Merfyn
/ˈmɛrvɪn/noun
A Welsh masculine given name, most famously borne by Merfyn Frych, a 9th-century king of Gwynedd.
Did you know?Unlike many famous names, Merfyn has no securely agreed etymology, which means its true linguistic past remains debated rather than magically “decoded.”
Etymological Timeline
Early Medieval Welsh
Welsh
Merfyn
“A personal name used among Welsh nobility and rulers”
9th Century
Welsh
Merfyn Frych
“The name of a king of Gwynedd, giving the name historical prestige”
Medieval Welsh
Welsh
Mervyn
“A later spelling and anglicized form of the same given name”
Modern English
English
Merfyn
“A rare given name, especially in Welsh contexts”