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Llewelyn as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Llewelyn

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The baby name Llewelyn is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ɬəˈwɛlɪn/ (Welsh), approx. 'hloo-WEL-in' (English approximation).

Llewelyn is Welsh in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: /ɬəˈwɛlɪn/ (Welsh), approx. 'hloo-WEL-in' (English approximation)

What is the meaning of the name Llewelyn ?

The baby name Llewelyn is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ɬəˈwɛlɪn/ (Welsh), approx. 'hloo-WEL-in' (English approximation).

Llewelyn is Welsh in Origin.

Llewelyn is a Welsh masculine name, an Anglicized spelling of standard Welsh Llywelyn. Its etymology is debated: many connect it to the Welsh element llyw (“leader, guide; helm”) plus a diminutive or affectionate ending -elyn, while folk etymology links it to llew (“lion”), giving rise to the popular gloss “lion-like” or “lion‑hearted.” Either way, it carries connotations of leadership and strength.

The name was borne by medieval rulers of Gwynedd, notably Llywelyn the Great (1173–1240) and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (“the Last”), cementing its patriotic resonance in Wales. After a period of decline, it survived as both given name and the common Welsh surname Llewellyn, and saw revival during the 19th‑century Welsh cultural renaissance. Variants include Llywelyn (Welsh), Llewellyn and Lewellyn (Anglicized), and the literary/Latinized Leoline or Leolin. Short forms are Llew and Lew; feminine forms include Llewella.

Llewelyn has the following similar or variant Names

Celebrity babies named Llewelyn

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Llewelyn Edouard Thomas Dylan Thomas film director

Llewelyn – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
NA Boys 0 #252 2 6,830
JM Girls 0 #278 1 7,507
JM Boys 0 #287 7 6,876
Canada Boys 2021 #311 5 2,600
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
PH Girls 0 #429 1 13,098
ZA 0 #437 11 14,421
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
KW Girls 0 #560 2 19,177
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
QA Boys 0 #742 2 18,093
United States Boys 2024 #870 23 7,044
United States Girls 2020 #913 5 8,768
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
SA Girls 0 #1,013 2 25,931
ZA Boys 0 #1,080 99 25,619
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
ZA Girls 0 #1,236 1 25,928

Llewelyn is popular in 15 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
AE
Canada
CO
HK

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People also ask about Llewelyn

Llewelyn is predominantly a boy's name.
Llewelyn is a 3 syllable name, pronounced /ɬəˈwɛlɪn/ (Welsh), approx. 'hloo-WEL-in' (English approximation).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Llywelyn, Llewellyn, Llewelyn, Llewellin, Llew and Llewellen.
Across languages, Llewelyn has these equivalents: Lewis (anglicized), Leo / Leon (similar 'lion' sense).
Yes — Llewelyn ranked #311 in Canada in 2021, and appears in official birth registries across 2 countries.
Llewelyn ranks highest in Canada (#311 in 2021).
Llewelyn's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #881 in 2015 to #870 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Llewelyn for their child, including Dylan Thomas.