Pronunciation: EH-brihl (almost EH-brith) [key]
Origin: A modern vocabulary name that is mostly found as a surname.
Meaning: The name of a month. From ebrill 'April'.
Usage: An extremely rare name. Where it is used, it is mostly as a middle name and possibly due more to it use as a surname. This is attested by its occassional use as a middle name for boys in the early 1900s. The similar name Ebrillwen (ebrill + gwen 'white, fair') is also very rare.
Ednyfed (m)
Pronunciation: ed-NUV-ed [key]
Origin: An Old Welsh name made famous by Ednefed Fychan "the younger" (died 1246) who was the seneschal of Prince Llywelyn the Great of Gwynedd. He was renowned for his prowess in battle and played a part in the Peace of Worcester in1218. He married Gwenllian, daughter of Rhys ap Gryffudd "Lord Rhys" and was an ancester of the Tudor dynasty. This first name also spawned the use of various surnames such as Ednyfed, Nyfed and Nevitt.
Meaning: Unknown
Usage: Was a common name in the Middle Ages, often written under the abbreviated form Eden. In recent centuries it has fallen out of usage and only used in prominently Welsh-speaking areas.
Variants: Eden, Ednevet, Edeneved
Eiddon (m)
Pronunciation: AY-thdon (or EYE-thdon) [key]
Meaning: Either from aidd 'heat, ardour' or from eiddun 'fond'.
Usage: Rarely used in Wales.
Eiddwen (f/m)
Pronunciation: AYTHD-wen (or EYTHD-wen) [key]
Origin: A compound name that came into use in the 19th century.
Meaning: From eiddun 'fond' and gwen 'white, fair'.
Usage: Generally female but was on occassion used as a male name at the turn of the century, possibly meant to be spelt Eiddwyn (a male ending) although this spelling is confusingly also found on females.
Variants: Eiddwyn
Eifion (m), Eifiona (f)
Pronunciation: AYV-on, ayv-YOH-nuh [key]
Origin: One of the sons of Cunedda who gave his name to the Eifionydd in Wales. Eifiona is the feminine form.
Meaning: Unknown
Usage: This name has enjoyed sustained popularity in recent centuries possibly due to the poet Eifion Wyn Williams (1867 -1926). The feminine form is much less used.
Eigyr (f)
Pronounced: AY-gir [key]
Origin: Eigyr or Eigr (also known as Igraine or Igerne) is the mother of King Arthur and Morgan le Fay and the wife of Gwrlais (Gorlois), Lord of Cornwall. She was said to be the most beautiful woman in Britain.
Meaning: Unknown but possibly meaning 'maid' or 'virgin'.
Usage: A fanciful name, much like Galahad or Lancelot, that is not used as a given name. The variant Eigra is occassionally used but very rarely.
Variants: Eigr, Eigra
Eilian (m/f)
Pronounced: AY-lee-ahn [key]
Origin: The name of a male Saint in the 6th century who proportedly came from Rome with many animals and a gift for healing. Eilian is also a female character in Welsh folk-tale who was a golden-haired maidservant who used to spin whilst fairies danced around her and finally went to live with them. The site where she left is still today known as Eilian's field. These two figures probably accounts for its usage both as a male and female name.
Meaning: Possibly from eil 'second (of time)'.
Usage: The name is found equally as both a male and female name, and although not hugely popular it has enjoyed sustained usage over the last centuries.
Variants: Elian