Boy nameCurrently #26 in the USSteady
Owen
OH-un//ˈoʊən//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20164 lettersStarts with O
Meaning & origin
Young warrior, well-born
Owen comes from the Welsh Owain, likely related to the Latin 'Eugenius' (well-born) or an old Celtic word for youth or warrior. Its clean, friendly sound has made it a steadily popular choice across the English-speaking world.
Owen's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Owen |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 78 |
| 1881 | 67 |
| 1882 | 65 |
| 1883 | 63 |
| 1884 | 91 |
| 1885 | 70 |
| 1886 | 83 |
| 1887 | 68 |
| 1888 | 98 |
| 1889 | 75 |
| 1890 | 68 |
| 1891 | 73 |
| 1892 | 102 |
| 1893 | 80 |
| 1894 | 80 |
| 1895 | 75 |
| 1896 | 83 |
| 1897 | 70 |
| 1898 | 64 |
| 1899 | 66 |
| 1900 | 93 |
| 1901 | 80 |
| 1902 | 63 |
| 1903 | 83 |
| 1904 | 71 |
| 1905 | 89 |
| 1906 | 82 |
| 1907 | 104 |
| 1908 | 105 |
| 1909 | 90 |
| 1910 | 118 |
| 1911 | 156 |
| 1912 | 265 |
| 1913 | 293 |
| 1914 | 356 |
| 1915 | 484 |
| 1916 | 493 |
| 1917 | 495 |
| 1918 | 599 |
| 1919 | 556 |
| 1920 | 598 |
| 1921 | 703 |
| 1922 | 632 |
| 1923 | 592 |
| 1924 | 634 |
| 1925 | 582 |
| 1926 | 559 |
| 1927 | 552 |
| 1928 | 505 |
| 1929 | 535 |
| 1930 | 521 |
| 1931 | 461 |
| 1932 | 444 |
| 1933 | 440 |
| 1934 | 435 |
| 1935 | 411 |
| 1936 | 385 |
| 1937 | 412 |
| 1938 | 412 |
| 1939 | 383 |
| 1940 | 363 |
| 1941 | 412 |
| 1942 | 415 |
| 1943 | 418 |
| 1944 | 392 |
| 1945 | 369 |
| 1946 | 392 |
| 1947 | 406 |
| 1948 | 386 |
| 1949 | 369 |
| 1950 | 395 |
| 1951 | 377 |
| 1952 | 455 |
| 1953 | 414 |
| 1954 | 402 |
| 1955 | 347 |
| 1956 | 400 |
| 1957 | 411 |
| 1958 | 370 |
| 1959 | 385 |
| 1960 | 386 |
| 1961 | 353 |
| 1962 | 350 |
| 1963 | 279 |
| 1964 | 294 |
| 1965 | 273 |
| 1966 | 264 |
| 1967 | 228 |
| 1968 | 221 |
| 1969 | 274 |
| 1970 | 244 |
| 1971 | 248 |
| 1972 | 316 |
| 1973 | 343 |
| 1974 | 337 |
| 1975 | 298 |
| 1976 | 277 |
| 1977 | 324 |
| 1978 | 277 |
| 1979 | 371 |
| 1980 | 353 |
| 1981 | 381 |
| 1982 | 382 |
| 1983 | 363 |
| 1984 | 399 |
| 1985 | 418 |
| 1986 | 408 |
| 1987 | 462 |
| 1988 | 467 |
| 1989 | 439 |
| 1990 | 480 |
| 1991 | 461 |
| 1992 | 453 |
| 1993 | 458 |
| 1994 | 490 |
| 1995 | 707 |
| 1996 | 1,005 |
| 1997 | 1,374 |
| 1998 | 1,880 |
| 1999 | 2,383 |
| 2000 | 2,722 |
| 2001 | 3,032 |
| 2002 | 4,201 |
| 2003 | 5,715 |
| 2004 | 6,735 |
| 2005 | 7,190 |
| 2006 | 8,183 |
| 2007 | 8,260 |
| 2008 | 7,825 |
| 2009 | 8,156 |
| 2010 | 8,187 |
| 2011 | 8,359 |
| 2012 | 8,715 |
| 2013 | 8,781 |
| 2014 | 9,181 |
| 2015 | 9,625 |
| 2016 | 10,328 |
| 2017 | 9,393 |
| 2018 | 9,360 |
| 2019 | 9,373 |
| 2020 | 8,692 |
| 2021 | 8,807 |
| 2022 | 8,610 |
| 2023 | 8,041 |
| 2024 | 7,595 |
Owen through the decades
- Owen peaked in 2016, when 10,328 babies were named Owen in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Owen has risen 8% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Owen currently ranks #26 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Owen
Variants & spellings
OwainEoghan