Llyr as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Llyr

What is the meaning of the name Llyr ?

The baby name Llyr is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /ɬiːr/ — approximately "lh-eer" (like "leer" with the Welsh "Ll" [ɬ]).

Llyr is Welsh in Origin.

A mythic Welsh name, Llyr traces to Llŷr, widely interpreted from Proto-Celtic *Līros meaning “sea” or “ocean,” and cognate with Irish Lir. In Insular Celtic tradition Llŷr/Lir personifies the sea’s power. Medieval Welsh literature - especially the Mabinogion and the Triads - presents Llŷr as a patriarchal figure and father of Brân (Bendigeidfran), Branwen, and Manawydan. The name is often linked to Lear/Leir, the legendary British king preserved by Geoffrey of Monmouth and popularized by Shakespeare, suggesting an Anglicized pathway from Llŷr into English lore.

Usage is rare but culturally resonant in Wales and among the Welsh diaspora, with periodic revival alongside interest in Celtic heritage. Variants and related forms include Llŷr (standard Welsh with circumflex), Llyr (diacriticless modern form), Lear/Leir (Anglicized/legendary), Lir (Irish cognate), and Latinized Ler. Primarily masculine, the name carries maritime symbolism - depth, movement, and steadfastness.

⚙ Llyr is absent from every birth registry and name dataset we follow. It's the kind of name that tends to be rare, regional, or newly made up. Whatever the reason, hardly anyone else has it.