Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Rhiannon
GirlWelsh· “great queen”
- Meaning
- great queen
- Origin
- Welsh
- Pronunciation
- ree-AN-uhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,119
- US babies 2025
- 210
- Best rank
- #418 (1977)
- Peak year
- 1999
Meaning and origin of Rhiannon
Rhiannon is a Welsh name that means “great queen”.
Rhiannon comes from Welsh legend and is thought to derive from an old Celtic name meaning great queen. In the medieval Welsh tales known as the Mabinogion, Rhiannon is a noble and otherworldly woman who rides a white horse and marries Pwyll, prince of Dyfed. Scholars sometimes link her with the Celtic horse goddess Epona. The name gained wide recognition through the Fleetwood Mac song Rhiannon. Today it feels romantic, mystical and deeply Welsh. Rhia and Annie are easy nicknames, and the full name remains distinctive.
Famous parents who chose Rhiannon: Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Rhiannon first appears in US Social Security records in 1974. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 32 different years, starting in 1976. Its best national rank was #418 in 1977, and the most babies received it in 1999, when 651 were named Rhiannon. In 2025, 210 babies were named Rhiannon, and it ranked #1,119 nationally. That is 75% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #500 in 1980, #453 in 2000, #1,427 in 2010, and #1,119 in 2025. Of the 15,539 US girls named Rhiannon since records began, 26% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 3,833 babies. Since 2010, 2,689 more have been named Rhiannon.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Bailee, Ally, Yasmine, Abbey, and Carley.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rhiannon ranked highest in Colorado, Kansas, and Maryland.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | #530 | 11 |
| Kansas | #563 | 6 |
| Maryland | #711 | 7 |
| Arizona | #741 | 9 |
| New Jersey | #834 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Rhiannon is usually pronounced ree-AN-uhn, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with R and ends in “-on”.
Middle names for Rhiannon
A few middle names that flow with Rhiannon: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rhiannon
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Lists that include Rhiannon
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rhiannon mean?
Rhiannon is a Welsh name that means “great queen”.
What is the origin of the name Rhiannon?
Rhiannon has Welsh roots. Rhiannon comes from Welsh legend and is thought to derive from an old Celtic name meaning great queen.
Is Rhiannon a popular name?
Not especially. Rhiannon ranked #1,119 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Rhiannon a boy or girl name?
Rhiannon is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Rhiannon?
Rhiannon is usually pronounced ree-AN-uhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings