Gender Masculine

Meaning & History

Original Welsh form of Merlin. It is probably ultimately from the name of the Romano-British settlement Moridunum, derived from Celtic *mori "sea" and *dūnom "rampart, hill fort". Prefixed with Welsh caer "fort", this town has been called Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen in English) from medieval times. It is thought that Caerfyrddin may have mistakenly been interpreted as meaning "fort of Myrddin", as if Myrddin were a personal name instead of a later development of Moridunum [1].

Myrddin appears in early Welsh poems, as a prophet who lives in the Caledonian Forest after being driven insane witnessing the slaughter of his king Gwenddoleu and his forces at the Battle of Arfderydd. His character seems to be based on the North Brythonic figure Lailoken, and perhaps also the Irish figure Suibhne. Geoffrey of Monmouth adapted him into Merlin in the 12th century.

Related Names

Other Languages & CulturesMerlin(Arthurian Romance) Merlin, Merlyn(English)

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   wholesome   strong   refined   strange   complex   serious  

Categories

Sources & References

  1. Bromwich, Rachel. Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Triads of the Island of Britain. 4th ed., University of Wales, 2014, page 459.
Entry updated January 21, 2022