Rheannon Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: REE-an-on /ˈriːənɒn/
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: great queen; goddess
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rheannon is believed to have its roots in the Welsh language, deriving from the word "rhiannon," which translates to "great queen" or "divine queen." The etymology can be traced back to the Old Welsh form "Rhiannon," which is associated with a prominent figure in Welsh mythology. Rhiannon is depicted as a goddess of horses and the moon, often linked to themes of sovereignty and fertility.
This name entered the English lexicon through the influence of Welsh culture and literature, particularly during the medieval period when the stories of the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh tales, were compiled and translated into English in the 19th century. Historically, Rhiannon is a significant character in the Mabinogion, a collection of prose stories from the 12th and 13th centuries that are among the earliest examples of Welsh literature.
In these tales, she is portrayed as a strong and complex figure, embodying both the power and the challenges of womanhood in a patriarchal society. The stories surrounding her have contributed to the name's enduring presence in Welsh culture and its eventual adoption into English-speaking contexts.
Culturally, the name Rheannon carries connotations of strength, nobility, and femininity, reflecting the qualities attributed to its mythological namesake. The association with Rhiannon has made the name resonate within various artistic and literary works, reinforcing its significance in the cultural consciousness.
The name's historical and mythological roots continue to inspire interpretations of female empowerment and leadership, making it a name of notable heritage.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rheannon, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rheannon. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rheannon was first seen in the United States in 1976.
Rheannon has ranked as high as #1079 nationally, which occurred in 1977, and has been most popular in Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Rheannon has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rheannon is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rheannon was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Rheannon (2003)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rheannon.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 1999 | 20 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1997 | 12 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1994 | 14 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1992 | 10 |
| 1991 | 13 |
| 1990 | 11 |
| 1989 | 15 |
| 1988 | 14 |
| 1987 | 15 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 14 |
| 1984 | 16 |
| 1983 | 13 |
| 1982 | 19 |
| 1981 | 17 |
| 1980 | 20 |
| 1979 | 15 |
| 1978 | 16 |
| 1977 | 21 |
| 1976 | 5 |