Brânwen
/ˈbraːn.wɛn/noun
A Welsh feminine given name, best known as the tragic heroine of the medieval Welsh tale Branwen ferch Llŷr.
Did you know?In the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, Brânwen’s story includes a magical cauldron that restores dead warriors to life—though they return unable to speak.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
Proto-Celtic
*branā + *windos
“Raven + white or fair”
Old Welsh
Old Welsh
Branwen
“A compound personal name meaning approximately “white raven””
12th–14th Century
Middle Welsh
Branwen ferch Llŷr
“Branwen, daughter of Llŷr, the central heroine of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi”
14th Century
Middle Welsh
Branwen
“The name recorded in surviving medieval Welsh manuscripts, including the White Book of Rhydderch and Red Book of Hergest”
Modern Welsh
Welsh
Brânwen
“A modern Welsh feminine name, traditionally interpreted as “white raven””