122 Female Breton and Celtic names

The region of Brittany (Bretagne) in France has long been steeped in its own Gaulois traditions and Celtic culture. For a long time this was a separate region, and today some locals still claim their independence.

The language here used to be Breton, which comes from the same Celtic language family as Welsh, Cornish, Irish, Gaelic, etc. As such, many of the girls’ names in Brittany are instantly identifiable as being of Celtic origin, rather than French.

Another thing that is immediately noticeable between French girls’ names and Breton names is that the female names do not always end in vowel. For example, the popular Breton name “Soazig” is immediately identifiable to a French local as being a female name, (just because a local may know several people with that name), but to a foreigner this may not be obvious.

In addition, popular Gaelic names like “Maël” or “Gwen” and their many variations, have become gender-neutral and can be used for Breton-influenced males or females. So with that, let’s get to the top female Breton and Celtic names, shall we? Allons-y!

• Aelia – meaning “sunshine”.
• Aelig – meaning “angel”, “messenger”.
• Aenor – variation of the name “Alienor”, or “Eleanor” (like Eleanor of Aquitaine).
• Aesa – meaning form of the name “Isabelle”.
• Alana – of Celtic origin meaning “beautiful” and “calm”.
• Alara – meaning “all powerful”, the female version the Celtic “Alaric”
• Alis – gallic origin meaning “noble”.
• Alwena – from the Breton “Alc houen” which is a form of “Albin” and “Aubin” or the Latin “albus”, meaning “white”.
• Anaelle – variation of “Anna”.
• Aodren – meaning “above”, “regal”.
• Aoperzh – meaning “brilliant”.
• Aourell – from “aour” which means “gold”
• Argantel – meaning “generous”
• Armelle – female version of the Breton “Armel”, meaning “bear” or “princess”.
• Arzhela – meaning “princess” or “bears”.
• Asenora – legendary Cornish saint who was born in Breton. She was originally a Breton princess from Brest, and went by the name “Asenora” or “Senara”.
• Avé – meaning “hail”.
• Awena – meaning “noble friend”.
• Azenor – the mother of Saint Budoc in Breton legends.
• Aziliz – Breton form of “Cécile”, saint of musicians.
• Barban – named after Sainte Barbe.
• Bega – meaning “life” or “prayer”.
• Benniged – meaning “blessed”.
• Berc’hed – variation of “Brigitte”, meaning “force”.
• Bleuenn – meaning “white flower”.
• Bleuzenn – meaning “little flower”.
• Brewen – meaning “analytical”, “tenacious”, “honest”.
• Brieg – meaning “consideration”.
• Corentine – comes from the celtic name “karent” meaning “friend”.
• Cowenna – meaning “fair” and “blessed”.
• Darerea – younger sister of the Irish Saint Patrick.
• Delfinez – meaning “dolphin”.
• Dewi – meaning “loved by God”.
• Eflez – patron saint of Tréfflez.
• Elditrude – patron saint of Tréfflez.
• Elen – meaning “sunshine”.
• Eneour – meaning “has radiance”.
• Enora – meaning “honor”, “noble”.
• Ermengarde – meaning “strong”, “whole”, “protection”.
• Erwana – Celtic name derived from the word “iv”, and means “if”.
• Evy – meaning “to give life”.
• Franseza – meaning “french”. Variation of the French “Françoise” and the Provencale female name “Franceso”.
• Gaëlle – meaning “gaelic” or “generous lord”.
• Gall – meaning “gallantry”, “bravery”.
• Gaud – meaning “pearl”.
• Genevé – comes from the Germanic tribe for “geno et wefa” meaning “race and woman”.
• Genovefa – from “geno” which means “race” and “véfa” which means “woman”.
• Goneri – comes from the Celtic “gwen”, meaning “happy, white, pure”.
• Goulwena – meaning “prayer”.
• Gwenael, Gwenaela – meaning “white”, “happy”, “princess”.
• Gwendoline – from “Gwen” meaning “white and happy” and “dolyn” which means “circle” or “ring”.
• Gwenn – from “Gwen” meaning “white”.
• Gwennin – meaning “pure”, “happy”.
• Gwentrog – Patron saint of Tréfflez.
• Gwenvred – meaning “happy”.
• Hoela – meaning “well and seen”.
• Ida – meaning “work”.
• Inez – meaning “pure”.
• Iseult – meaning “beautiful and calm”.
• Izidor – from the name “Isadore”, meaning “gift of Isis”.
• Jenovefa – from “geno” which means “race” and “véfa” which means “woman”.
• Justina – meaning “reasonable”.
• Kalanna – meaning “protest” or “church”.
• Karne – a form of the name “Karen”.
• Katell – meaning “pure”.
• Klervi – meaning “precious stone”, “jewel”.
• Koupaia – after Saint Koupaia, the mother of Tudal and Saint Seva.
• Landouen – name of the wife of King Eusebius in the 6th century.
• Laouenan – from the gallois name “Lawen”, meaning “cheerful”
• Lena – meaning “luminous”.
• Linaëlle – named after Saint Lin
• Loane – from the name “Elouan”, meaning “light”.
• Loeiz – form of the name “Louise”, meaning “illustrious” and “fighter”
• Loeiza – meaning “illustrious in battle”.
• Loeva – derived from “Sève”, a germanic tribe.
• Lohemel – another name for Saint Koupaia, the mother of Tudal and Saint Seva.
• Loiza – form of the name “Louisa”, meaning “illustrious and fighter”.
• Madalen – form of the name “Madelene”.
• Madenn – from the Celtic word “mad”, meaning “good”.
• Maëlle, Maëlie – meaning “princess” (female version of “Maël”).
• Maëlys – meaning “princess” (female version of “Maël”).
• Maewenn, Maiwenn – meaning “the one who raises”.
• Majan – can also be written as “Maryjan”, meaning “she who elevates”.
• Marc’han – from the name “Margaritê”, meaning “pearl”.
• Marc’harid – from the name “Margaritê”, meaning “pearl”.
• Matilin – meaning “maturity”.
• Mazhe – meaning “present”, “gift”.
• Melen – meaning “black”.
• Melin – meaning “bee”.
• Menou – meaning “God is with us”.
• Mevena – meaning “in good health”.
• Mikaela – meaning “who is like God”.
• Morgane – meaning “grand” or “brilliant”.
• Morwenna – meaning “young girl”.
• Muriel – meaning “the one who raises”.
• Noela – meaning “day of birth”.
• Nonna – name of the patron saint of Penmarc’h”.
• Oanez – variation of “Agnes”.
• Olier – meaning “olive”.
• Ozvan – meaning “olive”.
• Rivelen – old celtic name meaning “small nail”.
• Riwanon – meaning “grand”.
• Rozenn – meaning “rose”.
• Senara – legendary Cornish saint who was born in Breton. She was the princess of Brest who married to a Breton king, who then wrongly accused her of adultery and threw her into the sea in a barrel while pregnant. She was visited by an angel near Cornwall, and gave birth to a son in the waves, who later became the Irish Saint Budoc.
• Servan – meaning “who is respectful”.
• Servez – meaning “who is respectful”.
• Sieu – old family name from Brittany.
• Similian – meaning “Yahweh has heard”.
• Soaz – meaning the “franks” (the tribe that gave name to France).
• Soizic, Soazig – meaning “free”.
• Solene – meaning “solemn”.
• Tegwen – meaning “blessed and beautiful”.
• Tella – meaning “God”.
• Tevarzec – form of the name “Isabelle”.
• Therezien – form of the name “Thérèse”.
• Tifenn – meaning “luminous”.
• Tirid – named after Saint Tirid who was the wife of King Gradlon.
• Trifin – named after the Saint Trifin.
• Uriell – meaning “God is my light”.
• Vellé – meaning “pretty”, equivalent of the French girl’s name Belle.
• Yanna – meaning “ethical”, “moral”.
• Youna – from the Celtic word “yv”, and the feminine form of the name “Yves”.
• Yuna – variation of the name “Yvonne”, saint from Wales.