Llew

Llew is a Welsh word meaning “lion” and is used as a given name or nickname. In Welsh, llew conveys strength and majesty, and the term appears in various personal names and literary contexts.

As a personal name, Llew can stand alone or function as a shortened form of longer Welsh names such as Llewelyn. It is most commonly found in Wales and among Welsh-speaking communities abroad, where it preserves the language’s cultural associations with valor and nobility.

In medieval Welsh literature, the form Lleu Llaw Gyffes refers to a central hero of the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion. The name Lleu is sometimes Anglicized as Llew in English retellings, while the epithet Llaw Gyffes translates roughly as “the Smooth-Handed” or “the Hand-Skilled.” The character’s story intersects with themes of kinship, fate, and magical transformation.

Modern usage: Llew continues to appear in Welsh naming traditions and literature, and it is encountered as a standalone given name or as part of longer names. It remains a recognizable element in Welsh culture, reflecting the language’s historical symbolism of strength and nobility.