Breton names are the first names of Brittany, the Celtic corner of north-west France, and most of them come from the saints and old Brittonic words the Britons brought over from Wales and Cornwall in the 5th and 6th centuries: Maël, Erwan, Yann, Loïc, Ronan, Corentin, Nolwenn, Enora and Maïwenn are the best known. Maël was the tenth most given boys’ name in the whole of France in 2025, with about 2,700 babies, according to INSEE, the French statistics office. Many have a Breton spelling and a French one, and some have Welsh or Cornish cousins.
This guide is part of our Scottish Names collection. Browse the full Scottish names directory, or go up a level to our Celtic names guide, which lines up names from all six Celtic nations. For the Gaelic side of the family, see our Scottish Gaelic names list.
This is written for parents and name-lovers who like the sound of Breton names but want to know how to spell them, how to say them, and whether a French registrar or a Scottish school teacher will cope. You get 68 names with the Breton and French spellings, meanings from the saints’ lives and the old Breton words, a pronunciation guide, and real counts of how many French babies got each one in 2025.
A wee bit of context. Breton is a Brittonic language, the sister of Welsh and Cornish, not of Scottish Gaelic. It has fallen from more than a million speakers around 1950 to about 107,000 in 2024, and UNESCO lists it as severely endangered, according to the history of the Breton language. The names have done far better than the language: you will hear them in playgrounds all over France.
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Breton name finder
68 names from Brittany, with Breton and French spellings. Filter by boy or girl, where the name comes from, and how often French parents actually used it in 2025.
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How popular are Breton names in France?
More popular than ever for a handful of names, and fading for the rest. The table uses the INSEE first-names file, which counts every baby name given in France from 1900 to 2025. We added Breton and French spellings together (Maël and Mael, for example).
| Name | For | Babies in France, 2025 | Peak year | Babies in peak year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maël | Boy | 2,855 | 2022 | 3,745 |
| Malo | Boy | 1,730 | 2021 | 1,935 |
| Ewen | Boy | 430 | 2011 | 615 |
| Youna | Girl | 410 | 2025 | 410 |
| Maëla | Girl | 375 | 2012 | 985 |
| Enora | Girl | 175 | 2013 | 1,210 |
| Erwan | Boy | 140 | 2006 | 1,520 |
| Maïwenn | Girl | 125 | 2012 | 475 |
| Armel | Boy | 120 | 2021 | 140 |
| Corentin | Boy | 100 | 1996 | 3,945 |
| Yann | Boy | 100 | 1972 | 3,305 |
| Elouan | Boy | 70 | 2006 | 580 |
Two things stand out. Maël and Malo are now mainstream French names, not regional ones, and Youna hit its highest ever total in 2025. Meanwhile the 1970s favourites have faded hard: Yann peaked in 1972 with about 3,300 boys, Yannick the same year with 3,600, and Hervé in 1967 with about 7,000. If you want a Breton name that still feels fresh in France, pick from the first list, not the second.
How to say Breton names
Breton spelling is regular once you know a few rules. These come from the pronunciation notes in the French Wikipedia list of Breton names, which follows the modern Breton standard.
| Spelling | How to say it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| final g | k when the name stands alone | Brieg sounds like BREE-ek |
| w | w, as in English | Gwenn, Erwan |
| ch | sh | Fañch sounds like FAHNSH |
| c’h | a throaty kh, like loch, at the end of a word; an h at the start | Berc’hed |
| an | a nasal an plus n | Ronan |
| añ | a nasal an, no n | Fañch |
| i | always a separate ee | Loig is LO-ik, not LOYG |
| ae | like the e in bed | Gwenvael |
| final v | o | Andrev sounds like AHN-dreh-o |
| ao | o | Paol sounds like POL |
| stress | usually on the second-last syllable | an-DREH-o, not AN-dreh-o |
Three building habits explain most of the list. The ending -ig makes any name little or fond: Annaig is little Anna, Perig is little Pêr, Soazig is little Soaz. Girls’ names end in -a, -enn, -ell or -ez, never in a French -e, so Armelle is French and Arzhela is Breton. And Breton loves to keep the end of a long name: Lena from Elena, Soaz from Frañsoaz, Jikel from Judikael.
Breton, French, Welsh and Cornish spellings side by side
Because Breton, Welsh and Cornish all grew from the language of the Britons, the same Bible and saint names turn up in all three. Here are the ones we could confirm from the name histories we opened.
| English | Breton | French | Welsh | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John | Yann | Jean | Ioan, Ieuan, Ifan | |
| Peter | Pêr | Pierre | Pedr | Peder |
| James | Jakez, Jagu | Jacques | Iago | Jago |
| Thomas | Tomaz | Thomas | Tomos | Tommas |
| Joseph | Jozef | Joseph | Joseff | Josep |
| William | Gwilherm | Guillaume | Gwilym | |
| Francis | Frañsez, Fañch | François | Ffransis | |
| Catherine | Katell | Catherine | Catrin | |
| Louis | Loeiz, Loïc | Louis | Lewis, Lewys | |
| Brioc | Brieg | Brieuc | Briog | Breock |
If the Welsh column is what caught your eye, our Welsh names guide has the full set with pronunciation.
Breton boys’ names
Maël
Meaning: prince, chief; literally great. Breton: Mael. French: Maël. Say it: MAH-el. In France: about 2,855 babies in France in 2025, peak 2022.
The name of the moment. It comes from the Old Breton mael, prince or chief, literally great, and it has spread far beyond Brittany: about 2,700 French boys got the Maël spelling in 2025, tenth in the country, and the French name history gives Maëlle and Maela as the girls’ forms. The downside is obvious: in France it is no longer distinctive, so a Maël will rarely be the only one in the class.
Erwan
Meaning: disputed: from Old Breton Eudon, or the yew root of Yves. Breton: Erwan. French: Yves (near equivalent). Say it: AIR-wan. In France: about 140 babies in France in 2025, peak 2006.
The Breton boys’ name with the most history. It is usually matched with Yves, after St Yves Hélory of Kermartin (1253 to 1303), the patron saint of Brittany and of lawyers, known as the advocate of the poor. Where the name actually comes from is argued over: one view links it to the yew tree root behind Yves, the more common one to the Old Breton Eudon, recorded in the 9th century.
Yann
Meaning: Breton form of Jean (John), from Hebrew, God is gracious. Breton: Yann. French: Jean. Say it: YAN. In France: about 100 babies in France in 2025, peak 1972.
Plain Breton John. It peaked in France in 1972, when about 3,300 boys were given it, and Yannig (Yannick in French) peaked the same year. For a Scottish or Welsh family it is a neat pick: three letters, one syllable, and the Welsh cousins Ioan and Ifan are right next door. In French, Yannick drifted into use for girls too, by confusion with the girls’ name Janig; our unisex Celtic names guide has more names that work for any child.
Loïc
Meaning: Breton pet form linked to Louis (and Gwilherm). Breton: Loeiz, Loïc. French: Louis. Say it: LOH-ik. In France: about 65 babies in France in 2025, peak 1987.
The two dots matter: it is Lo-ik, two syllables. Loïc became a French favourite in the 1980s, peaking in 1987 with about 3,600 boys. It was especially popular in Brittany because it sits close to Laouig, a Breton pet form of Gwilherm (William). Loeiz is the formal Breton Louis.
Ronan
Meaning: from St Ronan; Irish Rónán. Breton: Ronan. French: Ronan. Say it: RO-nan(n). In France: about 25 babies in France in 2025, peak 1979.
From St Ronan, with the Irish Rónán behind it. Breton speakers keep the final n sounded, so it is RO-nan with an n you can hear, not the French nasal. It was most popular in France in 1979, and it travels well to Scotland and Ireland, where nobody needs it spelled.
Corentin
Meaning: disputed: help or succour, or friend and kin. Breton: Kaourintin. French: Corentin. Say it: ko-ren-TAN. In France: about 100 babies in France in 2025, peak 1996.
St Corentin (Kaourintin in Breton) is remembered as the first bishop of Quimper and one of the Seven Founder Saints of Brittany. The meaning is disputed: help or succour, friend and kin, or even storm. Corentin was a big French name in the 1990s, peaking in 1996 with nearly 4,000 boys.
Malo
Meaning: probably Old Breton mach, hostage, plus lou, bright. Breton: Malo. French: Malo. Say it: MAH-lo. In France: about 1,730 babies in France in 2025, peak 2021.
Saint-Malo’s founder, a Welsh monk who died in 621. The name probably joins Old Breton mach, hostage or pledge, and lou, bright. It has quietly become one of France’s most popular boys’ names: about 1,730 babies in 2025, close to its 2021 peak.
Tanguy
Meaning: tan, fire, plus ki, dog: fiery warrior. Breton: Tangi. French: Tanguy. Say it: TAHN-gee. In France: about 5 babies in France in 2025, peak 2000.
Fire plus dog: tan and ki, which the name histories read as fiery warrior. It was typical of Léon in north-west Brittany in the Middle Ages. In France it is now rare, with about five boys a year, down from a peak of about 1,225 in 2000.
Gwenaël
Meaning: gwenn, white or pure, plus hael, generous. Breton: Gwenael. French: Gwénaël. Say it: GWEN-ah-el. In France: about 20 babies in France in 2025, peak 1976.
White or pure plus generous, from gwenn and hael, and recorded as early as 833 as Uuinhael. The girls’ version Gwenaëlle is a French creation: Breton itself has no feminine for it.
Brieuc
Meaning: from St Brieuc (Brioc), a 6th-century Welsh monk. Breton: Brieg. French: Brieuc. Say it: BREE-ek. In France: about 35 babies in France in 2025, peak 2001.
St Brioc, a Welsh holy man of about 500, became the first abbot of Saint-Brieuc. His name is a neat demonstration of the family tree: Brieg in Breton, Briog in Welsh, Breock in Cornish and Brieuc in French.
Armel
Meaning: arth, bear, plus mael, prince. Breton: Arzhel. French: Armel. Say it: AR-mel. In France: about 120 babies in France in 2025, peak 2021.
Bear plus prince, from Old Breton Arthmael; the bear element is one that some scholars also see in Arthur. Armel is having a modest comeback in France, with about 120 boys in 2025, its best year since 2021. Arzhel is the Breton spelling, and Armelle or Arzhela the girls’ forms.
Breton girls’ names
Nolwenn
Meaning: the white (blessed) one of Noyal, after St Noyale. Breton: Nolwenn. French: Nolwenn. Say it: NOL-wen. In France: about 35 babies in France in 2025, peak 2002.
The white or blessed one of Noyal, after St Noyale of Pontivy (Naolwenn in Breton), feast day 6 July. Nolwenn peaked in France in 2002 with about 850 girls. Some read it as an heol gwenn, white sun, but the saint is the safer story.
Enora
Meaning: Breton form of Honora, honour. Breton: Enora. French: Enora. Say it: eh-NO-ra. In France: about 175 babies in France in 2025, peak 2013.
The Breton form of Honora, honour. In the legend St Enora was the bride of St Efflam, who had vowed chastity, so the two lived as brother and sister; her statue stands at Plestin-les-Grèves. Enora had about 175 French girls in 2025.
Maïwenn
Meaning: on the OPLB list; meaning not settled in our sources. Breton: Maiwenn. French: Maïwenn. Say it: my-WEN. In France: about 125 babies in France in 2025, peak 2012.
One of the most distinctive Breton girls’ names in French use, with about 125 babies in 2025 and a peak in 2012. We could not find a source we trust for the meaning, so we will not guess. Say it my-WEN.
Youna
Meaning: from St Youna of Plounévez-Moëdec. Breton: Youna, Yuna. French: Jeune. Say it: YOO-na. In France: about 410 babies in France in 2025, peak 2025.
Youna (or Yuna) is a saint of Plounévez-Moëdec in the Trégor. The tradition says she came from Wales in the 6th century with her brother Envel. It is the rising star of the list: about 410 French girls in 2025, its highest year on record.
Maëla
Meaning: feminine of Mael, princess. Breton: Maela. French: Maëlle. Say it: MAH-eh-la. In France: about 375 babies in France in 2025, peak 2012.
The Breton feminine of Mael, so princess. Maëlle, the French spelling, does most of the work in the counts: together they reached about 375 girls in 2025.
Klervi
Meaning: disputed: jewel or precious stone, or strong. Breton: Klervi. French: Clervie. Say it: KLAIR-vee. In France: about 15 babies in France in 2025, peak 2007.
St Klervi was the daughter of St Gwenn and the sister of St Gwenole in the legend. The meaning is disputed: jewel or precious stone, or strong. One theory ties it to the Welsh Creirwy. Rare in France, with about 15 girls in 2025.
Gwenn
Meaning: white, pure, holy. Breton: Gwenn. French: Gwenn. Say it: GWEN. In France: under INSEE’s threshold in 2025, peak 2006.
White, pure, holy. St Gwenn was the mother of Jacut, Guethenoc, Gwenole and Klervi, so she is the matriarch of half this list. Welsh Gwen means the same, white and holy, which makes this the easiest crossover name here. Our Welsh girl names guide has the Welsh side.
Rozenn
Meaning: rose. Breton: Rozenn. French: Rose. Say it: ROH-zen. In France: about 35 babies in France in 2025, peak 1974.
Simply the Breton word for a rose, which makes it one of the few names on the list with no saint or legend attached. It peaked in France in 1974.
Aziliz
Meaning: on the OPLB list; meaning not settled in our sources. Breton: Aziliz. French: Aziliz. Say it: a-ZEE-leez. In France: about 25 babies in France in 2025, peak 2003.
A name you will find on the official Breton list, but whose meaning we could not pin down in a source we trust. It has a famous bearer: Aziliz Manrow, the Breton singer, granddaughter of the Le Goarnig family who fought the French state over Breton names (more on that below).
The fight over Breton names: Le Goarnig and Fañch
For a long time French registrars could refuse names that were not on recognised calendars, and Breton names were a target. In 1956 the registry refused to record the seventh child of the Le Goarnig family, Adraboran, because the name was Breton. The family had twelve children in all, and the family allowance office later refused benefits for the six youngest because their Breton names were not recognised.
The rules relaxed, but the spelling fight went on. In 2017 Quimper’s registry office refused the tilde on a baby called Fañch, because the ñ is not in the list of letters French civil records allow. A Quimper court backed the registry; the Court of Appeal in Rennes allowed the tilde on 19 November 2018, and the Court of Cassation dismissed the prosecutor’s appeal on 17 October 2019 on a procedural point, so Fañch kept his ñ. A 2021 law on regional languages tried to allow regional accents in civil records, but the Constitutional Council struck that article out. The full Fañch case history runs on to new Fañchs in Lorient and Angers in 2023.
Good to know: the tilde is not decoration. Fañch with the ñ is a nasal FAHNSH; without it the an becomes a sounded an-n. So if you choose Fañch outside France, keep the tilde, and be ready to explain it to every keyboard you meet.
How to choose a Breton name
- Decide how Breton you want it to look. Maël, Malo, Ronan, Enora and Lena read easily in English and French. Gwenolé, Kaourintin, Berc’hed and Fañch look Breton from across the street, which is the point if you choose them.
- Say it out loud in your own accent. Erwan, Yann, Loïc and Gwenn survive an English accent well. Tugdual and Judicaël tend to get mangled, so think of them as middle names.
- Pick the spelling that matches where the child will live. In France the French forms (Gaëlle, Maëlle, Annick) are what registrars expect; in Britain or America, the Breton spellings without the dots are simpler.
- Check the popularity table. If you want something unusual in France, avoid Maël and Malo, and look at Brieuc, Briac, Elouan, Klervi or Bleuenn.
Watch out for: French names that only look Breton. Gaëlle and Maëlle are French spellings of Breton names, but Gwenaëlle has no Breton original at all, and Tiphaine (Tifenn) comes from a Greek word for Epiphany, not from the Celts. They are all lovely names; just do not sell them to granny as ancient Breton.
Quick list: all 68 Breton names
| Name | Breton spelling | French form | Meaning | Say it | For | Origin | Babies in France (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan | Alan | Alain | disputed; possibly Breton, attested in Armorica from the 6th century | AH-lan | Boy | Old Breton word | 20 |
| Anaïg | Annaig | Anne | little Anne (grace) | AH-na-eek | Girl | Breton form of a European name | under the threshold |
| Anna | Anna | Anne | grace (Hebrew Hannah) | AN-na | Girl | Breton form of a European name | 1,925 |
| Annick | Annig | Annick | little Anne | AN-ik | Girl | Breton form of a European name | under the threshold |
| Armel | Arzhel | Armel | arth, bear, plus mael, prince | AR-mel | Boy | Old Breton word | 120 |
| Armelle | Arzhela | Armelle | bear plus prince | ar-MEL | Girl | Old Breton word | 20 |
| Arthur | Arzhur | Arthur | disputed; perhaps bear plus man, or king of the bears | ar-TUR | Boy | Legend | 2,875 |
| Awena | Awena, Awen | Awena | noble friend; Breton awen is poetic inspiration | a-WEH-na | Girl | Breton word | 10 |
| Aziliz | Aziliz | Aziliz | on the OPLB list; meaning not settled in our sources | a-ZEE-leez | Girl | Modern Breton | 25 |
| Berc’hed | Berc’hed | Brigitte | Breton Bridget | BAIR-khed | Girl | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Bleuenn | Bleuenn | Bleuenn | white flower | BLUR-en | Girl | Breton word | 50 |
| Brendan | Brendan | Brendan | from Old Welsh breenhin, prince or king | BREN-dan | Boy | Saint | under the threshold |
| Briac | Briag | Briac | from St Briac, an Irish monk who died at Bourbriac about 627 | BREE-ak | Boy | Saint | 35 |
| Brieuc | Brieg | Brieuc | from St Brieuc (Brioc), a 6th-century Welsh monk | BREE-ek | Boy | Saint | 35 |
| Corentin | Kaourintin | Corentin | disputed: help or succour, or friend and kin | ko-ren-TAN | Boy | Saint | 100 |
| Derrien | Derc’hen | Derrien | Dergen: oak plus lineage, son of the oak | DAIR-yen | Boy | Old Breton word | not in INSEE data |
| Efflam | Eflamm | Efflam | from St Efflam, Enora’s betrothed in the legend | EF-lam | Boy | Saint | 5 |
| Elouan | Elouan | Elouan | probably eu, good, plus lou, light, plus a diminutive | EL-oo-an | Boy | Saint | 70 |
| Enora | Enora | Enora | Breton form of Honora, honour | eh-NO-ra | Girl | Saint | 175 |
| Envel | Envel | Envel | from St Envel, brother of St Youna | EN-vel | Boy | Saint | under the threshold |
| Erwan | Erwan | Yves (near equivalent) | disputed: from Old Breton Eudon, or the yew root of Yves | AIR-wan | Boy | Saint | 140 |
| Ewen | Ewen | Ewen | uncertain; often tied to Erwan, sometimes to Eugene, well-born | EH-wen | Boy | Old Breton word | 430 |
| Fañch | Fañch, Frañsez | François | pet form of Frañsez (Francis) | FAHNSH | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Frañseza | Frañseza | Françoise | Frances | frahn-SEH-za | Girl | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Gaëlle | Gael | Gaëlle | French form linked to Gwenael and Judikael | GA-el | Girl | Old Breton word | 40 |
| Gildas | Gweltaz | Gildas | disputed: servant of God, golden, or hair | GWEL-taz | Boy | Saint | under the threshold |
| Glenn | Glenn | Glenn | from an obscure Breton saint commemorated at Saint-Glen | GLEN | Boy | Saint | 30 |
| Goulven | Goulven | Goulven | from St Goulven (meaning not settled) | GOOL-ven | Boy | Saint | under the threshold |
| Gurvan | Gurvan | Gurvan | an Old Breton name (meaning not settled) | GOOR-van | Boy | Old Breton word | under the threshold |
| Gwenaël | Gwenael | Gwénaël | gwenn, white or pure, plus hael, generous | GWEN-ah-el | Boy | Old Breton word | 20 |
| Gwenaëlle | Gwénaëlle | French-made feminine of Gwenael: white plus generous | GWEN-ah-el | Girl | Old Breton word | 20 | |
| Gwenn | Gwenn | Gwenn | white, pure, holy | GWEN | Girl | Saint | under the threshold |
| Gwenola | Gwenola | Gwenola | feminine of Gwenole | gwen-OH-la | Girl | Saint | under the threshold |
| Gwenolé | Gwennole, Gwenole | Guénolé | from St Gwenole (Winwaloe), abbot of Landévennec | gwen-OH-lay | Boy | Saint | 5 |
| Gwilherm | Gwilherm | Guillaume | William | GWEEL-yerm | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Hervé | Herve, Houarn | Hervé | Old Breton huiarnviu, from hoiarn, iron | AIR-vay | Boy | Old Breton word | 5 |
| Jakez | Jakez | Jacques | James (Jacob), the one who supplants | ZHA-kez | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Jozef | Jozef | Joseph | Joseph | ZHO-zef | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Judikael | Judikael, Yezekael | Judicaël | Old Breton iud, fighter then lord, plus hael, magnanimous | zhu-dee-KAH-el | Boy | Old Breton word | 10 |
| Katell | Katell | Catherine | Breton Catherine | KA-tel | Girl | Breton form of a European name | 15 |
| Klervi | Klervi | Clervie | disputed: jewel or precious stone, or strong | KLAIR-vee | Girl | Saint | 15 |
| Konan | Konan | Conan | a traditional Breton first name | KO-nan | Boy | Old Breton word | not in INSEE data |
| Lena | Lena | Léna | short form of Elena (Helen) | LEH-na | Girl | Breton form of a European name | 1,470 |
| Loïc | Loeiz, Loïc | Louis | Breton pet form linked to Louis (and Gwilherm) | LOH-ik | Boy | Breton form of a European name | 65 |
| Malo | Malo | Malo | probably Old Breton mach, hostage, plus lou, bright | MAH-lo | Boy | Saint | 1,730 |
| Maël | Mael | Maël | prince, chief; literally great | MAH-el | Boy | Old Breton word | 2,855 |
| Maëla | Maela | Maëlle | feminine of Mael, princess | MAH-eh-la | Girl | Old Breton word | 375 |
| Maïwenn | Maiwenn | Maïwenn | on the OPLB list; meaning not settled in our sources | my-WEN | Girl | Modern Breton | 125 |
| Mikael | Mikael | Michel | who is like God? | mee-KAH-el | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Morgane | Morgan | Morgane | Welsh Morcant: perhaps sea plus circle, or sea-born | mor-GAN | Girl | Legend | 55 |
| Nolwenn | Nolwenn | Nolwenn | the white (blessed) one of Noyal, after St Noyale | NOL-wen | Girl | Saint | 35 |
| Nominoë | Nominoë | from Nominoë, the 9th-century ruler of Brittany | no-mee-NO-eh | Boy | History | not in INSEE data | |
| Paol | Paol | Paul | Paul | POL | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Pêr | Pêr | Pierre | Peter, the rock | PAIR | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Riwal | Riwal | Riwal | from Riwal, leader of the Breton migration about 515 | REE-wal | Boy | History | not in INSEE data |
| Ronan | Ronan | Ronan | from St Ronan; Irish Rónán | RO-nan(n) | Boy | Saint | 25 |
| Rozenn | Rozenn | Rose | rose | ROH-zen | Girl | Breton word | 35 |
| Salaün | Salaün | Salomon | Breton form of Solomon, after King Salomon of Brittany | sa-la-UN | Boy | History | not in INSEE data |
| Soazig | Soazig, Soaz | Françoise | little Soaz (Françoise) | SWAH-zeek | Girl | Breton form of a European name | 15 |
| Tanguy | Tangi | Tanguy | tan, fire, plus ki, dog: fiery warrior | TAHN-gee | Boy | Old Breton word | 5 |
| Tifenn | Tifenn | Tiphaine | Greek theophania, God shows himself (Epiphany) | TEE-fen | Girl | Breton form of a European name | 20 |
| Tomaz | Tomaz | Thomas | Thomas, twin | TOH-maz | Boy | Breton form of a European name | not in INSEE data |
| Tristan | Tristan | Tristan | disputed; perhaps from Pictish Drust | TREES-tan | Boy | Legend | 125 |
| Tudi | Tudi, Tudy | Tudy | Breton tud, people | TOO-dee | Boy | Saint | not in INSEE data |
| Tugdual | Tugdual | Tugdual | tud, people, plus gwal, worth | TOOG-dwal | Boy | Saint | 5 |
| Yann | Yann | Jean | Breton form of Jean (John), from Hebrew, God is gracious | YAN | Boy | Breton form of a European name | 100 |
| Yannick | Yannig | Yannick | little Yann (Johnny) | YAN-ik | Boy | Breton form of a European name | 15 |
| Youna | Youna, Yuna | Jeune | from St Youna of Plounévez-Moëdec | YOO-na | Girl | Saint | 410 |
FAQ about Breton names
What are the most popular Breton names?
In France in 2025 the most popular names of Breton origin were Maël (about 2,700 boys, tenth nationally), Malo (about 1,730), Ewen (about 430), Youna (about 410), Maëla and Maëlle (about 375), Enora (about 175) and Erwan (about 140), according to INSEE. Older favourites such as Yannick, Loïc and Hervé have faded since their peaks in the 1960s to 1980s.
Is Maël a Breton name?
Yes. Maël comes from the Old Breton word mael, meaning prince or chief, literally great, and it is linked with St Maël. The Breton spelling is Mael; the dots are French. Maëlle and the Breton Maela are the girls’ forms. In 2025 Maël was the tenth most given boys’ name in France.
How do you pronounce Breton names?
Stress usually falls on the second-last syllable. A final g sounds like k (Brieg is BREE-ek), ch is sh, c’h is a throaty sound like loch, w is an English w, and i is always a separate ee (Loïc is LO-ik). An is a nasal plus n, while añ with a tilde is nasal with no n.
Are Breton names Celtic?
Many are. Breton is a Brittonic Celtic language, close to Welsh and Cornish, and names such as Gwenn, Maël, Tanguy and Gwenaël are built from Celtic words. Others are Breton forms of Bible and Latin names: Yann is John, Pêr is Peter, Katell is Catherine and Enora is Honora.
What is the Breton name for John?
Yann. Its pet form is Yannig, written Yannick in French, and the Welsh cousins are Ioan, Ieuan and Ifan. Yann was at its most popular in France in 1972, when about 3,300 boys were given it, and it is still given to around 100 babies a year.
Final thoughts on Breton names
If you want one Breton name that works everywhere, Maël is the safe call: easy to say, a real meaning, and current in France, though that last part is also its weakness. If you want something with more of Brittany in it, Erwan, Ronan, Enora and Youna all have a saint behind them and are still being given, without being everywhere.
For the surnames side of the Celtic family, with Mac, O’ and ap explained, see our Celtic last names guide.
Sources
- Office Public de la Langue Bretonne, Anvioù-bihan brezhonek / Prénoms bretons (official list, 17 July 2017)
- INSEE, Fichier des prénoms: France, 1900 to 2025 (published July 2026)
- Liste de prénoms bretons (pronunciation rules and building habits)
- Affaire Fañch (court rulings 2017 to 2023)
- Famille Le Goarnig
- Breton language (speaker numbers, UNESCO status)
- Sept saints fondateurs de la Bretagne
- Maël (name history)
- French Wikipedia pages for each name and saint (Erwan, Yves, Corentin de Quimper, Malo, Tanguy, Gwenaël, Armel, Nolwen, Enora, Yuna, Klervi, Gwenn, Rozenn and others) and English Wikipedia cognate lists for John, Peter, James, Thomas, Joseph, William, Francis, Catherine, Louis and Brioc
