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Rhian

Girl / Boy name · 230 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Rhian: 230 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 13 births in 2012.

Rhian is a Welsh name, deriving from *rhiain*, meaning “maiden” or “young woman,” though some also link it to *rhiannon*, the great queen and horse goddess of Welsh myth. Perhaps most famously, Rhian Rees co-founded the Edinburgh-based Fringe Festival with her husband during the 1940s, while singer Rhian Gittins brings the name into contemporary folk music. The name also surfaces in place names like Rhianns, a farm in the Scottish Borders, though this connection is purely coincidental. As a shorter, more lyrical alternative to full-form Rhiannon, Rhian carries a gentle yet distinct sound, and notably spiked in popularity across Scotland during the 1990s, reflecting a wider Celtic revival among Scottish parents.