These
names are used by Celtic peoples.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Lyn m WelshShort form of
Llywelyn, from its last syllable. A known bearer was the Welsh actor David Llewellyn "Lyn" Harding (1867-1952).
Lynfa f WelshProbably an elaborated form of the popular name syllable
Lyn, using the suffix
fa (perhaps from names such as
Gwynfa or
Meirionfa, in which it may be derived from Welsh
fa "place").
Lynwen f WelshPossibly formed from the Welsh masculine name
Lyn (a short form of
Llywelyn) or the initial sound in
Lynette combined with the Welsh element
gwen "white; fair; blessed"... [
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Mackey m & f IrishTransferred from the surname "Mackey". A short version for any name starting with Mac-.
Maden m BretonOf uncertain origin and meaning. One theory derives this name from Breton
mad "good; goodness".
Madenn f BretonDerived from Breton
mad "good; goodness". This name is occasionally considered a Breton equivalent of Saint
Bona.
Maeldan m BretonDerived from Breton
mael "prince" and
tan "fire".
Maelgwyn m WelshMaelgwyn means Prince of Hounds. It was also the name of a 6th century king of Gwynedd, Maelgwyn Gwynedd.
Maelwenn f BretonDerived from Breton
mael "prince" and
gwenn "white, fair, blessed".
Magwen f WelshCombination of
Mag, a diminutive of
Marged, and Welsh
gwen meaning "white, fair, blessed".
Mai f Welsh (Rare)Welsh form of
May as well as a direct adoption of Welsh
mai "(month of) May".
Mainie f IrishDiminutive of
Mary, as borne by the Irish painter Mainie Jellett (1897-1944). Possibly based on the Irish version of Mary,
Máirín Maive f Irish (Rare)Variant of
Maeve. A notable bearer was Indian-born author Maive Stokes (1866-1961), who was of Irish descent. She is best known for compiling a collection of Indian fairy tales that were told to her by her caretakers.
Malamhìn f Scottish GaelicMost likely coined by James Macpherson (1736-1796), the Scottish antiquarian poet who published works allegedly translated from the ancient Gaelic bard
Ossian. Macpherson seems to have based the name on Scottish Gaelic
mala "brow, eyebrow" and
mìn "smooth, soft", intending it to mean "smooth brow"... [
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Manton m English, IrishManton is derived from various place names throughout England. In Ireland Manton is the anglicized form of the Gaelic "Ó Manntáin", or "descendant of Manntán", a personal name derived from a diminutive of "manntach" ("toothless").
Maolmhóna m IrishComprised of the elements
máel "tonsured one, devotee" and an element assumed to be
móin (genitive
móna) "moorland"
Maolmhuadh m IrishMeans “proud chief”, derived from Gaelic
maol meaning "chief" and
muadh meaning "proud, noble".
Mathurin m Breton, FrenchFrench and Breton form of
Maturinus and thus ultimately derived from
maturus, literally "timely" (also "mature, ripe, grown"). This name was borne by a 3rd-century saint who was responsible for spreading the gospel in the district of Sens, France.
Maughold m ManxOf debated origin and meaning. Some scholars consider this name the Manx form of Irish
Mac Cuill whose origin and meaning seem to be equally debated. ... [
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Mckinzy f Scottish GaelicMeans "Son of wise one." and "Born of fire.". First found in Ross-shire, scottland, the name traveled to ireland before making it to the US in the 18th and 19th century. in the surname, the motto is "Luceo non uro" meaning "I shine not burn".... [
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Méabha f IrishVariant of
Medb meaning "intoxicating" given in County Donegal.
Meance f Medieval Breton, Breton (Archaic)Of unknown origin and meaning. From the early 1600s onwards, when every given name "had to" be associated with a Catholic saint, up to its disappearance as a given name, Meance was used as a quasi-equivalent of
Emérance.... [
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Meara f IrishMeara is an Irish/Gaelic origin name that means 'jolly', 'jovial', 'merry', 'Filled with mirth', etc.... [
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Méav f IrishVariant of
Méabh. A famous bearer is Irish singer Méav Ní Mhaolchatha.
Mebh f IrishForm of the Gaelic name
Medb meaning "intoxicating".
Mebh Óg MacTíre is one of the characters in the animated movie "Wolfwalkers" (2020).
Meddyf f WelshEtymology uncertain, perhaps from
medd meaning "mead" and
yf meaning "drinks" or from
medd meaning "power, authority".
Medeni f Welsh (Rare)Derived from Welsh
Medi "September" (originally "to reap, mow, crop") and
geni "to be born".
Mefus f Welsh (Rare)Directly from the Welsh vocabulary word
mefus meaning "strawberries".
Meira f WelshOf uncertain origin and meaning. Theories include a derivation from
Mair.
Melangell f WelshThe name of an early Welsh saint, known as the patron saint of small creatures because she sheltered a hare from the hounds of Prince
Brochwel Ysgythrog during his hunting expedition... [
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Melen m BretonDerived from Breton
melen "golden, yellow, blond". This is also considered a Breton form of
Mélaine.
Mena f Irish, EnglishCommon diminutive of Philomena, derived from ancient Greek/Roman sources originally and means 'friend of strength' or 'loved strongly'. Mena is the most common nickname for Philomena and it sometimes used as a forename itself.
Menai f Welsh (Rare)Locational name from the Menai Strait (Afon Menai), a river-like section of sea which separates the island of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) from the Welsh mainland. 'Menai' is probably connected to the name of the island, but the meanings of both are unknown... [
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Menna f Welsh, Frisian, East FrisianVariant of
Mena in countries where that name is used (i.e., Germany, Netherlands,
Mena being a German/Dutch diminutive of various names beginning with
Mein, such as
Meinhild, where the meaning is "strength"), but Menna is also used regularly in Wales in modern times... [
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Meriadeg m Breton, Breton LegendFrom an old Breton name composed of the elements
mer "sea" and
iatoc "forehead". Conan Meriadeg was the legendary founder of Brittany.
Meriasek m CornishConrish form of
Meriadeg. Saint Meriasek was a 4th-century Breton saint. The legends of his life are known through
Beunans Meriasek, a Cornish language play known from a single surviving manuscript copy dated 1504, and a few other sources... [
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Mericke f Manx (Archaic)Of uncertain origin and meaning. Current theories include a transcription/reading error of
Avericke, an adoption of the Yorkshire name
Merica or a transferred use of the surname
Mericke (which shares its source with the English surname
Merick).
Merion f WelshWelsh - feminine form of Meirion, the Welsh name of the county of Merioneth. Other feminine forms are Meiriona and Meirionwen.
Merrin f & m CornishAlthough the exact origin and meaning of this name are unknown, many modern-day academics believe this name to be the (possibly Anglicized) Cornish form of
Morien.... [
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Metheven f CornishMeans "June" in Cornish (literally "midsummer"). This is a recently coined Cornish name.
Meurzh m BretonBreton form of
Mars, refering to both the god and the planet. It also means "Tuesday" and "March" in Breton.
Miniver f Cornish, Welsh, Welsh MythologyAnglicized form of
Menfre, which is of unknown meaning. Saint Menfre, born c.471, was one of the many holy daughters of King Brychan Brycheiniog. 'St. Menfre appears to have been active in Wales, around Minwear, near Haverfordwest, in Dyfed but, later, left her native land in order to evangelise the Cornish.' The early use of the name was in Cornwall where it appears to be a regional form of
Guinevere... [
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Mirain f WelshDirectly taken from Welsh
mirain "beautiful, fair, refined, lovely".
Molmore m Manx (Archaic)Derived from the Gaelic name element
máel / mal / maol "tonsured, shorn; (and by extension) disciple, devotee" and the given name
More with the intended meaning of "devotee of the Virgin
Mary" (since the names of saints were considered too holy for everyday use, they were usually prefixed until the 17th century).... [
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Mona f ManxEither derived from Irish
Muadhnait or a direct adoption of
Mona, the oldest known reference to the Isle of Man (made by Julius Caesar, 54 BC). Due to the growing Manx Nationalism and the Celtic revival of the time, the name became popular in the 19th century.
Moninna f Irish, HistoryFrom the hypocorism
Mo-Ninne or
Moinnine which meant "my ninne";
ninne was the first word this saint spoke. Saint Moinnine or Moninna (c.432-518) of Killeavy in County Armagh, Ireland was supposedly baptised and confirmed by Saint Patrick... [
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