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Name Lineage

    The first name Gwen

    A girl’s name from Welsh.

    Pronounced /ɡwɛn/ 1 syllable Female

    Meaning and origin

    Welsh origin

    A female given name from Welsh. * Borrowed from Welsh Gwen. * Clipping of Gwendolen. Doublet of Wendy. * Clipping of Guinevere. Doublet of Jen.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 34 girls were named Gwen, making it the 997th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 75 births (#553).

    04080 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,170
    babies named Gwen, 1996–2025
    #997
    rank in 2025
    2018
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Gwen with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Gwen at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 384 girls born in the United States were named Gwen, the 725th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1959, when 942 were.

    05001,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    32,911
    babies named Gwen since 1880
    #725
    rank in 2025
    1959
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Gwen

    21 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Gwen Stefani
      American singer (born 1969)
    • Gwen Torrence
      American sprinter, born 1965
    • Gwen Verdon
      American dancer and actress (1925-2000)
    • Gwen Jorgensen
      American triathlete, born 1986
    • Gwen Lee
      Actress, model (1904-1961)
    • Gwen Ifill
      American journalist, television newscaster and author (1955–2016)
    • Gwen Moore
      American politician (1951-)
    • Gwen Guthrie
      American singer-songwriter, 1950–1999
    • Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies
      British actress (1891-1992)
    • Gwen Watford
      British actress (1927–1994)
    • Gwen Graham
      American attorney, politician and member of the Democratic Party, born 1963
    • Gwen McCrae
      American soul musician and singer (1943–2025)

    More Welsh girls’ names

    All 78 names of Welsh origin

    Questions

    What does the name Gwen mean?
    A female given name from Welsh. * Borrowed from Welsh Gwen. * Clipping of Gwendolen. Doublet of Wendy. * Clipping of Guinevere. Doublet of Jen.
    What is the origin of the name Gwen?
    A female given name from Welsh. * Borrowed from Welsh Gwen. * Clipping of Gwendolen. Doublet of Wendy. * Clipping of Guinevere. Doublet of Jen.
    How popular is the name Gwen?
    In 2025, 34 girls born in England and Wales were named Gwen, ranking 997th. Its peak was 2018, with 75 births.
    Is Gwen a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 99% of the 32,911 US babies named Gwen since 1880 were girls.
    When was Gwen most popular?
    1959 in the United States, when 942 babies were named Gwen, its highest rank at 295th.
    How do you pronounce Gwen?
    Gwen is /ɡwɛn/, one syllable.