Branwen

Branwen is the name of a major character in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi (a collection of 4 related stories, part of the Mabinogion). Branwen was the sister of Brân the Blessed, a giant and the king of Britain. She is married to the Irish king Matholwch but her half-brother Efnysien is angry he…

Kentigern

Kentigern is the name of the patron saint of Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. Born in the 6th century, he was also known by his nickname Mungo. The first element of the name is uncertain, linked to both Proto-Celtic *kentus (first) and *kū (dog; wolf) while the second element is from Proto-Celtic *tigernos (lord,…

Cadogan

Cadogan is a Welsh male name, the anglicized form of Welsh Cadwgan. The first element is composed of Welsh cad meaning “battle” though the second element is a little uncertain. It could be derived from Old Welsh gwogawn meaning “glory, honor” or perhaps  gwgan “scowler”. Cadogan is also the anglicized form of Irish surname Ó Ceadagáin…

Calhoun

Calhoun comes from a Scottish surname, a variant spelling of Colquhoun, a habitational name for someone who came from the town of Colquhoun. The name seems to be composed of Scottish Gaelic elements cùil (nook, angle, corner) or coille (wood, forest) and cumhang (narrow, close). Origin: Proto-Indo-European, Proto-Celtic Meaning: “narrow corner” or “narrow forest/wood” Usage:…

Wymark

Wymark is the anglicized form of Old Breton Wiuhomarch, composed of Breton elements wiu (worthy, noble) and march (horse) via Proto-Celtic *markos (horse). The name was used by both men and women during the Middle Ages. It’s also an English surname originating from the given name. Origin: Proto-Celtic Meaning: “noble horse” or “worthy horse” Usage:…

Bronwen

Bronwen is a Welsh female name made up of Welsh elements bron (breast) < Proto-Brythonic *bronn via Proto-Celtic *brusū (belly; breast) which itself derives from an unknown origin; and gwen (white, fair, blessed)< Proto-Brythonic *gwɨnn (white) via Proto-Celtic *windos (white) which derives from a nasalized form of PIE root *weyd- (to see). Origin: Proto-Celtic; Proto-Indo-European Meaning:…

Mabon

Mabon is the name of a figure in Welsh mythology, featuring in the legend of Culhwch and Olwen. He is the son of Modron, who may have been based on the Gaulish goddess Matrona (and may have been the prototype of Morgan le Fay). Mabon was taken from his mother three nights after his birth…

Lynn

Lynn comes from a Scottish Gaelic surname, a locational surname which comes from Welsh llyn meaning “lake” via Proto-Brythonic *llɨnn < Proto-Celtic *lindos (lake; liquid) which derives from an uncertain origin. Lynn could also be an anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Fhloinn meaning “descendant of Flann”, Flann (Flynn) meaning “red” or “blood red”, originating as…

Verbeia

Verbeia is the name of a Celtic goddess known only by a single inscription found at Ilkley, England, thought to be the tutelary goddess of the River Wharfe. The etymology of the name is uncertain though it’s been linked to Proto-Celtic *wera- (rain) or *wor- (over, above) combined with *biwo (alive) or *beja- (to strike);…

Aideen

Aideen is the anglicized spelling of Étaín, an Irish female name meaning “jealousy, envy” via Old Irish ét (jealousy, envy) via Proto-Celtic *yantus (jealousy) which may possibly derive from a PIE root word. In Irish mythology, Étaín is the lover of Midir whose first wife, Fuamnach, became jealous and cast three spells on her- first…

Jolin

Jolin could have originated as a variant of Jolene, a female given name made up of Jo (a shortened form of Joan, Josephine, Joanna) combined with the -lin suffix; or it could have originated as a creative spin on Jolie, a French word meaning “pretty”; or it could be a creative combination of Jo and…

Glynis

Glynis is a Welsh female name, either a variant of Glenys derived from the Welsh word glân meaning “clean, clear, holy” via Proto-Celtic *glanos (clean; clear), or it’s an elaborated form of Welsh glyn “valley”. Origin: Proto-Celtic Meaning: “clean, clear, holy” or “valley” Usage: Welsh Variants: Glenys (Welsh) Glennis (anglicized spelling of Glynis/Glenys) Glenice (anglicized…

Corby

Corby comes from an English surname with three possible meanings depending on its etymology: the first is that it comes from a locational origin, any of several places called Corby. It’s made up from Old Norse personal name Kori (which seems to be the Old Norse form of Irish cuire “troop, band, company”) combined with…

Breixo

Breixo is a Galician male name, the Galician form of Portuguese Veríssimo via Latin Verissimus meaning “very true” via Proto-Italic *wēros (true) derived from PIE root word *weh₁- (true). Breixo is also incidentally a Galician word meaning “heather” which derives from Proto-Celtic *wroikos (heather) which ultimately derives from an unknown source. Origin: Proto-Indo-European; Proto-Celtic via…