Origin, Meaning, And History Of Rhiannon
A distinct name of Welsh origin, Rhiannon means ‘divine queen,’ ‘great queen,’ or ‘great goddess.’ The name stems from the Proto-Celtic term ‘r-gan,’ which means ‘great queen.’ However, there is not much clarity over the name’s origins. The name is considered by many to be a newer Welsh variant of the Brythonic Celtic name Rigantona, who can be assumed to be an earlier Celtic goddess. The meaning of her name indicates that Rhiannon was a sovereignty goddess at a point in time.
The name has also been linked with horses. This is because, apart from Rigantona, it is also connected with the goddess Epona. Epona, like Rhiannon, has been depicted riding calmly on a big horse or mothering their offspring in the Welsh legend Mabinogi. She also has a basket of fruits, which connects to Rhiannon’s image. Her festival falls on December 18.
Similar to many mythological Welsh names, Rhiannon did not acquire the status of a given name until the late 19th century. There was a revival of many Old Welsh names
during this time. The Victorian inclination for medievalism can be attributed to the increase in Welsh nationalism and the consequent rise in the name’s usage.
Rhiannon in Welsh and Reannon and Riannon in English are the only known variations of this name. The name’s usage outside Wales occurred during the 1970s, thanks to the hit song ‘Rhiannon’ by Stevie Nicks. Nicks took this name from the character called Rhiannon in the novel Triad by Mary Leader. Apart from that, Rhiannon Marcus is a character on the popular TV show Party of Five. You will also recognize Rhiannon Bates in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. A character by this name also appears in the Carter House Girls young adult book series by Melody Carlson. So we can say that the name enjoys a widespread appeal.
Rhiannon
How To Pronounce Rhiannon?
Famous People With The Name Rhiannon
- Rhiannon Leigh WrynAmerican actress, known for her work in The Last Mimzy film
- Rhiannon DrakeEnglish musician and actress, known for playing Sabrina in the original West End cast of Grim
- Rhiannon Marie FishAustralian actress, known for playing Lisa Jeffries in the TV soap opera Neighbours
- 里安农吉登斯American musician and the founder of the country, blues and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops
- Rhiannon JeffreyAmerican swimmer, honored with the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Rhiannon LassiterEnglish children’s books author, known for Little Witches Bewitched
Rhiannon On The Popularity Chart
The name’s popularity started rising from 1996 onward. Take a look at the graphs below to understand the name’s popularity over time.
Popularity Over Time
The graph shows that it reached a peak point in 1999, after which it declined. From 2013 to 2021, its popularity decreased more than what it was in the 1980s and 1990s.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name’s rank saw a sharp decline in 2013 when it hit a low of 1896. After that, it has been slowly improving.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Rhiannon
Rhiannon has a unique modern sound and feel. If you like it, here are some more names that sound similar.
Popular Sibling Names For Rhiannon
Names With Similar Meaning As Rhiannon
If you like the name’s meaning but not its sound, here are some names that mean the same but sound different.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
rhiannon
In Sign Language
rhiannon
In Braille Alphabet
rhiannon
In Morse Code
rhiannon
Name Numerology For Rhiannon
