Eluned

Welsh, "idol, image"

If you love the familiarity of Ella, the elegance of Eleanor, and the magical feel of Elowen too, then this saintly and legendary Welsh name might be one to ponder.

In the Arthurian Romances, Eluned (also known as Lunette and Luned) is the handmaiden of Laudine, the Lady of the Fountain. She is the owner of a magic ring which makes its wearer invisible and she also helps to bring about a marriage between her mistress and one of the knights of the Round Table.

As a saint’s name, it was borne by a 5th-century Welsh saint (also known as Eiliwedd and Elevetha), who was beheaded by a pagan prince whose advances she rejected. According to the legend, her head rolled down a hill and hit a rock, causing a magic spring to burst forth.

Pronounced as eh-LIN-ehd or eh-LEEN-ehd, depending on region, Eluned is used quietly in Wales, though on Nameberry, it recently ranked at #49!