Mathonwy as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Mathonwy

What is the meaning of the name Mathonwy ?

The baby name Mathonwy is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /maˈθɔnwi/ (ma-THON-wee; stress on the second syllable; 'th' as in 'thing').

Mathonwy is Welsh in Origin.

Mathonwy is a rare Welsh masculine name rooted in medieval tradition. In the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, it appears in the title Math fab Mathonwy (“Math, son of Mathonwy”), naming Mathonwy as the father of the enchanter-king Math. The name occurs in early Welsh genealogies and was occasionally revived during 19th–20th‑century Celtic cultural movements, but it remains very uncommon in contemporary use.

Etymologically, Mathonwy is Welsh and is often linked to the Proto-Celtic element matu- “bear,” combined with the old name-forming suffix -onwy, a pattern also seen in Goronwy; the exact sense is debated, with glosses such as “bear-like” or “of the bear.” Medieval spellings vary (commonly showing -ui/-uy for modern -wy). Short forms may use Math, while rare Anglicized attempts like Mathonwe appear sporadically. Variant/related names: Math; compare Goronwy for the shared -onwy ending.

⚙ Mathonwy turns up in none of the birth registries or name datasets we cover. Names like this are usually very rare, tied to a particular region or tradition, or freshly invented. Whatever the reason, hardly anyone else has it.