Owen is a popular Welsh boy’s name. On this page you will learn about the meaning of the name, it popularity as a baby’s name and also which famous people have the first name Owen.
Meaning of the Name Owen
Owen is a variation of the Welsh name Owain which means ‘well born’.
Popularity of the Name
The name Owen is a popular baby’s name not only in Wales but also in England. According to the lastest goverment statistics in 2011, Owen was the 41st most popular name in Wales and the 72nd most popular name in England. Making Owen one of the few Welsh boy’s names popular in both countries.
Famous People with the Name Owen
Here is a list of a few famous people / celebrities with the name Owen:
Owen Wilson – is an American actor who starred in Hollywood blockbusters such as Starsky and hutch and Meet the Fockers
Owen Hargreaves – is a professional footballer who play’s or Manchester city.
Owen James Heart – is was a professional wrestler.
The boy’s name Morgan is a popular name in Wales and also across the the globe. In Wales, it is common to hear Morgan both as a first name and also as a surname.
The name Morgan has a close association with the sea
The name Morgan is also found in the Welsh place, Morgannwg (the county of Glamorgan in English).
Origin and Meaning of the Name Morgan
The name Morgan is generally interpreted to mean “sea-born,” “sea-circle,” or “sea-defender.” These meanings reflect Wales’ strong connection to the sea and maritime traditions.
Morgan is a traditional Welsh name with ancient Celtic roots. It’s derived from the Old Welsh elements “mor” meaning “sea” and “cant” meaning “circle” or “complete,” though some sources suggest it may also be related to “mor” (sea) and “gen” (born).
Another meaning of the name Morgan is broken down into two words, M^or (which means sea in Welsh) and Mawr (which means big (or bright) in Welsh).
Popularity
Morgan has enjoyed widespread popularity both as a given name and surname, not only in Wales but throughout the English-speaking world. It’s notable for its use as both a male and female name, though traditionally it was more common for boys in Wales. In recent decades, it has become increasingly popular as a girl’s name in some countries, particularly the United States.
In 2021, Morgan was the 88th most popular boys name in Wales according to the ONS.
Famous People with the Name Morgan
Here are a few examples of famous people who have the name Morgan:
Morgan le Fay: A powerful enchantress in Arthurian legend, often portrayed as King Arthur’s half-sister.
Captain Henry Morgan (1635-1688): A Welsh privateer who later became the Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. Captain Morgan has a popular Rum named after him.
Rhodri Morgan – Was the 1st Minister in the National Assembly of Wales.
Morgan Freeman (b. 1937): An acclaimed American actor known for his distinctive voice and numerous film roles.
Morgan Tsvangirai (1952-2018): A Zimbabwean politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.
Morgan Lily (b. 1999): An American actress known for her roles in various films and TV series.
If you are interested in more Welsh names or are looking for a name for your baby you will find a lot of great information on our website.
Rhys is a boy’s name that originates from Wales. Rhys is a popular first name and it can also be found as a surname. As a surname, it is more common to hear the anglicised versions of the name as in Rees, Reese, or even Rice. It has been reported that Rhys means enthusiasm.
Meaning and Origin of the Name
Rhys is a name undeniably Welsh in origin. While the exact etymology remains debated, it’s most commonly linked to the Proto-Celtic word *rēgs-, meaning “ruler” or “chieftain.” This connection imbues Rhys with a sense of leadership and authority.
Rhys is a name that is associated with leaders
Popularity of Rhys
Rhys remains a popular choice for boys in Wales today. It consistently ranks among the top 100 Welsh names, showcasing its enduring appeal.
According to the Office of National Statistics in 2021, Rhys was the 96th most popular baby boy’s name in Wales.
Famous People with the Name Rhys
Rhys is a name that has strong historical routes in Wales. Rhys ap Griffydd was a man who ruled most of South Wales in the 12th century. His grandfather Rhys ap Tedwr was also a powerful man, the king of Deheubarth in the 11th century. Rhys ap Thomas (1447-1525) was a key figure in the Wars of the Roses and a patron of Welsh literature.
From the list below you can see that Rhys is a popular name in the celebrity world:
Rhys Ifans – A Welsh actor and musician. Played in the band Super Fury Animals and starred in hit films like Notting Hill and Harry Potter.
Griff Rhys Jones – A comedian and actor famous for his work with Mel Smith.
Rhys Darby – A comedian from New Zealand
Rhys Priestland – A Welsh international rugby player
Why Choose the Name?
For parents seeking a name that reflects both strength and enthusiasm, Rhys offers a compelling option. Whether emphasizing its historical connection to leadership or its alternative meaning of enthusiasm, Rhys resonates with positive connotations.
Useful Resources
Discover the beauty of other Welsh Boy’s names. Ideal if you are looking for a name for your baby boy.
Harri is a classic Welsh name that has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Let’s delve into its origin, meaning, prevalence, and the notable individuals who have borne this name.
Harri meaning Lord of the Manor
Origin
While some sources claim Harri is a new invention for the Welsh language, it has a long history. The name stems from the Germanic name Heinrich, which eventually evolved into the English Henry. Harri is the established Welsh spelling, reflecting the language’s phonetic tendencies.
Harri can also be used as a surname and a first name as in Guto Harri, a political correspondent for the BBC before he went on to work for News International.
Meaning
The name Harri carries a powerful meaning, translating to “home ruler” or “lord of the manor.” This connotation of leadership and responsibility makes it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with a strong presence.
Harri is not a new Welsh translation of the name Harry but it has been around for centuries for example the famous Harri Morgan, was a Welsh Admiral from Llanrumney in Cardiff he was a successful privateer in the 17th century.
Popularity
Harri has consistently ranked among the most popular names in Wales. In 2017, it held the 16th spot, while the English version of “Harry” was close behind at number 10. This trend suggests a preference for the Welsh spelling among Welsh parents.
Famous People:
History offers several prominent figures named Harri:
Harri Morgan (1632-1690): A celebrated Welsh privateer and admiral who achieved success during the 17th century.
Harri Morgan: A Welsh rugby player who plays for the Ospreys. He plays as a scrum-half.
Guto Harri: A Welsh journalist who worked for BBC and News International, known for his political commentary and support for Borris Johnson.
Learn about the meaning of Harri and other Welsh boys’ names in our comprehensive list of Welsh boy’s names.
This website will help you discover the source and history of Welsh names and see our comprehensive list which is ideal if you’re looking for a name for your baby boy or girl.
Welsh names are more popular today than they’ve been over the last 50 or 60 decades mainly in correlation with the rise in popularity of the Welsh language itself outside its heartlands in the North and West of Wales.
The origins of Welsh names dates back even before the Welsh language itself was established in the 6th century to the world of religion and Celtic folklore. Many names can be found in early Welsh literature like the Mabinogion where names such as Rhiannon and Dylan were documented. Some names have a religious influence for example Dewi who was the patron saint of Wales. Place names with Llan something mean the parish of a religious figure in that region. So saint Teilo had his name linked to the town of Llandeilo.
From the following examples you can see Welsh towns, villages, rivers, mountains have kept a good record of Welsh names over the years:
Dulais – from the place Pontarddulais
Dyfi – from the river Aberdyfi.
Idris – the mountain Cader Idris
Example of names taken directly from the Welsh language:
Mai – May in Welsh
Haf – Meaning summer in Welsh
Bryn – meaning a hill in Welsh
Example of Welsh names derived from other languages:
In this page we examine the how common Welsh boys names are and how they have changed over the last 100 years in England and Wales. We will also see how Welsh boys names have become more common today than they were in 1904.
In 1904 there were only 3 Welsh boys names in the top 100 names in England in Wales, Alan being the highest placed in 62nd position.:
Alan
Owen
Evan
In 1994, now there were 6 Welsh names in the top 100 names in England in Wales, with Lewis being the 22nd most popular name. Owen was the only name that survived from 1904:
In the last official figures from the National Statistic Office in 2010, Wales still had 6 names in the top names in England and Wales but it now had Dylan being the most popular name in 16th position and Lewis being relegated to 27th position.
See our page on Welsh Boys Names for the meaning and description of these common Welsh boys names and if your looking to choose a Welsh boys name for your baby see our random name generator.
We created a tool to help you choose a Welsh baby boy names, this is ideal for people who know that they want a Welsh name for their baby but need some inspiration.
The tool is simple to use all you have to do is to press the ‘Generate Baby Names’ button and we’ll randomly generate a Welsh baby boy names for you. You can press the button as many times as you like; keep on pressing it until you it produces a baby’s name that you love.
Try our Welsh boy names generator to find different combinations of names to see what combination of names you like the best.
Find Yourself a Welsh Baby’s Names
If you want to see the meanings of these names visit our Welsh boys names page or if you want to try different names with your surname see our Welsh names for boys page its great for shortlisting names you like.
If you don’t know the sex of the baby, Welsh baby girls names can be found on our sister website.
We’ve taken a look at the Top 10 Most Popular Welsh Boys Names list and we thought what other names we think should be in the official list because they are so beautiful. So we’ve created our own Unofficial Top 10 Welsh Boy Names of 2012. You are more than welcome to use these names for your baby if you want something that is beautiful but not too popular.
If your interested in learning the meaning and history of the names above these can be found at our Welsh Boys Names page.
Let us know what names would make it into your top ten unofficial names.
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