Pronunciation: AY-lir (or EYE-lir) [key]
Origin: A vocabulary name that came into use in the late 19th century.
Meaning: From eilir an obsolete name for 'butterfly'.
Usage: This name is found equally as both a male or a female name. Although it has been used since the late 19th century, it is now enjoying more popularity than ever before.
Variants: Eilyr
Eilonwy (f)
Pronunciation: eye-LON-wee [key]
Origin: Many sources state that Eilonwy was an invented by Lloyd Alexander for his fantasy series published in 1969. However the name Eilonwy appears on the Birth and Marriage entries for England and Wales at least as early as 1892 (although rare) showing that Lloyd Alexander cannot be accredited with its invention. Despite its usage in Wales, the name rarely appears in Welsh Name lists, probably due to the misapprehension about its origin.
Meaning: It possibly a contractionof the words eilun 'idol, image' and manwy 'rare, fine' or more likely a compound of eilun + wy 'river'.
Usage: As stated above, Eilonwy came into use during the late 19th century but was used very rarely. It is still used in Wales and England today but it is still rare and mostly used as a middle name rather than a first name.
Einion (m)
Pronunciation: AY-nyon (or EYE-nyon) [key]
Origin: For centuries this was one of the most common names in Wales
Meaning:
Usage:
Variants:
Eira (f)
Pronunciation: AY-ruh (or EYE-ruh) [key] (BBC)
Origin: One of the many vocabulary names that came into use in the 19th century.
Meaning: From the literal word eira 'snow'.
Usage: A well established name in Wales particularly popular in the period between 1900-1920.
Eirian (f/m)
Pronunciation: AY-ree-an (or EYE-ree-an) [key] (BBC)
Origin: A name that has been used since the Middle Ages. One of the earliest examples is Eirian ap Eginyn (ap = son of) whos daughter Efa was the wife of Madog ap Maredudd, the last prince of Powys.
Meaning: From eirian 'bright, splendid, beautiful'.
Usage: Generally used as a female name but also found as a male name.
Variants: Eiriana, Eirianell, Eirianedd
Eirwen (f) Eirwyn (m)
Pronunciation: AYR-wen (or EYR-wen), AYR-win [key] (BBC)
Origin: A compound name created in the 19th century.
Meaning: From eira 'snow' and gwen 'white, fair'.
Usage: This name was most popular in the period 1910-1930. It is still popular today but is generally more common as a middle name; perhaps in honour of relatives who were given the name during its peak of popularity. Eirwyn is the male form of the name and is less popular than the female form.
Variants: Eirwyn, Eirawen
Eluned (f)
Pronunciation: eh-LIN-ed [key] (BBC)
Origin: In Arthurian legend, Eluned (or Luned) is the handmaiden of the Lady of the Fountain. In the French chronicles the name became Lynette.
Meaning: There are two theories on the meaning of Eluned. Either from eilun 'idol' or from the Brythonic components el 'much, very' and iun 'desired' (modern Welsh = eidduno) with the feminine suffix ed. The participle iunet 'desired one', is also found in Old British names.
Usage: Eluned and Eiluned have enjoyed steady usage in Wales, though never hugely popular, and they are more common as middle names today.
Variants: Eiluned, Luned, Lynette, Lunette