Cariad as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Cariad

What is the meaning of the name Cariad ?

The baby name Cariad is a Unisex name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkarjad/ (KAH-ree-ad).

Cariad is Welsh in Origin.

Cariad is a modern Welsh given name taken directly from the everyday noun cariad, meaning "love," "beloved," or "sweetheart." It derives from the verb caru "to love," with the nominal suffix -iad, and is widely used in Wales as a term of endearment between partners, parents and children, and friends. As a personal name it retains this warm sense of affection and closeness.

As a given name, Cariad came into wider use in the late twentieth century and remains most common in Wales and among Welsh diaspora communities, typically for girls but sometimes used unisex. It has no medieval saintly or royal bearers, underscoring its contemporary character. Short forms include Cari, while related Welsh names built on the same root include Carys/Cerys and Caris (from caru + -ys) and the masculine Carwyn ("blessed love").

⚙ Cariad is a genuine rarity. We count just 1 recorded use of it worldwide, from 1 country.