224 Breton Baby Names From The Land Of Legends

A culturally significant set rooted in three strong languages.

Written by Nisha Bharatan, B.Tech Specialty: Kids Fun and Developmental ActivitiesExperience: 6 years

Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha discovered her passion for writing in 2016 when she started documenting her journey into motherhood.

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Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

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Fact-checked by Trisha Chakraborty, MA, BEd Specialty: Child development & educationExperience: 5 years

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan.

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Last Updated on Nov 12, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Bretons are thought to be the natives of Brittany, a region in France (1). And Breton baby names reflect the strong artisans’ legacy of their ancient Altmer rule, cherishing nobility and power. The Bretons are considered to be especially religious and follow the Roman Catholic faith. Every town has its own patron saint, and the people honor them by immortalizing the saints as wooden statues in their churches. They are worshiped with great respect and often prayed for relief from the people’s sickness. Thus, the Bretons are a diverse group of people with interesting histories, traditions, and a deeply rooted faith. All of these influences can be seen in their names, such as Annick, meaning ‘God is gracious,’ Meriadoc, meaning ‘sea Lord,’ and Youenn, meaning ‘little archer.’ These names are mainly inspired by real-world French, English, and Gaelic names but are modified to give them the perfect Old English or Breton feel. But that’s not a hard-and-fast rule. Breton also uses plenty of unusual names that do not seem to fit any particular pattern. On the other hand, the family names or surnames are mainly normal French, English, or Gaelic last names. Breton baby names were at the height of their popularity in 1972, with over 2.975% of boys given Breton names and six of them appearing in the top 1,000 name list. The frequency of use may have declined over the years, but that doesn’t mean they are no longer in use. Breton names are still quite popular in Europe, especially among the Celtic Britons inhabiting the Brittany region. And if you are also one of those people who are curious to know more about the unique historical names, you’ll find our list of Breton baby boys’ and girls’ names handy. Take a look!

Name	Gender	Meaning
Evan	Boy	Yahweh is gracious; God is gracious; Youth; Born from the yew tree
Ronan	Boy	Little seal; A pledge; An oath
Brian	Boy	High; Power; Hill
Brendan	Boy	Fiery hill; Prince; King
Brittany	Girl	From Britain; From the land of Britons
Mikael	Boy	Who is like God
Maelynn	Girl	Princess; Chief; Month of May
Aleyna	Girl	To us; Gentle; Soft; Handsome; Little rock
Brenden	Boy	Prince; King; Outstanding
Nael	Boy	God has given; Blessed and generous

Laina	Girl	Little rock; Handsome; Dark; Wave; Of Magdala; Path
Alanni	Unisex	Little rock; Handsome
Mai	Girl	Water; Love; Dance; Beloved
Aela	Girl	Angel; Messenger
Rogue	Boy	Arrogant; Haughty; Excess; Exuberance
Yannick	Unisex	God is gracious
Alany	Unisex	Orange tree; Orange fruit; Little rock; Handsome
Braya	Girl	Brave; Fine
Rhydian	Boy	Red; Crossing
Maelie	Girl	A princess; Chieftain; Mother; Lily

Eliaz	Boy	My God is strong; Yahweh is my God
Izabell	Girl	My God is an oath
Laniah	Unisex	Little rock; Handsome; Light; World
Alania	Unisex	Little rock; Handsome
Nona	Girl	Ninth; Dove; Firstborn daughter; Nun
Eon	Unisex	Yahweh is gracious;
Maeli	Unisex	Prince; Chieftain; Lord
Renan	Unisex	Little seal; Seal
Yann	Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Muriel	Girl	Bright sea; God's myrrh

Andreya	Girl	Masculine; Manly; Virile
Tylia	Unisex	Heritage; Wealth; Fortune
Alano	Boy	Little rock; Handsome
Ewen	Boy	Born of the yew tree
Maze	Unisex	Gift of Yahweh; Honor; Love; Affection
Trever	Boy	A large homestead; Settlement; Big village; Great victory; Superiority
Solenn	Girl	Religious; Sunlight; Eastern wind; Sun
Bren	Boy	King; Prince; Heat
Even	Boy	God is gracious; Victor with good fortune
Yanna	Girl	God is gracious; Yahweh is merciful

Alonnah	Boy	Little rock; Handsome
Alem	Boy	Scholar; Noble protection; Little rock
Enora	Girl	Honor; Dignity
Maden	Boy	Good
Armel	Boy	Bear prince; Bear chieftain
Avel	Boy	A fresh and refreshing breath of air
Brandan	Boy	King; Prince; Hill covered with broom
Elleanna	Unisex	Little rock; Favor; Grace
Lanya	Unisex	Little rock; Handsome; Light; World
Alaine	Unisex	Little rock; Beautiful; Joyous

Alann	Boy	Little Rock; Harmony; Handsome
Alaan	Unisex	Little rock; Handsome; Flag bearer
Ke	Unisex	Hair; Rejoice
Jud	Boy	To flow; Descend; Praised; Generous
Gaelen	Boy	Healer; Calm; Descendant of Gallán
Gaelle	Girl	My father is joy
Yanick	Boy	Yahweh is gracious
Alera	Unisex	Enough; Ruler of all; To choose
Carlens	Boy	Settlement of free men
Erwan	Boy	Yew

Maela	Unisex	Prince; Chieftain; Lord
Hervey	Boy	Battle worthy
Divi	Girl	Beloved; Glorious; Sun-like glow
Allaina	Girl	Torch; Bright; Light; Rock; Handsome
Kado	Unisex	Battle
Konan	Unisex	Born on Wednesday; Little wolf; Little hound
Loana	Girl	Light
Aliha	Unisex	Respected; Noble; Exalted
Launa	Girl	Little rock; Handsome
Solenne	Girl	Sunlight; Religious; Solemn; Eastern winds;

Solen	Unisex	Religious
Joycee	Unisex	Lord; To rejoice
Alanda	Unisex	Little rock; Harmony
Brien	Boy	High; Power; Hill
Alayn	Boy	Little rock; Handsome
Naelle	Unisex	God has given; Blessed and generous
Deniel	Boy	God is my judge
Jabel	Unisex	A stream
Kristof	Boy	Bearing Christ
Harvi	Unisex	Battle worthy; Strong warrior

Lohan	Unisex	Light
Nohan	Unisex	Lamb
Per	Boy	The person who is like a rock or stone
Brittnay	Girl	From Brittany; From Britain; From the land of Britons
Gael	Girl	My father is joy
Serj	Boy	Servant
Gaella	Girl	Gael; Irishman
Anael	Unisex	God answers; Grace of God
Harvie	Unisex	Battle worthy
Tilia	Girl	Heritage; Fortune; Lime or teil tree

Aileana	Girl	Little rock; Handsome
Alaena	Girl	Little rock; Handsome"
Felisia	Girl	Lucky; Successful
Jil	Unisex	Downy-bearded; Young goat
Evanne	Girl	God is gracious; Graceful life
Maelia	Unisex	Prince; Chieftain; Lord
Sharleez	Girl	Man; Army
Lenai	Girl	Porch; Moon; Torch; Corposant; Of Magdala; Tower
Ailean	Boy	Little rock; Handsome
Anick	Girl	God is gracious; Favor

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You have the choice to give your child a name that carries deep meaning, connects to tradition, holds historical significance, or represents a sense of freedom. However, selecting a name that will suit your baby as they grow from infancy to adulthood is important. Breton baby names can help distinguish individuals in a globally connected world, making them unique and highlighting their special cultural heritage. These names play an important role in keeping traditions alive and honoring the region’s distinct identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some Breton baby names that are easy to spell?

Some Breton names that may be easier to spell for non-native speakers include Ael or Aela, meaning ‘rock’ or ‘angel;’ Enora, meaning ‘honor;’ Gwen, representing ‘white’ or ‘holy;’ Iven, meaning ‘little archer’ and Yuna, meaning ‘lamb’ or ‘the archer.’

2. What are some Breton baby names that have historical significance?

Some Breton baby names with historical significance include names such as Anna, the Greek and Latin Old Testament version of Channah or Hannah. This name can be translated to mean ‘favor’ or ‘grace’ and is associated with Saint Anna, mother of Mary, and was also used by numerous Russian Royals. Corentin is another such Breton name that possesses historical significance. This name can be translated to mean ‘hurricane’ or ‘storm,’ and it was borne by a 5th-century bishop of Quimper in Brittany.

Infographic: Traditional And Meaningful Breton Baby Names

Parents who want to honor their Breton heritage may consider Breton names for their children. These names have a rich heritage and culture and help children feel more connected to their roots. We curated a list of wonderful Breton baby names for your precious little one, and you can find them in this infographic.

brilliant breton baby names for your little one (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Leo Carruthers; (2014); What Makes Breton Lays’ Breton’? Bretons
Britons and Celtic ‘Otherness’ in Medieval Romance.

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.