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The short answer
Gwen is a feminine name used in Welsh and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From Welsh gwen, the feminine form of gwyn meaning ‘white, blessed’. It can also be a short form of Gwendolen, Gwenllian and other names beginning with Gwen." It ranked #725 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from Welsh gwen, the feminine form of gwyn meaning ‘white, blessed’. It can also be a short form of Gwendolen, Gwenllian and other names beginning with Gwen. The entry lists its usage as Welsh, English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Gwen ranked #725 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #725 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Welsh) and that sit near Gwen in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gwen mean?
Behind the Name does not give Gwen a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from Welsh gwen, the feminine form of gwyn meaning white, blessed.
Is Gwen a popular name?
Gwen ranked #725 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Gwen a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Gwen appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Gwen — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
