100+ Breton Names From the Celtic Heart of Brittany
Brittany speaks its own Celtic language, Breton, and its names carry saints, sea air and old legends. Many sound close to Welsh and Cornish names, because the three share a root.
The lists below cover boys' names, girls' names, Breton forms of common names, legendary figures and places. Where a link to a saint or a tale is well known, a note says so.
Table of Contents
Breton Boy Names
Strong names with a long history on the Brittany coast.
- Ronan – name of a well-known Breton saint
- Corentin – a saint tied to Quimper
- Malo – saint who gave his name to Saint-Malo
- Brieuc – saint who gave his name to Saint-Brieuc
- Gildas – early British saint linked to Brittany
- Armel – a saint honoured in Brittany
- Tudual – saint also known as Tugdual
- Efflam – a Breton saint of the north coast
- Samson – saint and bishop of Dol
- Pol – Breton form of Paul
- Yann – Breton form of John
- Per – Breton form of Peter
- Mikael – Breton form of Michael
- Herri – Breton form of Henry
- Jakez – Breton form of Jacques
- Fanch – Breton form of Francis
- Erwan – popular modern Breton name
- Gwenael – Breton name with Celtic roots
- Maël – Celtic, often read as prince
- Tanguy – from tan, fire, and ki, dog
- Gwendal – Breton name with Celtic roots
- Elouan – popular modern Breton name
- Yannick – Breton diminutive of Yann
- Yannig – little Yann in Breton
- Pierrick – Breton diminutive of Pierre
- Hervé – saint honoured across Brittany
- Loïc – widely used in Brittany
- Goulven – Breton saint's name
- Gaël – linked to the Gaels
- Alan – common in Brittany since the Middle Ages
- Judikael – king and saint of early Brittany
- Riwal – name from early Breton history
- Yvon – Breton form of Ivo
- Hoel – name borne by Breton dukes
Breton Girl Names
Soft, musical names from Brittany.
- Nolwenn – popular Breton girls' name
- Enora – name of a Breton saint
- Gwenola – name of a Breton saint
- Gwenn – Breton for white
- Katell – Breton form of Catherine
- Annaïg – little Anne in Breton
- Soazig – Breton diminutive name
- Maïwenn – popular modern Breton girls' name
- Morgane – Celtic, linked to the Arthurian tales
- Gaëlle – feminine of Gaël
- Maëlle – feminine of Maël
- Yvonne – French form common in Brittany
- Aziliz – Breton form of Cecilia
- Mari – Breton form of Mary
- Anna – much loved in Brittany
- Armelle – feminine of Armel
- Tiphaine – French name widely used in Brittany
- Gwenaelle – feminine of Gwenael
- Ivona – feminine of Ivo
Breton Forms of Common Names
The Breton versions of names you already know.
- Yann-Vari – Breton for John Mary
- Paol – Breton form of Paul
- Andrev – Breton form of Andrew
- Frañsez – Breton form of Francis
- Fañch – short form of Frañsez
- Josef – Breton form of Joseph
- Tangi – Breton spelling of Tanguy
- Kaourintin – Breton spelling of Corentin
- Youenn – Breton name linked to Owen
- Lukaz – Breton form of Luke
- Mazhev – Breton form of Matthew
- Fanchig – affectionate form of Fanch
Legendary and Mythic Breton Names
Names from the tales told along the coast.
- Dahut – princess in the legend of Ys
- Gradlon – king in the legend of Ys
- Ys – the legendary drowned city
- Ankou – the figure of death in Breton folklore
- Korrigan – Breton fairy in folk tales
- Merlin – linked to Brocéliande forest
- Viviane – Lady of the Lake in the Arthurian tales
- Brocéliande – forest of Arthurian legend
- Lancelot – Arthurian knight of the lake
- Tristan – tragic lover of the old romances
- Iseult – the Tristan story's heroine
- Morgan – sea-fairy of Breton tales
- Arthur – the Arthurian king
- Gwenc'hlan – legendary Breton bard
- Taliesin – Celtic bard of old Wales
- Azenor – heroine of a Breton legend
- Konomor – villain in Breton saint tales
Breton Place Names as Baby Names
Places in Brittany that make lovely names.
- Quimper – old city of Finistère
- Roscoff – port on the north coast
- Carnac – famous for ancient standing stones
- Ouessant – island at the western tip
- Belle-Île – largest of the Breton islands
- Dinan – medieval walled town
- Morlaix – town with a grand viaduct
- Concarneau – walled harbour town
- Vannes – old city on the Gulf of Morbihan
- Brest – major naval port
- Rennes – capital of Brittany
- Lorient – port city on the south coast
- Paimpol – harbour town in the north
- Locronan – old granite village
- Dol – town linked to Saint Samson
- Penmarc'h – Breton name meaning horse head
- Ploumanac'h – pink granite coast
- Armor – Breton for land by the sea
- Argoat – Breton for land of the woods
- Quiberon – peninsula on the south coast
How to Pick a Breton Name
A Breton name carries a place and a language. Five habits help.
1. Check the spelling
Breton spellings use letters such as ñ and c'h. Decide whether you want the Breton form or the French one.
2. Learn the sound
Many Breton names have a stress and a vowel that English speakers skip. Hear a native speaker say it first.
3. Know the saint
Many Breton names come from local saints. Reading about the saint adds a story to the name.
4. Test it with your surname
Celtic names pair well with short surnames and flow with longer ones.
5. Respect the language
Breton is a living minority language. Using the right accents shows care.
FAQs
What language are Breton names from?
Breton, a Celtic language spoken in Brittany that is closely related to Welsh and Cornish. Many names also come in French form.
Are Breton names popular outside France?
A few, such as Ronan, Morgan and Tristan, are used widely. Most remain distinct to Brittany.
What is a common Breton boy's name?
Yann, Erwan, Ronan and Gwenael are common picks in Brittany.
Conclusion: Breton Names
Breton names bring the sea, the saints and the legends. Choose one that suits your voice, check the spelling, and let a piece of Brittany come along.