Where does “Rhian” come from?
Rhian (English) comes from Welsh Rhian, from Welsh rhiain, from Middle Welsh riein, from Proto-Brythonic rriɣėn, from Proto-Celtic rīganī, from Proto-Indo-European h₃rḗǵnih₂, from Proto-Indo-European h₃rḗǵs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- — to straighten, to right oneself; right; just.
Ancestry of “Rhian”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Welsh | Rhian | — |
| 2 | Welsh | rhiain | maiden |
| 3 | Middle Welsh | riein | — |
| 4 | Proto-Brythonic | rriɣėn | queen |
| 5 | Proto-Celtic | rīganī | queen |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵnih₂ | queen |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |