 Dylan Thomas statue in Swansea | |
| Pronunciation | Welsh: [ˈdəlan] /ˈdɪlən/ |
|---|---|
| Gender | Unisex (originally masculine) |
| Language(s) | Welsh, English |
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Welsh |
| Word/name | dy- + llanw |
| Meaning | "son of the sea" or "born from the ocean" |
| Region of origin | Wales |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Dylann |
| Related names | Dillon |
Dylan is a given name and surname of Welsh origin. It means "son of the sea", "born from the ocean", or "great tide". It is derived from the Welsh words "dy," meaning "great," and "llanw," meaning "tide" or "sea". [1] In Welsh mythology, Dylan ail Don is a sea god or hero associated with the waves and tides in the Welsh mythic Mabinogion tales, particularly in the fourth branch of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, "Math fab Mathonwy". He was a demi-god, son of Arianrhod, daughter of Dôn.
Contents
- People with the given name
- Male
- Female
- People with the surname
- Fictional characters
- Other uses
- References
"Welsh aquatic hero or sea demigod, the son of Arianrhod daughter of Dôn in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi; may carry the epithet Ail Ton, Eil Ton, Eil Tôn, Eilton, Eil Don (son of wave) or Ail Mor (son of the sea). Described as dark, Dylan contrasts with his fair twin brother, Lleu Llawgyffes."
Arianrhod gives birth to Dylan immediately after stepping over Gwydion's magic wand. He takes to the sea as soon as he is baptized, and assumes the sea's nature; he can swim as well as any fish and no wave ever breaks under him. His name is also cited in the Book of Taliesin and the Triads. Dylan may be based on an independent sea-divinity whose story became associated with Lleu Llaw Gyffes. "Endil" refers to an obscure early British sea-deity, potentially a variant of Dylan. It is also found in Norse mythology, where Endill is a jötunn (giant), god, or sea-king, mentioned in lists of sea kings and kennings. Additionally, "Endil" is part of the name Elendil, meaning "friend". [2]
Dylan may have served as a model for the Arthurian figure Dyonas, the father of the beautiful Vivian. [3] In Wales, it was the most popular Welsh name given to boys in 2010. [4]
The name Dylan is popular in Ireland and has been adopted into the Irish culture, From dealan "a flash of lightning" or it may come from an Irish word for "faithful, loyal." A common surname is the Irish form of the Welsh name Dylan.
