Girl nameCurrently #698 in the USSteady
Gwen
GWEN//ɡwɛn//
1 syllablePeak year: 19594 lettersStarts with G
Meaning & origin
Fair, blessed (short form of Gwendolyn)
Gwen functions both as a short form of Gwendolyn and as a name in its own right, from Welsh elements meaning white, fair, or blessed. Short and crisp, it carries a quiet Celtic strength.
Gwen's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Gwen |
|---|---|
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1892 | 5 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1896 | 6 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1899 | 15 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1901 | 16 |
| 1902 | 13 |
| 1903 | 16 |
| 1904 | 17 |
| 1905 | 16 |
| 1906 | 15 |
| 1907 | 19 |
| 1908 | 21 |
| 1909 | 42 |
| 1910 | 24 |
| 1911 | 41 |
| 1912 | 50 |
| 1913 | 64 |
| 1914 | 76 |
| 1915 | 93 |
| 1916 | 92 |
| 1917 | 115 |
| 1918 | 81 |
| 1919 | 98 |
| 1920 | 93 |
| 1921 | 101 |
| 1922 | 111 |
| 1923 | 119 |
| 1924 | 122 |
| 1925 | 109 |
| 1926 | 159 |
| 1927 | 158 |
| 1928 | 188 |
| 1929 | 207 |
| 1930 | 254 |
| 1931 | 196 |
| 1932 | 249 |
| 1933 | 267 |
| 1934 | 260 |
| 1935 | 307 |
| 1936 | 313 |
| 1937 | 280 |
| 1938 | 385 |
| 1939 | 365 |
| 1940 | 365 |
| 1941 | 347 |
| 1942 | 394 |
| 1943 | 391 |
| 1944 | 329 |
| 1945 | 365 |
| 1946 | 492 |
| 1947 | 519 |
| 1948 | 456 |
| 1949 | 461 |
| 1950 | 462 |
| 1951 | 435 |
| 1952 | 478 |
| 1953 | 582 |
| 1954 | 688 |
| 1955 | 746 |
| 1956 | 767 |
| 1957 | 841 |
| 1958 | 898 |
| 1959 | 951 |
| 1960 | 900 |
| 1961 | 888 |
| 1962 | 866 |
| 1963 | 670 |
| 1964 | 621 |
| 1965 | 484 |
| 1966 | 464 |
| 1967 | 378 |
| 1968 | 363 |
| 1969 | 362 |
| 1970 | 360 |
| 1971 | 368 |
| 1972 | 301 |
| 1973 | 214 |
| 1974 | 284 |
| 1975 | 323 |
| 1976 | 275 |
| 1977 | 218 |
| 1978 | 206 |
| 1979 | 210 |
| 1980 | 175 |
| 1981 | 153 |
| 1982 | 136 |
| 1983 | 132 |
| 1984 | 108 |
| 1985 | 104 |
| 1986 | 69 |
| 1987 | 80 |
| 1988 | 50 |
| 1989 | 64 |
| 1990 | 55 |
| 1991 | 57 |
| 1992 | 47 |
| 1993 | 41 |
| 1994 | 51 |
| 1995 | 37 |
| 1996 | 47 |
| 1997 | 60 |
| 1998 | 62 |
| 1999 | 55 |
| 2000 | 68 |
| 2001 | 91 |
| 2002 | 134 |
| 2003 | 149 |
| 2004 | 123 |
| 2005 | 156 |
| 2006 | 160 |
| 2007 | 186 |
| 2008 | 201 |
| 2009 | 185 |
| 2010 | 163 |
| 2011 | 196 |
| 2012 | 224 |
| 2013 | 266 |
| 2014 | 278 |
| 2015 | 377 |
| 2016 | 372 |
| 2017 | 317 |
| 2018 | 295 |
| 2019 | 328 |
| 2020 | 331 |
| 2021 | 325 |
| 2022 | 329 |
| 2023 | 341 |
| 2024 | 403 |
Gwen through the decades
- Gwen peaked in 1959, when 951 babies were named Gwen in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Gwen has risen 70% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Gwen currently ranks #698 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Gwen
Variants & spellings
GwendolynGwyneth
Famous people named Gwen
- Gwen Stefani — singer