Gwenllian

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Girl · Welsh

Gwenllian

Say it: gwen-HLEE-an

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Meaning

From gwen 'white, fair, blessed' and a second element usually read as lliant 'flood, flow', which is uncertain.

Uncertainseveral explanations, none settled.

Its wave through time

No birth counts are recorded for this name in the records loaded here: it has been given to fewer than five babies a year, or not at all, since records began.

Through the ages

The High and Late Middle Ages1100 to 1450

Used by

Welsh

Famous bearers

Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, princess killed leading an army in 1136
Gwenllian, daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd

Names worth a look

GwenhwyfarGirlFrom gwen 'white, fair, holy' and a second element often linked to sebarā 'phantom, magical being'; the analysis is…Middle Ages · forgotten

NestGirlUncertain; usually treated as a Welsh pet form of Agnes, though this is not proven.Middle Ages · forgotten

ElunedGirlUncertain; possibly from eilun 'image, idol'.Middle Ages · forgotten

GwenfrewiGirlFrom gwen 'white, fair, blessed' and a second element of uncertain meaning.Early Medieval · forgotten

TangwystlGirlFrom tang 'peace' and gwystl 'pledge, hostage': 'peace-pledge'.Middle Ages · forgotten

MorfuddGirlUncertain.Middle Ages · forgotten

GwenGirlWelsh gwen, feminine of gwyn, 'white, fair, blessed'.Middle Ages · peak 1959

GwendolenGirlWelsh; the first element is gwen 'white, fair, blessed', the second is uncertain, perhaps dolen 'ring, loop'.Victorian

Where this comes from

Royal and noble genealogies
Medieval European charters and records

Meanings and histories are compiled from the study of names and their languages and checked by a second review.

Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.