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Breton Boy Names

Breton male names come from Breton, a Celtic language of Brittany in northwest France. Many boys’ names reflect early medieval Breton and Armorican saints, which shaped masculine naming. A common structural feature is the -an/-en ending in masculine forms (for example, Alan, Erwan), and consonant clusters like gw- appear in names such as Gwilherm.

Today these names are most used in Brittany and elsewhere in France, often alongside French-adapted spellings. Variant forms coexist (Erwan/Erwann; Alain/Alan). Representative male names include Alan, Alain, Erwan, Erwann, Corentin, Gildas, Herve, Brieuc, Briac, and Gael.

Name Meaning Origins Gender Popularity (last 10y)
Tristan Traditionally 'sorrowful' (folk etymology from Old French 'triste'); original Brittonic form likely Drustan/Drystan, so exact meaning is uncertain Breton, Welsh Boy 24,020 #1
Alan Possibly "little rock" or "handsome/cheerful" (etymology uncertain) Breton, Celtic Boy 21,478 #2
Malo Name of a 6th-century Breton/Welsh saint (Maclovius); used as a Breton masculine name and as the namesake of the town Saint‑Malo. Breton Boy 8,318 #3
Rohan From Sanskrit rohaṇ meaning 'ascending, rising, growing'; in some traditions also associated with 'red' or 'red-haired'. Breton, French, Sanskrit Boy 3,363 #4
Corentin Name of an early Breton saint; original meaning uncertain - often given in sources as related to a storm/tempest Breton Boy 2,312 #5
Erwan Yew (yew tree) Breton Boy 2,287 #6
Yann God is gracious Breton Boy 1,632 #7
Brice Speckled; freckled Breton, Celtic Boy 1,149 #8
Alain Little rock; handsome Breton, Celtic Boy 638 #9
Loann Likely "God is gracious" if derived from John; otherwise a modern Breton compound/name-form Breton, French Boy 546 #10
Yannick God is gracious (diminutive: 'little John') Breton, French Boy 444 #11
Erwann Yew (yew tree) Breton Boy 410 #12
Yoann God (Yahweh) is gracious Breton, French Boy 402 #13
Brieuc From the name of a Breton/Welsh saint; likely related to the Celtic root bri- meaning 'honor' or 'prestige' Breton Boy 241 #14
Briac From Breton 'bri' meaning 'prestige, honor' - roughly 'honorable' or 'man of prestige.' Breton Boy 221 #15
Louen Happy, joyful (from Breton laouen 'happy') Breton Boy 147 #16
Pol Derived from the Latin name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble" Breton, Dutch Boy 123 #17
Harvie Battle-worthy Breton Boy 109 #18
Pierrick Diminutive of Pierre - 'little rock' / 'little stone' (from 'rock') Breton, French Boy 95 #19
Ivon 'Yew' (yew tree); by extension associated with yew wood/archery Breton, French Boy 73 #20
Breton Person from Brittany (a Celtic region of northwestern France) Breton Boy 45 #21
Kentin Derived from Latin Quintinus meaning "fifth" (often 'born fifth') Breton Boy 44 #22
Edern Bird Breton, Welsh Boy 42 #23
Rohann Primarily 'ascending' or 'to rise' (Sanskrit); also associated with 'red-haired'/'little red one' via Gaelic (Rowan); historically a Breton place-name/surname. Breton, French, Gaelic, Irish, Sanskrit Boy 41 #24
Gildas Uncertain - likely from a Brittonic/Celtic root possibly meaning 'pledge' or 'hostage', or by extension 'servant'. Breton Boy 20 #25
Louwen Likely 'lion' (from Leon/Leo/Louis roots) or, in some Celtic contexts, related to 'joyful'/'happy' Breton, Dutch, Germanic Boy 17 #26
Yannik God is gracious Breton, French, Latin Boy 14 #27
Brieg From Old Welsh 'bri' (honour, prestige) via 'Brioc' - generally rendered as 'honorable' or 'man of prestige' Breton Boy 12 #28
Aland Likely "little rock" or "handsome" Breton, Gaelic Boy 10 #29
Gaell ‘Gael’ - a member of the Gaelic people; ‘Gaelic’ or ‘Irish/Scottish person’ Breton, Celtic Boy 6 #30
Hervey Battle-worthy (strong or worthy in battle) Breton Boy 6 #31
Jannick Derived from John, meaning 'God is gracious.' Breton, Germanic, Scandinavian Boy 5 #32
Ervan Yew (yew tree) Breton Boy 4 #33
Alaen Variant of Alan/Alain; from Celtic roots commonly interpreted as 'rock' or 'handsome' Breton, Celtic, French Boy
Aleyn Probably 'little rock' (from a Celtic/Breton root 'al' meaning rock) Breton, English, French Boy
Allenn Likely "little rock"; also sometimes rendered as "handsome" or linked to "harmony" Breton, Gaelic Boy
Arthgallo From Brythonic arth 'bear' + gall(o) 'Gaul/foreigner' - roughly 'bear of the Gauls' or 'foreign bear' Breton Boy
Benigied Vran Likely 'son of the raven' or 'blessed raven' (composite interpretation). Breton Boy
Bretan Person from Brittany; Briton Breton, English Boy
Brettin Little Breton; descendant or person from Brittany (derived from Brett) Breton, English Boy
Charvey Battle-worthy; strong in battle Breton Boy
Dewyt Beloved Breton, Welsh Boy
Enor Honor; honored Breton Boy
Erwyn Often interpreted as "army friend" (from Germanic roots); sometimes linked to the Breton name Erwan (associated with the yew). Breton, Germanic Boy
Euzen Well‑born, noble Breton Boy
Fabryenn From the family name Fabius, originally meaning 'bean' or 'broad-bean grower' Breton Boy
Fulup Lover of horses Breton Boy
Gael From Breton 'hael' meaning 'generous' and/or from Gaelic meaning 'Gael' (a member of the Gaelic people). Breton Boy
Garlan Likely from a surname or place-name; possibly related to 'garland' (wreath) or a Breton toponym - meaning uncertain. Breton, English, French Boy
Gildass Uncertain - traditionally interpreted as 'servant' or 'devotee'; exact etymology is debated Breton, Welsh Boy

Breton Boys name popularity over time

Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Breton-origin name in our dataset.

82
Names in this origin
2
With data in 2025
0
Births 2025
27,298
Peak year 1950