Cornish Baby Names

Related to the Welsh name Celyn (and ultimately a distant cousin of the English word Holly), this makes a rare and modern-sounding nature name. Outside of Cornwall, it may be a struggle keeping the stress on the second syllable.

Cornish form of Guinevere. Saint Minver was one of the many holy daughters of King Brychan. Also found as Miniver, Menvra, Menfre and more.

Variant of Rewan

St. Neot was a Saxon saint in the Middle Ages, whose name is used for a town in Cornwall, England. Some sources say the little-known name is Hebrew and means "pleasant pasture," but there is really no evidence for that.

St. Keverne is a town on Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula and also the name of an ancient saint. While the name is virtually unused for children in the modern world, it could be a Kevin update and has contemporary possibilities.

This is a name from ancient Britain: St Adwen was one of many fifth-century Welsh saints of whom little more is known than their name. It survives in St Adwen's Church (also known as Adwena or Adwenna) in the village of Advent in Cornwall. The origin looks like gwen ("fair, blessed") plus possibly a prefix meaning "again". Alternatively, it could be related to the Welsh word addwyn, meaning "fine". Although rare, Adwen has a pleasing simplicity, and the stylish Ad- sound gives it potential as an alternative to names like Ada and Adelyn.

Pawly has catapulted into the lexicon with the advent of Pawly the pet dog robot. It's a cute version of the more serious Paul.

With other Cornish names like Elowen and Jago catching people's attention, the mythical sounding Mithian might prove an unexpected and magical feeling choice. Traditionally called Mydhyan, Mithian is a village in Cornwall that sits between St Agnes and Perranporth.

Lerryn is a Cornish place name for both the River Lerryn and the village that borders it. The name belonged first to the river, which was named in the 13th century. Lerryn literally translates to "flood."

Just one letter off from Corentin, but an entirely different name — the Cornish variation stresses the middle syllable, while the French stresses the last. And in America, where both versions are unknown, people are likely going to guess that the emphasis belongs on the first syllable.

Penzance is a port town at the very tip of Cornwall. With its associations with operetta and pirates, Penzance packs quite a bit of zip for a name.

Similar to the Welsh form Dafydd, Daveth is a softer alternative for the perennial boys' name David. The long "Ah" sound also minimises the chance of the name being shortened to Dave, for those eager to avoid the ubiquitous nickname.

So many people love Jack but worry about its popularity. If you count yourself amongst these people, this rare but intuitive Cornish version of the name might be a choice worth consideration.

In Cornish legend, Beryan was a princess who could heal the sick. There is also a Cornish village on the coast called Veryan.

This Celtic saint's name is the most offbeat Jen name of all.

An English surname and occasional first name deriving from the same root as Baldwin, "bold or brave friend".

Cornish form of Benedict

Casworon was derived from the Celtic elements cad, meaning "battle," and kawaro, hero. Caz is an enviably cool nickname.

Jowanet is the feminine form of Jowan (the Cornish form of John), making this name equivalent to Joan, Jane, Janet, Joanna, and the rest of that name family.