Cornish Name Generator

Authentic Cornish first names and Tre-Pol-Pen surnames

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Generate authentic Cornish names: Kernewek first names like Jago, Elowen, Piran and Kerensa paired with real Cornwall surnames such as Trelawney, Penrose, Polglase and Nancarrow. Male and female full names for characters, babies and family history.

About Cornish names

Cornish names come from Kernewek, the Brittonic language of Cornwall, which is a close cousin of Welsh and Breton rather than of English. Traditional given names are drawn from Cornish saints and Arthurian legend (Piran, Petroc, Jago, Jory, Jowan, Tristan, Locryn) and from the revived language's vocabulary, which gives the soft, vowel-heavy names that have spread far beyond Cornwall: Elowen (elm), Kerensa (love), Morwenna (sea maiden), Demelza, Tamsyn, Lowenna (joy), Steren (star), Tegen (pretty thing) and Wenna. Many Cornish boys' names end in a hard consonant (Hedrek, Cadan, Kenver, Massen) while girls' names tend to end in -a, -en or -wen.

Surnames are the most recognisable part of a Cornish name. The old rhyme 'By Tre, Pol and Pen ye shall know the Cornishmen' refers to place-name surnames built from tre (farmstead), pol (pool) and pen (headland): Trelawney, Tremayne, Trevithick, Polglase, Polkinghorne, Penrose, Penhaligon, Pengelly. Alongside them sit names like Nancarrow and Nankervis (nans, valley), Bolitho, Curnow (Cornishman), Angove (the smith), Chenoweth (new house) and Cornish patronymics such as Pascoe, Jago and Clemo.

Every name on this page pairs a Kernewek or saint's given name with a documented Cornwall surname, so the combinations read as convincingly local.

How to choose Cornish names

  • Pair a revived-Cornish first name with a Tre-, Pol- or Pen- surname for an unmistakably Cornish sound: Elowen Penrose, Jago Trelawney, Kerensa Polglase.
  • For a historical character from the 1700s or 1800s, choose a saint's name (Piran, Petroc, Jowan, Loveday, Jenifer) over a modern revival name like Bryluen or Steren, which only appeared in the 20th century.
  • Check pronunciation before committing: Tre- surnames stress the second syllable (Tre-LAW-ney, Tre-VITH-ick), and Demelza is de-MEL-za.
  • For fishing, mining or farming families, look at trade and place surnames such as Angove, Curnow, Nancarrow, Hocking and Trevithick; Killigrew, Carlyon and Prideaux belong to the gentry.
  • If you are naming a baby, Kerensa, Elowen, Jago and Piran are the best-known choices outside Cornwall, while Senara, Ysella, Cadan and Locryn are still distinctive.

Frequently asked questions

What are typical Cornish first names?

For girls: Elowen, Kerensa, Morwenna, Demelza, Tamsyn, Lowenna, Tegen, Wenna, Senara, Ysella, Steren and Loveday. For boys: Jago, Jory, Piran, Petroc, Jowan, Locryn, Cadan, Kenver, Denzel, Massen, Pasco and Talan. Many come from Cornish saints or the revived Kernewek language.

Why do so many Cornish surnames start with Tre, Pol or Pen?

They are place-name surnames in the Cornish language: tre means farmstead or settlement, pol means pool and pen means headland or hill. Families took the name of the farm or hamlet they came from, giving Trelawney, Trevithick, Polglase, Polkinghorne, Penrose and Penhaligon. An old rhyme says 'By Tre, Pol and Pen ye shall know the Cornishmen'.

Are Cornish names the same as Welsh names?

They are related but distinct. Cornish and Welsh are both Brittonic languages, so you will see shared roots (wen/wyn for white or fair, pen for head), but the spellings and the favoured names differ. Elowen, Kerensa and Jago are Cornish; Eleri, Carys and Iago are their Welsh cousins.

Can I use these names for a novel, game or baby?

Yes. The combinations are original pairings of real Cornish given names and surnames, so they suit historical fiction set in Cornwall, Poldark-style dramas, fantasy characters with a Celtic flavour, or a real-life baby name shortlist.

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All 500 Cornish names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 9 names

  • Arthek Benney
  • Arthek Glanville
  • Arthek Grose
  • Arthek Trevorrow
  • Arthek Ustick
  • Austol Congdon
  • Austol Pengilly
  • Austol Spargo
  • Austol Trewartha

B: 20 names

  • Benesek Cundy
  • Benesek Hosking
  • Benesek Perrow
  • Benesek Sandercock
  • Benesek Trevaskis
  • Branok Bosence
  • Branok Chynoweth
  • Branok Oates
  • Branok Trevenna
  • Branok Tyack
  • Breaca Eplett
  • Breaca Hosken
  • Breaca Rowett
  • Breaca Trevithick
  • Breaca Yelland
  • Bryluen Angwin
  • Bryluen Bice
  • Bryluen Lean
  • Bryluen Penaluna
  • Bryluen Roskilly

C: 37 names

  • Cadan Goldsworthy
  • Cadan Prisk
  • Cadan Skewes
  • Cadan Tregaskis
  • Cadan Trewin
  • Cador Delbridge
  • Cador Prideaux
  • Cador Rescorla
  • Cador Trebilcock
  • Casvelyn Eplett
  • Casvelyn Moyle
  • Casvelyn Rapson
  • Casvelyn Treglown
  • Chesten Dinham
  • Chesten Grigg
  • Chesten Rowse
  • Chesten Trounson
  • Colan Gartrell
  • Colan Hosken
  • Colan Nanscawen
  • Colan Rickard
  • Colan Tregidga
  • Conwenna Crago
  • Conwenna Giddy
  • Conwenna Gummow
  • Conwenna Tallack
  • Conwenna Tregear
  • Corentyn Giddy
  • Corentyn Magor
  • Corentyn Pawley
  • Corentyn Semmens
  • Corentyn Trudgeon
  • Crewenna Bawden
  • Crewenna Gartrell
  • Crewenna Magor
  • Crewenna Santo
  • Crewenna Trethowan

D: 24 names

  • Daveth Goninan
  • Daveth Gummow
  • Daveth Tamblyn
  • Daveth Trenerry
  • Delen Couch
  • Delen Gluyas
  • Delen Retallack
  • Delen Trego
  • Delen Trewern
  • Demelza Nancarrow
  • Demelza Northey
  • Demelza Rapson
  • Demelza Roseveare
  • Demelza Tregidga
  • Denzel Treloar
  • Derowen Berryman
  • Derowen Blamey
  • Derowen Mably
  • Derowen Nankervis
  • Derowen Penwarden
  • Digory Grylls
  • Digory Kessell
  • Digory Trathen
  • Digory Tremain

E: 30 names

  • Ebrel Chegwidden
  • Ebrel Freethy
  • Ebrel Goldsworthy
  • Ebrel Tippett
  • Elestren Bosanko
  • Elestren Clemo
  • Elestren Gendall
  • Elestren Scoble
  • Elestren Tregaskis
  • Elowen Bosence
  • Elowen Liddicoat
  • Elowen Maddern
  • Elowen Pengilly
  • Elowen Penrose
  • Elowen Trevaskis
  • Endelyn Bosanketh
  • Endelyn Kempthorne
  • Endelyn Pascoe
  • Endelyn Pender
  • Endelyn Werry
  • Enyon Hambly
  • Enyon Hender
  • Enyon Menhenitt
  • Enyon Trengove
  • Enyon Trerise
  • Eseld Jelbert
  • Eseld Julyan
  • Eseld Penhallow
  • Eseld Venning
  • Eseld Woolcock

G: 26 names

  • Gawen Hollow
  • Gawen Nance
  • Gawen Trevarthen
  • Gawen Trewolla
  • Gerens Eustice
  • Gerens Isbell
  • Gerens Teague
  • Gerens Trewhella
  • Gerens Trythall
  • Gorran Jose
  • Gorran Nankivell
  • Gorran Tresillian
  • Gorran Veale
  • Gryffyn Knuckey
  • Gryffyn Penna
  • Gryffyn Rosewarne
  • Gryffyn Verran
  • Gwenna Ellery
  • Gwenna Gundry
  • Gwenna Menadue
  • Gwenna Uglow
  • Gwithyen Bilkey
  • Gwithyen Hawke
  • Gwithyen Treweek
  • Gwithyen Uren
  • Gwithyen Vinnicombe

H: 9 names

  • Hedra Enys
  • Hedra Hichens
  • Hedra Kneebone
  • Hedra Vellanoweth
  • Hedrek Boswarva
  • Hedrek Dunstan
  • Hedrek Laity
  • Hedrek Tregear
  • Hedrek Trevena

I: 5 names

  • Ia Glanville
  • Ia Grylls
  • Ia Hambly
  • Ia Trevena
  • Ia Treweek

J: 25 names

  • Jacca Maddern
  • Jacca Pentreath
  • Jacca Quintrell
  • Jacca Woolcock
  • Jago Colenso
  • Jago Menear
  • Jago Menhennick
  • Jago Minear
  • Jago Restarick
  • Jago Trelawney
  • Jenifer Annear
  • Jenifer Jose
  • Jenifer Lethbridge
  • Jenifer Rosewarne
  • Jenifer Trevenna
  • Jory Hendra
  • Jory Paull
  • Jory Pethick
  • Jory Stribley
  • Jory Trevithick
  • Jowan Rowse
  • Jowan Santo
  • Jowan Trembath
  • Jowan Uglow
  • Jowan Yelland

K: 38 names

  • Kenan Bosanketh
  • Kenan Liddicoat
  • Kenan Martyn
  • Kenan Penhallow
  • Kenan Tresize
  • Kensa Craze
  • Kensa Polkinghorne
  • Kensa Tregellas
  • Kensa Tresillian
  • Kensa Trythall
  • Kenver Retallack
  • Kenver Rowett
  • Kenver Trevelyan
  • Kenver Trounson
  • Kenver Warne
  • Kenwyn Behenna
  • Kenwyn Bice
  • Kenwyn Mildren
  • Kenwyn Pender
  • Kerensa Martyn
  • Kerensa Pengelly
  • Kerensa Perrow
  • Kerenza Behenna
  • Kerenza Trebilcock
  • Kerra Eustice
  • Kerra Penberthy
  • Kerra Penna
  • Kerra Trengrouse
  • Kerra Veale
  • Kevern Bennallack
  • Kevern Blamey
  • Kevern Northey
  • Kevern Penaluna
  • Kevern Tregenza
  • Keyna Geach
  • Keyna Hunkin
  • Keyna Laity
  • Keyna Wickett

L: 20 names

  • Lamorna Boswarva
  • Lamorna Glasson
  • Lamorna Grose
  • Lamorna Ivey
  • Locryn Odgers
  • Locryn Penhallurick
  • Locryn Rodda
  • Locryn Tippett
  • Locryn Tregenza
  • Loveday Boase
  • Loveday Knuckey
  • Loveday Oates
  • Loveday Penhaligon
  • Loveday Quintrell
  • Loveday Trewartha
  • Lowena Trengove
  • Lowena Wearne
  • Lowenna Carne
  • Lowenna Rosemergy
  • Lowenna Trathen

M: 80 names

  • Mabyn Congdon
  • Mabyn Nancarrow
  • Mabyn Penhallurick
  • Mabyn Sandercock
  • Mabyn Skewes
  • Madern Angove
  • Madern Borlase
  • Madern Paynter
  • Madern Penwarden
  • Madern Roseveare
  • Manacca Delbridge
  • Manacca Moyle
  • Manacca Roscorla
  • Manacca Tremayne
  • Manacca Warne
  • Margh Brokenshire
  • Margh Curnow
  • Margh Penprase
  • Margh Philp
  • Margh Sara
  • Massen Bawden
  • Massen Menadue
  • Massen Tallack
  • Massen Tresidder
  • Massen Vellanoweth
  • Mawgan Boase
  • Mawgan Cardew
  • Mawgan Lethbridge
  • Mawgan Trenoweth
  • Mawgan Varcoe
  • Melder Benney
  • Melder Jory
  • Melder Kellow
  • Melder Pengelly
  • Melder Uren
  • Meliora Brokenshire
  • Meliora Chegwin
  • Meliora Pendarves
  • Meliora Penhale
  • Meliora Vosper

M, continued

  • Melwyn Borlase
  • Melwyn Bosustow
  • Melwyn Keast
  • Melwyn Pellow
  • Melwyn Penprase
  • Merryn Chellew
  • Merryn Hocking
  • Merryn Sleeman
  • Merryn Trewhella
  • Merryn Trewolla
  • Meryn Bolitho
  • Meryn Carthew
  • Meryn Pendarves
  • Meryn Reseigh
  • Meryn Tangye
  • Minver Cundy
  • Minver Polglase
  • Minver Prisk
  • Minver Rescorla
  • Minver Trevail
  • Morva Carthew
  • Morva Opie
  • Morva Pezzack
  • Morva Polmear
  • Morvoren Hollow
  • Morvoren Keigwin
  • Morvoren Teague
  • Morvoren Treleaven
  • Morvoren Vinnicombe
  • Morwenna Bennallack
  • Morwenna Hosking
  • Morwenna Mildren
  • Morwenna Polglase
  • Morwenna Prideaux
  • Morwenna Treglown
  • Myghal Climo
  • Myghal Penhaligon
  • Myghal Polmear
  • Myghal Rosemergy
  • Myghal Vivian

N: 24 names

  • Nadelek Chenoweth
  • Nadelek Crebo
  • Nadelek Polsue
  • Nadelek Rundle
  • Nadelek Wearne
  • Neot Dabb
  • Neot Lobb
  • Neot Polwhele
  • Neot Sleeman
  • Neot Tresidder
  • Nessa Bilkey
  • Nessa Kerkin
  • Nessa Lawry
  • Nessa Trewen
  • Nessa Truscott
  • Newlyna Boaden
  • Newlyna Marrack
  • Newlyna Menhennick
  • Newlyna Treen
  • Nonna Bosisto
  • Nonna Kitto
  • Nonna Menear
  • Nonna Treloar
  • Nonna Varcoe

P: 40 names

  • Padern Carveth
  • Padern Chellew
  • Padern Doble
  • Padern Penrose
  • Padern Tregellas
  • Pasco Crago
  • Pasco Kneebone
  • Pasco Tremewan
  • Pasco Trezise
  • Pasco Wickett
  • Pawly Carlyon
  • Pawly Craze
  • Pawly Freethy
  • Pawly Trembath
  • Pawly Trengrouse
  • Peder Chegwidden
  • Peder Eustice
  • Peder Gendall
  • Peder Polkinghorne
  • Peder Trewavas
  • Perran Clemo
  • Perran Gluyas
  • Perran Gribble
  • Perran Penberthy
  • Perran Venning
  • Petroc Bosanko
  • Petroc Roscorla
  • Petroc Trethowan
  • Petroc Trevail
  • Petroc Trewern
  • Piala Dunstan
  • Piala Goninan
  • Piala Kessell
  • Piala Tremewan
  • Piala Trevorrow
  • Piran Kitto
  • Piran Lanyon
  • Piran Noall
  • Piran Rosevear
  • Piran Tremayne

R: 16 names

  • Rewan Couch
  • Rewan Grigg
  • Rewan Julyan
  • Rewan Tonkin
  • Rewan Werry
  • Rosen Angove
  • Rosen Reseigh
  • Rosen Tamblyn
  • Rosenwyn Pawley
  • Rosenwyn Tremain
  • Rosenwyn Vivian
  • Ruan Annear
  • Ruan Bosisto
  • Ruan Killigrew
  • Ruan Treen
  • Ruan Treleaven

S: 19 names

  • Senara Climo
  • Senara Colenso
  • Senara Jenkin
  • Senara Polsue
  • Senara Prynne
  • Sithny Angwin
  • Sithny Dinham
  • Sithny Gundry
  • Sithny Jelbert
  • Sithny Kempthorne
  • Sowena Crebo
  • Sowena Lanyon
  • Sowena Polwhele
  • Sowena Restarick
  • Steren Carveth
  • Steren Dabb
  • Steren Hendra
  • Steren Minear
  • Steren Rosevear

T: 49 names

  • Talan Boaden
  • Talan Keigwin
  • Talan Tregonning
  • Talan Truscott
  • Talan Whear
  • Talek Berryman
  • Talek Ellery
  • Talek Hichens
  • Talek Lean
  • Talek Pascoe
  • Talwyn Cardew
  • Talwyn Noall
  • Talwyn Pethick
  • Talwyn Trevelyan
  • Talwyn Tyack
  • Tamsin Sara
  • Tamsin Trudgeon
  • Tamsyn Bolitho
  • Tamsyn Paynter
  • Tamsyn Rickard
  • Tegan Isbell
  • Tegan Killigrew
  • Tegan Nankivell
  • Tegan Trenoweth
  • Tegan Whear
  • Tegen Chenoweth
  • Tegen Lobb
  • Tegen Rundle
  • Tegen Trerise
  • Tegen Trevarthen
  • Treeve Bosustow
  • Treeve Enys
  • Treeve Hunkin
  • Treeve Mably
  • Treeve Roskilly
  • Tressa Carlyon
  • Tressa Doble
  • Tressa Odgers
  • Tressa Stribley
  • Tryfena Chynoweth
  • Tryfena Paull
  • Tryfena Rodda
  • Tryfena Spargo
  • Tryfena Trewin
  • Trystan Chegwin
  • Trystan Geach
  • Trystan Ivey
  • Trystan Nankervis
  • Trystan Pellow

U: 4 names

  • Udy Glasson
  • Udy Keast
  • Udy Kellow
  • Udy Penhale

W: 11 names

  • Wella Jenkin
  • Wella Jory
  • Wella Lawry
  • Wella Pezzack
  • Wella Vosper
  • Wenna Curnow
  • Wenna Nanscawen
  • Wenna Philp
  • Wenna Semmens
  • Wenna Tangye
  • Wenna Trenerry

Y: 9 names

  • Yestin Kerkin
  • Yestin Marrack
  • Yestin Opie
  • Yestin Prynne
  • Ysella Gribble
  • Ysella Pentreath
  • Ysella Tonkin
  • Ysella Trewavas
  • Ysella Verran

Z: 5 names

  • Zethar Hawke
  • Zethar Hender
  • Zethar Nance
  • Zethar Tregonning
  • Zethar Ustick