Brittany (Male)

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Isle of Man (Male) | Scotland (Male) | Wales (Male)

Celtic Male Names of Brittany

Alan — (AH-lan) Introduced to England by the Breton contingent of William the Conquerer’s forces. St. Alan was a 6th C. bishop of Quimper.
Alar — (AH-lahr) Name of the patron saint of goldsmiths and blacksmiths, and the protector of horses. Alaric (ah-LAH-reek), Laric (LAH-reek).
Alor — (AH-lohr) Name of 6th C. bishop of Quimper who signed a peace treaty with the Roman Empire. St. Alor is the patron saint of Tremeoc.
Andrev — (ahn-DRAY-oh) Breton form of Andre. Drev (DRAY-oh).
Arc’hantael — (ahr-XAHN-tel) from Old Breton argant “silver, shining” + hael “noble, generous”. Argantael (ahr-GAHN-tel).
Arzhel — (AHR-zel) from British artos “bear” + maglos “chief”. St. Arzhel was born in Wales in 482, founded a monastery in the Forest of Broceliande in Brittany. Famed as a magician, Arzhel was summoned to King Childebert’s court in Paris. After his death, Arzhel’s name was invoked to end droughts.
Arzhur — (AHR-zoor) Fr. Celtic artos “bear” or fr. Latin name Artorius. In Breton tradition, King Arzhur (Arthur) was made a saint. Arzhul (AHR-zool).

Bernez — (BAYR-nes) Breton form of Bernard.
Blaez — (BLAYS) from Old Breton word for “wolf”. Bleiz.
Brendan — (BRAYN-dahn) After 5th C. Irish St. Brendan the Navigator.
Brevalaer — (bray-VAH-layr) Fr. Old Breton bran “raven” + uualatr “prince”. Name of an early bishop, about whom little is known.
Briac — (BREE-ahk) Breton form of Irish name Brian. 6th C. Breton St. Briac.
Briec — (BREE-ayk) from British name Brigacos, fr. Celtic brig “high, mighty”. Born to a pagan family in Wales in 5th C., St. Brieg was converted by St. Germain of Auxerre, France. Briec founded several monasteries in Brittany, including Saint-Brieuc. Brieg, Brieuc, Brieug.
Budoc — (BOO-dok) from Celtic bud “victory”. Son of St. Azenor. Founded a monastery on the island of Lavret, and became a celebrated teacher. Budog.

Deniel — (DAY-nyel, day-NOH-el) Breton form of Daniel. Deniel was the name of a founding saint of Brittany. Denoel.
Derrien — (DAY-ryen) Early Breton saint. St. Derrien performed miracles and saved a nobleman’s son (the future St. Riok) from a dragon after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Darien.
Devi — (DAY-vee) Breton form of David, patrion saint of Wales, revered in Brittany as well.
Donan — (DOH-nan) Name of a disciple of St. Briec. Tonan.

Edern — (AY-dern) from Welsh edyrn “great”. St. Edern was a Welsh hermit who went to Brittany in the 9th C. He welcomed to his hermitage a deer that was being chased by a hunter. It is said the deer never left his side.
Efflam — (AY-flahm) Prob. derived from Celtic flamm “flame”. In legend, Efflam was a 6th C. Irish prince who took religious vows and travelled Brittany, where he defeated a dragon by invoking God’s name and brought forth a sacred spring.
Erwan — (AYR-wahn) St. Erwan (1253-1303), also known by French name Yves. Patron saint of lawyers. He gained a lasting reputation as a church judge for his fairness and special attention to the poor.
Ewen — (AY-ven) Popular since earliest times; a saint’s name. Even.

Fransez — (FRAHN-ses, FAHNSH) Breton forms of French name Francois. Fanch, Soa (SWAH), Soaic (SWAH-eek).

Gael — (GA-el) Popular Breton name that may have originated as a nickname for Judikael.
Girec — (GEE-rik) St. Gireg, born in Wales in 547. He founded a monastery near Lanmeur and a hermitage near Ploudaniel. Gireg.
Glen — (GLAYN) from Old Breton glenn “valley”. Name of an early Breton saint.
Govran — (GOH-vrahn) Old Breton word meaning “smith”. 8th C. saint fr. Vannes. Gobrien (goh-BREE-en), Gobrian (goh-BREE-ahn).
Gralon — (GRAH-lohn) from Old Breton grad “rank” + lon “full”. Legendary king of Brittany, hero of the doomed city of Ker-Is, which sank into the Bay of Douarnenez for the wickedness of its people. Gralon escaped with the help of Saint Gwenole.
Gweltaz — (GWAYL-tahs) Probably several early Breton saints.
Gwencalon — (gwayn-KAH-lohn) Old Breton name, fr. gwenn “bright, shining” + calon “heart”.
Gwennec — (GWAYN-ek) Dim. Old Breton word meaning “shining, holy”. Patron saint of Plouhinec. Gwenneg.
Gwenole — (gway-NOH-lay) Name of a 6th C. saint who founded the monastery of Landevennec.
Gwenvael — (GWAYN-vel) An Old Breton name, derived from gwenn “shining, holy” + mael “prince, chief”. Name of a saint.

Helori — (hay-LOH-ree) Old Breton name derived from hael “generous”.
Herve — (HAYR-vay) Name of a popular saint, son of the bard Hyvarnion and is wife Rivanone. Patron saint of bards. Harvey.
Hoel — (HOH-el) Popular name among the Dukes of Brittany, also the name of Morgan la Fay’s father in several medieval French Arthurian tales.

Jakez — (ZHAH-kays) Breton form of Jacques.
Jos — (ZHOS) from Old Breton iud “lord, chief”.
Judikael — (zhoo-dee-KA-el) from Old Breton iud “lord, chief” + hael “generous”. A 7th C. Breton king who left the throne for a life of monastic solitude.

Kado — (KAH-doh) from Welsh cad “battle”. Breton form of the name of early Welsh saint, Cadoc. Kadeg, Kadec (KAH-dek).
Kaourantin — (kaoh-RAHN-teen) Name of a 5th C. saint who was bishop of Quimper. French spelling Corentin (koh-REN-teen). Tin (TEEN), Tinic, Tinig (TEEN-eek), Kaour (KAOHR), Kao (KAOH).
Kavan — (KAH-vahn) from Old Breton kad “battle”. Name of an early saint whose feast day is March 10.
Konan — (KOHN-ahn) from Celtic kuno “high, mighty”. 7th C. St. Konan. Conan.
Korneli — (kohr-NAY-lee) St. Korneli is revered in the region of Carnac as the protector of horned beasts.

Leri — (LE-ree) Name of a 7th C. hermit saint. Lery.
Loeiz — (LOH-ayz) Breton form of Louis.

Malo — (MAH-loh) from Old Breton mach “hostage” + lon “shining”. One of the most important early Breton saints, patron of St. Malo.
Marrec — (MAHR-ek) from Old Breton word for “horseman” or “knight”.
Marzhin — (MAR-zhin or MAR-jin) Breton form of Martin.
Mazhe — (MAY-zay) Breton form of Matthew.
Melan — (MAY-lahn) 5th C. saint and bishop of Reenes. Melen, Melaine (MAY-len).
Menguy — (MAYN-gee) Old Breton men “stone” + ki “hound, wolf”.
Meriadec — (may-REEAH-dek) Name of a 7th C. saint and bishop of Vannes. Meriadeg, Meriadoc (may-REE-AH-dohk).
Meven — (MAY-ven) 6th C. St. Meven founded the abbey of Saint-Meen in the Forest of Broceliande.
Mikael — (MEE-kael, MEE-kel) Breton form of Michael. Kaelic (KAEL-eek, KEL-eek).
Morvan — (MOHR-vahn) from Old Breton mor “sea”. Name of a 9th C. Breton king.

Nedeleg — (nay-DE-lek) Breton word for Christmas, the equiv. of the French or English name Noel.
Neven — (NAY-ven) Name of an early saint.
Nikolaz — (nee-KOH-lahs) Breton form of Nicholas. Kolaz (KO-lahs), Kolazic, Kolazig (koh-LAH-zeek).

Olier — (OH-lyay) Breton form of the French name Olivier.

Padrig — (PAH-dreek) Breton form of the Irish name Padraig (Patrick). St. Patrick.
Paol — (PAOHL, POHL) Breton forms of Paul. Breton St. Pol Aurelian (492-572) was known as a slayer of dragons and a founder of monasteries, notably Saint-Pol-de-Leon. Pol.
Per — (PER) Breton form of Pierre.

Riok — (REE-ohk) from Old Breton ri “king”. Name of an early Breton saint, disciple of Gwenole. Riec, Rieg (REE-ek).
Ronan — (ROH-nahn) from and Old Irish name meaning “little seal”. St. Ronan, 6th C. Irish-born monk, founded a hermitage in the forest of Locronan in Brittany. Reunan (RUH-nahn).
Roparzh — (ROH-pers) Breton form of Robert. St. Roparz of Arbrissel (1045-1116) was named bishop of Rennes, but chose to live as a hermit.

Samzun — (SAHM-zoon) from biblical name Samson. 6th C. St. Samson was born in Wales and led a footloose existence, establishing churches in Britain, Ireland and northern France. In Brittany, he founded the famous abbey of Dol.

Tanet — (TAH-net) Old Breton name meaning “afire”.
Tangi — (TAHN-gee) from Old Breton tan “fire” + ki “hound, wolf”. Name of a 6th C. saint, the brother of St. Heodez. Tanguy.
Taran — (TAH-ran) After a statue of an ancient Celtic thunder god with the name Taran inscribed on it was unearthed in Brittany in the 1700s, he was venerated as a saint. Taranis was the name of a deity worshipped by ancient Celtic people from Britain to Yugoslavia.
Treveur — (TRAY-vuhr) Name of an early prince and saint, son of St. Trifine. Treveur is the patron saint of Carhaix, Kergloff and Camlez.
Tristan — (TREE-stahn) Popular in Brittany, from the name of the hero of the tale of Tristan and Isolde. Tanick (TAH-neek).
Tudi — (TO-dee) 6th C. saint who gave his name to Loctudy and l’Ile-Tudy. Tudy.
Tudual — (TOO-dwahl) Prob. from the same source as the Welsh name Tudor: Celtic teutorigos “king of the land or tribe”. St. Tudual was a 6th C. Welsh-born saint who founded several monasteries in Brittany. Tugdual.

Yann — (YAHN) Breton form of the French name Jean, equiv. of English John. Yannick or Yannig (YAH-neek).