name — Dani (a short form of Daniela, 'God is my judge') joined with Lynn ('a lake', Welsh); wPronounced DAN-uh-lin▶Glendy#9768 in the U.S.A modern Hispanic name, echoing Glenda ('good; holy', Welsh) and Glen ('a valley'); no single fixed root;Pronounced GLEN-dee▶Evania#10500 in the U.S.A feminine elaboration linked to the Greek Evania ('peaceful; calm') and the Welsh Evan (a form of John, Pronounced eh-VAH-nee-ah▶Gweneth#10528 in the U.S.A spelling of the Welsh Gwyneth, from gwyn, 'blessed; fair; white; holy.' A classic Welsh name of light aPronounced GWEN-eth▶Rhian#10882 in the U.S.A Welsh name Rhian, 'maiden; young woman,' also read as a short form of Rhiannon ('great queen; divine quPronounced REE-ahn▶Betsi#10941 in the U.S.Betsi is a Welsh spelling and variant of Betsy, itself a pet form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva,Pronounced BET-see▶Rheana#11428 in the U.S.Rheana is a spelling variant among names like Rhiana, Rheanna, and Rihanna, which trace back to the WelshPronounced ree-AN-uh▶Riann#11906 in the U.S.A trimmed form of Rhiannon, the Welsh 'great queen; divine queen,' the name of a horse-goddess figure in Pronounced ree-ANN▶Sian#11965 in the U.S.The Welsh form of Jane (from John), 'God is gracious.' Written Sian (Siân), it is pronounced 'SHAHN,' whiPronounced SHAHN▶Winny#12047 in the U.S.Winny is a spelling of Winnie, a short form of Winifred, from Welsh Gwenfrewi ('blessed reconciliation; hPronounced WIN-ee▶Eyra#12542 in the U.S.A short name of uncertain route: cited as Welsh (linked to eira, 'snow') and, separately, echoing Norse EPronounced AY-rah▶Syann#12604 in the U.S.Syann is a modern American girls' name that reads two ways: as a clipped, phonetic form of Cheyenne (the Pronounced sy-AN▶Idris#12636 in the U.S.Idris is the name of a prophet in Islam, traditionally identified with Enoch; it is also a Welsh name, 'aPronounced ID-riss▶Rhianne#13170 in the U.S.Rhianne is a Welsh name, either an elaboration of Rhian, from rhiain, a maiden, or a short form of RhiannPronounced ree-AN▶Rhyanna#13172 in the U.S.Rhyanna is a spelling that sits between Welsh Rhiannon, 'great, divine queen', and the modern Rihanna souPronounced ree-AN-uh▶Rionna#13520 in the U.S.Rionna is a spelling in the family of Rhiannon and Rhianna, Welsh names drawn from a root meaning great oPronounced ree-ON-uh▶Evin#13968 in the U.S.Read in two ways: as an anglicized Irish name (Eibhin, from eibhean, 'swift; pleasant'), and as a spellinPronounced EV-in▶Gwynne#14028 in the U.S.From the Welsh gwyn/gwynn, 'white; fair; blessed; holy' - a crisp, one-beat name from a beloved Welsh elePronounced GWIN▶Meredeth#14416 in the U.S.Meredeth is a variant spelling of Meredith, an anglicized form of the Welsh Maredudd. The second element,Pronounced MER-uh-deth▶Merideth#14572 in the U.S.Merideth is a spelling variant of Meredith, from the Old Welsh Maredudd. Its elements are debated but usuPronounced MERR-uh-dith▶Meridith#14668 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Meredith, from the Welsh Maredudd, generally read as 'great lord' or 'great ruler.'Pronounced MER-ih-dith▶Riannon#14796 in the U.S.Riannon is a simplified spelling of the Welsh Rhiannon, which derives from an older Celtic Rigantona, 'grPronounced ree-AN-uhn▶Rhiannan#14895 in the U.S.Rhiannan is a spelling variant of Rhiannon, a Welsh name descending from the older Rigantona, 'great queePronounced ree-AN-uhn▶Rheanna#14922 in the U.S.Rheanna is a streamlined respelling of Rhianna, itself a short form of the Welsh Rhiannon, from an old foPronounced ree-AN-uh▶Rhianon#15060 in the U.S.Rhianon is a simplified spelling of the Welsh Rhiannon, a name from Celtic myth borne by a horse-riding qPronounced ree-AN-un▶Jenne#15331 in the U.S.Jenne reads as a short form and variant of Jenny or Jean; Jean derives from John, Hebrew for God is graciPronounced JEN▶Gwynivere#15948 in the U.S.A spelling of Guinevere, from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, 'white; fair; smooth; holy' - the name of King ArthurPronounced GWIN-uh-veer▶Evans#15989 in the U.S.Evans is a Welsh surname meaning 'son of Evan' — Evan being the Welsh form of John, 'God is gracious'. ItPronounced EV-unz▶Rhiana#16121 in the U.S.Rhiana is a streamlined variant linked to the Welsh Rhiannon, from an old Celtic form Rigantona, 'great qPronounced ree-AH-nuh▶Arhianna#16148 in the U.S.Arhianna is a creative spelling that blends Arianna, the Italian form of Ariadne meaning 'most holy', witPronounced ar-ee-AN-uh▶Sianne#16269 in the U.S.Sianne is an elaborated spelling of the Welsh name Sian, the Welsh form of Jane and Joan, ultimately fromPronounced see-AN▶Menna#16818 in the U.S.In Egypt and the wider Arab world Menna is a familiar short name, generally linked to minna, 'gift, blessPronounced MEN-uh▶Meredyth#16821 in the U.S.Meredyth is a spelling variant of Meredith, from the Welsh Maredudd or Meredydd, possibly combining mawrePronounced MEHR-eh-dith▶Riannah#16837 in the U.S.Riannah is a modern respelling in the family of Rhiannon and Riana, from the Welsh Rhiannon, understood aPronounced ree-AN-ah▶Rheannon#17040 in the U.S.Rheannon is a variant spelling of Rhiannon, a Welsh name usually read as great queen or divine queen, borPronounced ree-AN-un▶Evanne#17073 in the U.S.Evanne reads as a feminine form of Evan, the Welsh version of John meaning God is gracious, dressed with Pronounced ee-VAN▶Wyn#17528 in the U.S.From the Welsh gwyn, 'white; fair; blessed; holy.' In Welsh this is the masculine form — the feminine couPronounced WIN▶Reannon#18185 in the U.S.Reannon is a phonetic spelling of Rhiannon, the Welsh name borne by a horse-goddess figure in the MabinogPronounced ree-AN-un▶Merri#18652 in the U.S.Merri is a bright spelling of the English word merry ('joyful, cheerful'), and it can also serve as a shoPronounced MAIR-ee▶Reannah#18958 in the U.S.Reannah is a phonetic respelling of Reanna, which grew up as a simplified form of the Welsh Rhiannon, a nPronounced ree-AN-uh▶

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Frequently Asked

What does Rhiannon mean in Welsh?

Rhiannon means 'great queen' or 'divine queen' in Welsh mythology. She was an Otherworld goddess who rode an uncatchable white horse, and the name reached wide modern fame through the 1975 Fleetwood Mac song.

Why do so many Welsh names mean 'God is gracious'?

It comes from Ioan, the Welsh form of John, one of the most common names in Welsh history. Evan, Evanna, and Jones all branch from that same Hebrew root.

Is Winifred a religious name?

Yes. Winifred is the English form of Gwenfrewi, meaning 'blessed peace' or 'holy reconciliation.' It honors a 7th-century Welsh martyr whose shrine at Holywell became one of medieval Britain's great pilgrimage sites.