Welsh Girl Names That Mean Royalty
Welsh girl names that mean royalty keep surfacing the same handful of root words — ruler, queen, prince — dressed in different sounds, from ancient myth to modern spelling.
Names65
OriginWelsh
MeaningRoyalty
GenderGirl
Welsh has an unusual number of names built directly on words for ruling and leading, and this list shows why. Meredith literally means great ruler, while Rhiannon comes from a Celtic goddess whose name meant great queen — two very different sounding names built on the same underlying idea.
Other names on this page take a looser route to the same theme. Maelyn carries mael, a Breton word for prince or chief, paired with -lyn, Welsh for lake. Guinevere earns her royal reputation from story rather than literal meaning — she was King Arthur's queen. Even Alis and Alys, both meaning noble, sit comfortably in this company.
Where Welsh girl names that mean royalty come from
Most Welsh girl names that mean royalty trace back to two root words: rhi, meaning ruler or queen, and mael, meaning prince or chief. You can hear rhi humming through Rhiannon and Rianna, both built on the same great queen idea, while Riana leans on a related root, Welsh Rhian, meaning a maiden. Maelyn carries mael instead, pairing a princely root with lyn, the Welsh word for lake.
From myth to everyday spelling
Not every name here needs a literal translation to earn its place. Guinevere is remembered as King Arthur's queen, so her royal reputation comes from legend more than her Welsh meaning of white phantom. Rhys, meaning ardor or enthusiasm, was a name carried by medieval Welsh kings, which is often enough to place a name firmly in this company.
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▶Kendra#849 in the U.S.Possibly a feminine form of Kendrick, from Old English Cyneric meaning 'royal power' or 'greatest champioPronounced KEN-druh▶Guinevere#899 in the U.S.From Welsh Gwenhwyfar, composed of gwen (white, fair, blessed) and hwyfar (smooth, soft, or phantom, spirPronounced GWIN-uh-veer▶Maelyn#1185 in the U.S.Single-n variant of Maelynn; compound of Mae/Maël (Breton: prince, chief) and -lyn (Welsh: lake)Pronounced MAY-lin▶Rhiannon#1310 in the U.S.Great queen, divine queenPronounced ree-AN-on▶Meghan#1446 in the U.S.Pearl, precious gemPronounced MEG-an▶Rhys#3622 in the U.S.Ardor, enthusiasm, fiery zeal; a Welsh name borne by medieval princes, here used for girlsPronounced REES▶Rynn#4262 in the U.S.Modern one-syllable name echoing Wren (the bird) and -ryn endings (Welsh 'ruler/water' lines); routes layPronounced RIN▶Riana#5100 in the U.S.Spelling of Riana/Rhian — from Welsh rhiain, 'a maiden', linked to 'queen'; also a short form of Rihanna/Pronounced ree-AH-nah▶Alis#5143 in the U.S.Welsh (and Latina) spelling of Alice — from Germanic adal, 'noble'Pronounced AL-iss▶Alys#5145 in the U.S.Welsh/medieval spelling of Alice — from Germanic adal, 'noble'Pronounced AL-iss▶Breelynn#6654 in the U.S.A modern blend of Bree (variously 'a hill; strength; noble', a short form of Brianna/Brigid) with Lynn ('Pronounced BREE-lin▶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▶Lear#7135 in the U.S.Lear is best known as a surname and as the name of Shakespeare's King Lear, a character drawn from BritisPronounced LEER▶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▶Rhyann#7495 in the U.S.A spelling of Ryan/Rhian — variously 'little king' (from the Irish surname) and 'a maiden' (Welsh Rhian);Pronounced RY-an▶Isolde#7721 in the U.S.Of uncertain origin, variously from the Germanic is, 'ice', + waltan, 'to rule' ('ice ruler'), and Welsh,Pronounced ih-ZOHL-duh▶Aneira#7978 in the U.S.From the Welsh, variously 'much snow; very snowy' (an, intensifier, + eira, 'snow') and a feminine form oPronounced ah-NY-rah▶Meaghan#8257 in the U.S.Meaghan is an ornate, faux-Irish spelling of Megan, the Welsh pet form of Margaret, from Greek margaritesPronounced MEG-uhn▶Adda#9531 in the U.S.A short form of Adela/Adelaide — from the Germanic adal, 'noble'; also a Welsh name (linked to a river/'aPronounced AH-dah▶Gladis#9767 in the U.S.A Spanish spelling of Gladys — from the Welsh Gwladys, variously 'a princess; royalty; ruler over a land'Pronounced GLAH-dees▶Meggin#10448 in the U.S.Meggin is a spelling variant of Megan, the Welsh diminutive of Margaret. Margaret comes from the Greek 'mPronounced MEG-in▶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▶Rianne#10884 in the U.S.A form of Rhian/Riana, from the Welsh 'maiden' or Rhiannon ('great queen'); also read as a blend of Ria aPronounced ree-ANN▶Maeghan#10947 in the U.S.Maeghan is a fancy respelling of Meghan (or Megan), the Welsh pet form of Margaret. Margaret comes from tPronounced MEG-un▶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▶Gwenevieve#11567 in the U.S.A blended form of Guinevere (Welsh Gwenhwyfar, 'white; fair; smooth') and Genevieve (French, 'tribe womanPronounced GWEN-uh-veev▶Guenevere#11732 in the U.S.Guenevere is a spelling of Guinevere, from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, joining gwen, 'white, fair, or blessed,'Pronounced GWEN-uh-veer▶Owynn#11856 in the U.S.Owynn is a modern respelling of Owen, a Welsh name linked to 'young warrior; well-born; noble.' Owen is uPronounced OH-win▶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▶Bowyn#12359 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Bowen, from Welsh ab Owain — 'son of Owen'. Owen itself is usually read as 'noble'Pronounced BOH-in▶Malynn#13074 in the U.S.Malynn reads as a modern American blend that joins a Ma- opening, perhaps from Mary or Marlene, to the poPronounced muh-LIN▶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▶Ryenne#13222 in the U.S.Ryenne is a feminine respelling of Ryan, from the Irish O Riain, 'little king,' with an -enne ending thatPronounced RY-en▶Morgaine#13307 in the U.S.Morgaine is a literary form of Morgan, a name that goes back to the Old Welsh Morcant. The first element Pronounced mor-GAYN▶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▶Gwynneth#14096 in the U.S.Gwynneth doubles the n of Gwyneth, a Welsh name drawn from the kingdom of Gwynedd and colored by gwyn, 'wPronounced GWIN-eth▶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▶Llewellyn#14482 in the U.S.An anglicized spelling of the Welsh Llywelyn, borne by the medieval princes of Gwynedd. Its roots are debPronounced loo-EL-in▶Genifer#14512 in the U.S.Genifer is a respelling of Jennifer, which comes from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, understood as 'white, fair phPronounced JEN-ih-fer▶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▶Kimble#14796 in the U.S.Kimble is a surname form of Kimball, variously traced to a Welsh name meaning 'war chief' or to Old EngliPronounced KIM-bul▶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▶Jenafer#15164 in the U.S.Jenafer is a phonetic respelling of Jennifer, the Cornish form of Guinevere. The old Welsh Gwenhwyfar joiPronounced JEN-uh-fer▶Cerai#15653 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing the Welsh Cerys ('love') and the Hebrew Sarai ('princess'). As spelled here the Pronounced suh-RAY▶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▶Gweneviere#16075 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Guinevere, from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, generally read from gwen ('white, fair, blessePronounced GWEN-uh-veer▶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▶Kendrick#16433 in the U.S.Kendrick derives from an English/Welsh surname rooted in Old English or Welsh elements read as 'bold rulePronounced KEN-drik▶Kaelynne#16683 in the U.S.Kaelynne is an elaborated spelling of Kaelyn, a modern blend joining a Kae- or Kay- opening to the suffixPronounced KAY-lin▶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▶Riane#17166 in the U.S.Riane is a variant of Riana/Rhian and a feminine form of Ryan. Ryan derives from the Irish Ó Riain, 'descPronounced ree-AN▶Rhyen#17247 in the U.S.A modern respelling touching Ryan (Irish, 'little king') and the Welsh Rhian ('maiden'); as a girl's namePronounced RY-un▶Meighan#17455 in the U.S.Meighan is an ornate spelling of Meghan or Megan, the Welsh diminutive of Marged, the Welsh Margaret, froPronounced MAY-gun▶Gennifer#17922 in the U.S.Gennifer is a G-spelling of Jennifer, the English form of the Welsh Gwenhwyfar — gwen ('white, fair, blesPronounced JEN-uh-fur▶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▶Jennefer#18217 in the U.S.Jennefer is a spelling variant of Jennifer, the Cornish form of the Welsh Gwenhwyfar — the name of King APronounced JEN-uh-fer▶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, and why do so many names here echo it?
Rhiannon comes from Celtic mythology and means great queen or divine queen — she was a goddess linked to a white horse no earthly horse could outrun. Names like Riana and Rianna echo both her sound and her queenly root.
Is Guinevere really a Welsh name?
Yes. Guinevere comes from the Welsh Gwenhwyfar, meaning white phantom or fair and smooth. She's remembered today as King Arthur's queen, which is where her royal association comes from rather than the literal meaning.