Before Norman systems were imposed, it was usual for people to have one given name followed by a byname, usually a patronym. It was also fairly common for people to be known by a name which identified them according to their appearance, character or occupation. Sometimes these names have a different initial letter from the word from which they are derived. This is due either to mutation (v to f, p to b) or to mistakes in transcriptions by scribes more familiar with Latin or English. Men usually used the mutated form and women always did. A woman might have a byname taken from her husband's given name or keep her own patronymic.
| Annwyl | dear/beloved |
| bach/vach | little/endearment |
| balch | proud |
| bongam/vongam | bandy-legged |
| bras | fat |
| brenin | king |
| broch | badger? |
| cadarn/gadarn | strong |
| cam/gam | lame/crooked/squinting |
| cethin/gethin/kethin | swarthy/ugly |
| chwith/with/whith/wyth | lefthanded/clumsy |
| crach/crak/grach | scabby |
| cron | round |
| cryg/crek/grek | hoarse/stammering |
| cul | narrow/thin |
| cwtta/cutta/coutta/gutta | short/stingy |
| du/duy | black |
| fychan/bychan/vachan | little/young |
| glandeg | handsome |
| glas/las | blue/green |
| goch/coch | red |
| grych | curly |
| gwen | fair/blessed |
| gwyllt | wild |
| gwyn/wyn(m)/wen(f) | white/fair |
| hagr | ugly |
| hir/hyre/hire | tall |
| ieunc | junior |
| lleif | smallest |
| llwyd/loyt | grey |
| main/fain | thin |
| mawr/fawr/maur | big |
| melyn/felyn/velin/velyn | yellow (hair) |
| moel/foel/voyl/voil | bald |
| pen/ben | head/chief |
| penbras/benbras | fat-head |
| pengrych/pengrek/bengrek | curly-head |
| rhwth/ruth | greedy/wide |
| sais/seys/seis | English (speaking) |
| teg/deg | fair |
| tew/dew | stout |
| Twp | stupid |
| coedwr | woodman |
| crythor/crouthor(m)/crouthores(f) | crwth-player |
| cynydd/kennith/kenith/kynith | huntsman |
| gof/of | smith |
| Gwas | servant |
| meddyg/feddyg/methig | doctor |
| melinydd/velinith/melinnith/mal | miller |
| offeiriad/offeriot | priest |
| pannwr/bannwr | fuller |
| Pobydd | baker |
| Porthmon | drover |
| Saer | carpenter |
| ysginydd/skynith/skinnith/skinith | tailor |
This collection of names was compiled by Kate Monk and is ©1997, Kate Monk.
Copies may be made for personal use only.