Wen names
By cchgi
Updated Thu May 25 2023
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Welsh, Cornish & Breton names that contain or seem to contain the element “gwen”, meaning white, fair or blessed. Names with an asterisk are masculine, and most names that end in “wen” can be made masculine by replacing it with “wyn”.
- Arwen
Origin:
Literature, Sindarin, WelshMeaning:
"noble maiden; fair, blessed"Description:
Best known as the princess of the Elves in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Arwen is a fantasy-inspired choice that feels perfectly down to earth. In 2022, it entered the UK Top 400, making it one of the fastest rising names, more than doubling in use from the previous year.
- Elowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"elm"Description:
A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A fresh and magical member of the fashionable El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.
- Winifred
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"blessed peacemaking"Description:
One of the few remaining unrestored vintage gems, with a choice of two winning nicknames--the girlish Winnie and the tomboyish Freddie. Winifred, the name of a legendary Welsh saint, was a Top 200 name into the mid-1920's.
- Guinevere
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Guinevere was the name of the beautiful but ill-fated queen of Camelot, for so many years eclipsed by its modern Cornish form Jennifer. Today, Guinevere could be a cool possibility for adventurous parents intrigued by this richly evocative and romantic choice.
- Gwen
Origin:
Diminutive of Gwendolen or Gwendolyn, WelshMeaning:
"white circle"Description:
While Gwen may have originated as a short form of Gwendolen and Gwendolyn, these days it frequently stands on its own. Rocker Gwen Stefani has given it a shot of cool, and parents are choosing it as a standalone more and more often—Gwen hopped back onto the US Top 1000 in 2013 after an absence of over 30 years. Gwen could also be short for Guinevere.
- Bronwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white breast"Description:
Bronwen is widespread in Wales, but still rare enough here to sound somewhat international — we think Bronwen is a real winner. (Note: the Bronwyn spelling is an Anglicization, since the -wyn ending is masculine in Welsh).
- Ceridwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"beautiful as a poem"Description:
Celtic goddess of poetry, though less-than-poetic name.
- Gwendolen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white ring, circle"Description:
Gwendolen, an ancient Welsh favorite, retired decades ago in favor of the short form Gwen, but now, as in the case all across the naming board, the nickname has faded and the more distinguished original is up for reappraisal.
- Branwen
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"blessed raven"Description:
This is an attractive Celtic mythological name, popular in Wales and a cousin of the better known Bronwyn. In Welsh mythology, Branwen was turned into a bird.
- Rhoswen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white rose"Description:
If you're looking for an unusual alternative to all those Rose names, Rhoswen might be a good choice. This name has the soft sounds we've come to love from the Welsh language but is still not as familiar as Bronwen and Rhiannon.
- Gwyneira
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white snow"Description:
An unusual Gwyn name with a lovely meaning, this compound name pairs Gwyn with the name Eira, meaning "snow". A relatively modern creation, it remains very rare.
- Anwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"very fair, beautiful"Description:
Anwen is one of the simplest and best of the classic Welsh girls' names, more unusual than Bronwen but with the same serene feel.
- Olwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white footprint"Description:
Olwen is a Welsh favorite, the name of a legendary princess in what is believed to have been the earliest Arthurian romance, and in fact one of the first recorded examples of Welsh prose.
- Nolwenn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"shining, holy"Description:
Nolwenn is popular in Wales but would be a very adventurous choice in the US. Though with the increased visibility of names like Arwen, thanks to Lord of the Rings, it may not feel as odd going forward as it might have a generation ago. Other, similar ideas: Olwen, Anwen, Bronwen, Rowena.
- Rhonwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"slender, fair"Description:
The delicate and haunting Welsh Rhonwen is still a rarity in the U.S., where her English version Rowena is better known, but would be a lovely choice for any parent in search of a name that was both unusual and traditional, classically feminine yet strong.
- Arianwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"silver, white, fair, blessed"Description:
Rarely heard outside of Wales, Arianwen combines the pretty Welsh element gwen with the silvery arian, giving it a metallic and shining meaning. The name is sometimes listed as one of the daughters of the legendary fifth-century king and saint, Brychan Brycheiniog.
- Tanwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"holy fire"Description:
Tanwen is a far more singular and colorful alternative to Bronwen.
- Gwenfrewi
Description:
Gwenfrewi is a feminine Welsh name representing the original Welsh form of Winifred. The name combines elements meaning 'blessed peace' or 'fair peace,' with 'gwen' meaning 'fair' or 'blessed' and 'frewi' relating to 'peace.' Gwenfrewi has deep historical connections to Welsh culture through Saint Winifred (Saint Gwenfrewi), a 7th-century Welsh martyr and holy woman. The name maintains strong cultural connections to Wales and Celtic heritage, though it remains quite rare outside Welsh-speaking communities. With its authentic Welsh spelling and pronunciation, Gwenfrewi offers parents a distinctive name with genuine historical and cultural significance, appealing to those with Welsh ancestry or appreciation for Celtic names.
- Gwenllian
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white, flaxen"Description:
While it may look like it to those unfamiliar, Gwenllian is not a blend of Gwendolyn and Lillian!
- Dwynwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"wave"Description:
St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, and her feast day on January 25 is the equivalent of Valentine's day in Wales. The short form Dwyn may be more manageable for the non-Welsh.
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