What does Bryn mean?
Bryn means “hill” in Welsh.
What does Gwilym mean?
Gwilym is the Welsh form of William, “resolute protector.”
Bryn vs Gwilym
Which is more popular?
Bryn is more popular than Gwilym today: about 12 US babies were given the name Bryn in 2025, compared with 0 named Gwilym.
| Bryn | Gwilym | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Hill | Resolute protector |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BRIN | GWIL-im |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1947 | 2005 |
| Peak year | 1990 (45) | 2005 (5) |
| In 2025 | 12 | 0 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bryn
Gwilym
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bryn | Gwilym |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 83 | 0 |
| 2010s | 153 | 0 |
| 2000s | 162 | 5 |
| 1990s | 261 | 0 |
| 1980s | 295 | 0 |
| 1970s | 181 | 0 |
| 1960s | 132 | 0 |
| 1950s | 54 | 0 |
| 1940s | 8 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bryn or Gwilym more popular?
Bryn is more popular than Gwilym today: about 12 US babies were given the name Bryn in 2025, compared with 0 named Gwilym.
What is the difference between Bryn and Gwilym?
Bryn means Hill (Welsh origin), while Gwilym means Resolute protector (Welsh origin).
Which name is older, Bryn or Gwilym?
In US records, Bryn first appears in 1947 and Gwilym in 2005, so Bryn has the longer recorded history.