214 Male Breton and Celtic names

The Galois and Celtic cultures are deeply ingrained in the Brittany (Bretagne) area of France. With its own flag and rulers, this area was independent for a very long period, with some locals still asserting their distance.

The language here was Breton, a language related to Welsh, Cornish, Irish, Gaelic, and other Celtic languages that today are sadly disappearing. As a result of these historic ties to Celtic traditions, many boys’ names in Brittany are immediately recognisable as having Celtic rather than French origins.

Male names from Brittany are distinctly different than the French boys’ names that you will hear in other parts of the country. Gaelic culture in the region was rich in history and mythology, and the names in Celtic tradition were often inspired by saints, mythological stories, and more.

At the time, the written word was not common so the spelling of names varied from tribe to tribe and even within families.

In addition, many male Breton names like the popular “Maël” come in several variations, and depending on their spelling, are popular as unisex or female names as well. So with that, let’s get to the best male Breton and Celtic names, shall we? Allons-y!

• Abram – meaning “high father”.
• Adeodat – meaning “given by god”.
• Agan – meaning “little fire”.
• Alan – meaning “beautiful and calm”.
• Alar, Alor – meaning “all and king”, “mighty”.
• Alban, Albin – meaning “white”.
• Andrev – meaning “courageous”, “viril”.
• Aofred – meaning “everything” and “peace”. Also means “friend of the elves”.
• Armel, Armahel – meaning “bear” or “prince”.
• Arthur – meaning “bear” in Celtic.
• Arzhel – meaning “bear” or “prince”.
• Bartele – is derived from “bar-tolmaï” which means “son of Tolomai”.
• Benead – derived from “Benoit”, which comes from “Benedictus”, meaning “blessed”.
• Bernez – meaning “bear”, “hard”.
• Bertin – meaning “shiny raven”.
• Bleiz – meaning “wolf”.
• Bran – meaning “power”, “noble”, “respect”.
• Brec’han – meaning “mountain”.
• Brecan – meaning “mount”.
• Brendan – meaning “sword”.
• Brevalaer – named after Saint Brevalaer.
• Briz – from the Celtic word “brigh”, meaning “force”.
• Budog – meaning “rescued from the waters”.
• Convoyon, Conwoïon – meaning “dog”, “warrior”, “leader”.
• Denez – named after the Greek god of the vine and wine.
• Deniel – meaning “God is my judge”.
• Denoal – from old Breton word “dumno” which means “world”, and “uual” which means “value”.
• Devneg – name of a Welsh saint.
• Diboan – meaning “of Zeus”.
• Dider – meaning “desired”, “wanted”.
• Dogmael – meaning “good”, “lord”, “prince”.
• Dominig – meaning “which belongs to the lord”.
• Donan – meaning “from height”.
• Donasian – meaning “present from god”.
• Douegar – variation of the name “Hagar”.
• Dozhwal – meaning “wise”, “value”.
• Edern – meaning “very large”.
• Ehouarn – meaning “good” and “iron”.
• Eliaz – meaning “the lord is my God”.
• Elouan – meaning “light”.
• Enogad – meaning “who fights with honor”.
• Enored – variation of “Ednard”, meaning “sacred guardian”.
• Envel – meaning “the worried man” in Celtic tradition.
• Eostol – from the name “Austole”, godson of Saint Méen.
• Ergat, Ergad – meaning “combat”.
• Erle – meaning “noble”.
• Erwan – meaning “dragon”.
• Evan – variation of “Jean” or “John”.
• Ewen – comes from the Celtic God of war, “Esus”.
• Ezhbin – variation of the name “René”.
• Felan – meaning “wolf”.
• Fiakr – named after the patron saint of gardeners.
• Fragan – meaning “free”, variation of the French “François”, and Provencal male name “Frances”.
• Frañsez – meaning “french”, or rather, the frankish tribe that would lead to the Kingdom of France.
• Friard – meaning “fry”, “to burn with envy”.
• Gael – meaning “gaelic” or “generous lord”.
• Gasian – meaning “person from Asia”.
• Geran – named after a saint from Soissons.
• Gildwen – meaning “who cuts the trees”.
• Gireg – meaning “amber”.
• Glannon – a derivative of the name “Glanuon”. It comes from the Breton words “glan” which means “pure”, and “mon” which means “height”.
• Glenn – meaning “wooded valley”.
• Gobrian – named after Saint Gobrian from the 8th century.
• Gorgon – meaning “worker of earth”.
• Gouenou – meaning “happy and known”.
• Goustan – meaning “welcoming”.
• Govrian – named after Saint Gobrian from the 8th century.
• Gregor – meaning “to watch”.
• Gulcien, Gulian – meaning “sparrow”.
• Gurvan – meaning “wisdom”, “bravery”, and “value”.
• Gwellaouen – meaning “white”, “happy prince”.
• Gwenc’hlan – comes from the Breton “gouenn c’hlan” meaning “holy race”.
• Gwendal – meaning “white”, “happy”.
• Gwenegan – meaning “bravery”.
• Gwengal – meaning “happy”, “payment”.
• Gwenganton – named after Saint Gwenganton.
• Gwenlaouen – meaning “joyful”.
• Gwenneg – meaning “righteous”, “blessed”.
• Gwenvael – meaning “chef”, “prince” or “grand”.
• Gwezheneg – meaning “warrior”.
• Gwilherm – meaning “resolute protector”.
• Gwion – meaning “forest”.
• Hamon – meaning “little village”.
• Hegareg – meaning “friendly”.
• Hélier, Hélibert – meaning “joyful”.
• Herbot – meaning “glorious soldier”.
• Hern – meaning “mythical hunter”.
• Hernin – meaning “strong and summit”, “height”.
• Herve, Hervea – meaning “strong and fiery”.
• Hoël – meaning “life”.
• Iestyn – meaning “virtuous”, “righteous”.
• Ildut – meaning “good”, “favorable”.
• Ivi – meaning “shrub”.
• Jakez – meaning “supplant”, “protect”.
• Jaoua – from the name “Jovis”.
• Jezekael – meaning “generous lord”.
• Job – a common Breton name, equivalent to the French “Joseph”. Meaning “the one who repents, who returns to God”.
• Jorand, Jord – meaning “to descent”.
• Just – meaning “reasonable”.
• Justog – named after Bishop of Vannes in the 8th century.
• Juvad – named after Saint Juvad, and the town of Saint Juvat.
• Juzel – meaning “lord”.
• Kado – meaning “combat”.
• Kanna – meaning “dazzling white”, “provisional character”.
• Karadeg – named after Saint Karadeg, who was a hermit in the Pays de Vannes in the 6th century.
• Karanteg – meaning “parents”.
• Karouintin – named after Saint Corentin.
• Kast, Cast – meaning “he who fights”.
• Kavan – meaning “battle or warrior”. Variation of the name “Kevin”, the nickname given to Saint Guéhennec.
• Kemo – was Breton saint honored in Locquémeau.
• Kenan – meaning “handsome”.
• Kerne – meaning “seed”, “little dark”.
• Kiril – from the name “Karl”, meaning “strong and manly”.
• Kleden – meaning “rigorous person”.
• Kler – meaning “brilliant”, “glorious”.
• Klet – meaning “recalled”.
• Konan – meaning “intelligent”, “warrior”.
• Koneg – meaning “King”.
• Kongar – meaning “warrior”.
• Konhouarn – named after Saint Konhouarn.
• Konstantin – meaning “constant”.
• Konvoion – meaning “dog”, “warrior”, “leader”.
• Konwal – meaning “warrior”, “sincere”.
• Konwen – named after Saint Konwen.
• Konzelveg – old celtic name.
• Korneli – meaning “strong and viril”.
• Koulizh – named after Saint Koulid.
• Koulman – meaning “dove”.
• Kristof – meaning “supplant”, “protect”.
• Kylian – from the celt word “caellach” meaning “fight”.
• Legar – meaning “people”, “spear”.
• Lennon – of celt origin meaning “descended from Leannán”.
• Levan – meaning “who accompanies”.
• Lewiaz – meaning “to manage”.
• Lohan – meaning “light”.
• Loic, Loig – meaning “illustrious in combat”.
• Loiz – form of the name “Louis”, meaning “illustrious” and “fighter”.
• Lomig – meaning “resolute protector”.
• Louarn – meaning “fox”, nickname of “a cunning man” or “fox hunter”.
• Loudiern – meaning “Lou”, in Celtic meaning “light”, and “thiern” meaning “leader”.
• Lug – meaning “the month of july”.
• Kast, Cast – meaning “good”.
• Maden – named after Saint Maden of the 6th century, who preached and helped the destitute.
• Maelgon – named after Saint Maelgon.
• Maglor – meaning “glory”.
• Malo – named after the Saint Malo, who is the fore-bearer of the famous town in Brittany.
• Malon – meaning “rival”.
• Maël – very traditional Breton name, meaning “leader”.
• Maelvon – variation named after Saint Meldreg.
• Maodan – meaning “yellow”, “fire”.
• Maodez – meaning “good”.
• Maogad – named after Saint Maogad.
• Marselan – variation named after Saint Maelgon.
• Marzhina – from the name “Martius”, meaning “warrior”.
• Medar – meaning “strong”.
• Méen – meaning “happy” or “joyful”.
• Melar – from the name “Mael”, meaning “leader”.
• Meldreg – named after Saint Meldreg.
• Meldroc – meaning “strong”.
• Melen – meaning “black”.
• Meurzh – meaning “the month of Mars”.
• Meven, Mevena – meaning “happy” or “joyful”.
• Miliau – meaning “knight”, “soldier”.
• Moran – meaning “the sea”.
• Morbret – meaning “desire”, after Saint Morvred.
• Mordiern – meaning “of the sea”.
• Nedeleg – Breton form of the French “Noël”, meaning Christmas.
• Nevenou – named after a hero of Breton history, who repelled the army of Charles the Bald.
• Neventer – named after Saint Neverenter who was the brother of Saint Derien.
• Ninnog – meaning “summit”.
• Oan – meaning “lamb”, variation of “Owen”.
• Oanez – meaning “pure”, “lamb”.
• Onen, Onenn – meaning “ash tree”.
• Oran – meaning “dark-haired”.
• Padern – meaning “paternal”.
• Padrig – meaning “noble person”.
• Paol – meaning “little”.
• Peran, Petran, Pezran – meaning “stone”, a variation of the French male name “Pierre”.
• Pereg – meaning “little stone”.
• Pol – meaning “little”.
• Prigent – meaning “handsome”, “noble”.
• Primel – meaning “prince”, “chief”.
• Riagad – meaning “combat king”.
• Riog – meaning “King”.
• Rion – meaning “blessed”.
• Riwal, Riwan – meaning “King”, “value”.
• Riware – meaning “king and brave”.
• Ronan – meaning “little seal”.
• Samzun – meaning “sun”.
• Segondel – named after a hermit named Segondel who lived on an islet on the Loire river.
• Senan – meaning “protector”.
• Sklerijenn – meaning “clarity”.
• Sterenn, Steredenn – meaning “star”.
• Sylvestre – meaning “forest dweller”, also Saint Sylvestre of New Year celebrations.
• Tadeg – meaning “father”.
• Tarieg – named after Patron Saint of Lannilis as well as after Tariec Island.
• Thelo – meaning “God”.
• Titouan – variation of “Antoine”.
• Tivizio – meaning “the man who gets attached”.
• Tomaz – the Breton form of the name “Thomas”.
• Treveur – meaning “grand victory”.
• Tudi – meaning “people”, “value”.
• Tudon – meaning “tumult”.
• Tujen – named after Saint Tugen, a hermit in the 15th century.
• Tunvel – meaning “linked to work”.
• Turio – meaning “young plant”.
• Tuzwal – meaning “good and worthy”.
• Uniac – meaning “one”.
• Urfol – named after the brother of Saint Rivanone.
• Urvan – the Breton derivation of “Urbain”, meaning “city dweller”.
• Yanick – meaning “God bless”.
• Yann – comes from the name “Yohanân”, and it means “God is gracious”.
• Yoann, Youenn – meaning “God blesses”.
• Yves – meaning “shrub”.