Cadwalader as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Cadwalader

What is the meaning of the name Cadwalader ?

The baby name Cadwalader is a Male name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced kad-WAL-ə-der (IPA: /kædˈwælədər/).

Cadwalader is Welsh in Origin.

Cadwalader is the Anglicized form of the Welsh royal name Cadwaladr, built from cad “battle” and (g)waladr “leader, prince,” yielding the meaning “battle leader” or “ruler in battle.” It became famous through Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon, 7th‑century king of Gwynedd, revered as Cadwaladr Fendigaid (“the Blessed”). His legend and the red dragon banner associated with him fed later Welsh identity and prophecy traditions recorded by medieval authors like Geoffrey of Monmouth.

As a given name, Cadwalader was common in medieval Wales, then waned, later persisting in Welsh‑speaking communities and appearing among Anglo‑Welsh and Quaker families in early America, especially around Philadelphia. Today it is rare as a first name but survives as a surname in the United States. Variants and spellings include Cadwaladr (Welsh standard), Cadwallader, and Cadwalladr; related is Cadwallon. A compact modern short form sometimes used is Cad.

⚙ Cadwalader doesn't appear in any of the birth registries or name datasets we track. It's the kind of name that tends to be rare, regional, or newly made up. Whichever it is, scarcely anyone else carries it.