Gwen
Gwen is a Welsh feminine given name meaning "white, holy". It can also be a shortened form of Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) or other names beginning with the same element, such as:Gwenhael, Gwenael, Gwenvael, Gwenaelle Gwenda Gwendolen, Gwendoline, Gwendolyn Gweneira Gwenfair (combination of gwen "blessed, holy" + -fair, soft mutation of Mair, " Mary" Winefride Gwenfron Gwenyth, Gwenith…
Meaning & Origin of Gwen
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Gwen is a Welsh feminine given name meaning "white, holy". It can also be a shortened form of Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) or other names beginning with the same element, such as:Gwenhael, Gwenael, Gwenvael, Gwenaelle Gwenda Gwendolen, Gwendoline, Gwendolyn Gweneira Gwenfair (combination of gwen "blessed, holy" + -fair, soft mutation of Mair, " Mary" Winefride Gwenfron Gwenyth, Gwenith…
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Gwen
Gwen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1890, with 8 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1959, when 942 Gwens were born — ranking #295 that year. As of 2026, Gwen ranks #711 for baby girls with 397 births, rising sharply (+16% over the past five years). In total, more than 33K Gwens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Gwen
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Gwen Apuli (born 2003), Filipino singer and member of girl group Bini
- Gwen Benaway (born 1987), Canadian poet and activist
- Gwen Barlee (1963–2017), Canadian environmental activist
- Gwen Berry (born 1989), American hammer thrower
- Gwen Bristow (1903–1980), American author and journalist
- Gwen Carr (born 1949), American activist, public speaker, and author
- Gwen Davis (born 1936), American novelist
- Gwen Dickey (born 1953), American musician
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Gwen
Phonetically similar names — useful when Gwen is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gwen
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About the name Gwen
Gwen is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1890 and has accumulated 33K births in the dataset. Gwen's peak popularity came in 1959 when it ranked #295. Use the chart and map above to compare Gwen's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1959 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "G" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.