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Rhiannan

Girl name · 29 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Rhiannan: 29 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 1997.

Rhiannan is a modern Scottish variant of the ancient Welsh name Rhiannon, which derives from the Celtic elements *rhiain* (“maiden”) and the divine suffix *-on*, together meaning “great queen” or “divine maiden.” In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon was a powerful goddess associated with horses and the Otherworld, later appearing in the Mabinogion as a legendary queen. The name gained wider popularity in the 1970s following Fleetwood Mac’s haunting song “Rhiannon,” inspired by these myths. While no direct place connections exist, the name shares its root with the Welsh word *rhiain*. Rhiannan is an affectionate respelling that softens the original while retaining its lyrical, mystical feel—a subtle twist on a timeless Celtic classic that has found steady favour among Scottish parents.