Gwen
A female given name from Welsh.
Every Gwen since 1890 — 32,911 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gwen
Gwen is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #725 in 2025 with 384 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1890, 32,911 American babies have been named Gwen. Its peak came in 1959, when 951 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gwen stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gwen year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 384 | #725 | — | — |
| 2024 | 403 | #698 | — | — |
| 2023 | 341 | #817 | — | — |
| 2022 | 329 | #851 | — | — |
| 2021 | 325 | #849 | — | — |
| 2020 | 331 | #823 | — | — |
| 2019 | 328 | #828 | — | — |
| 2018 | 295 | #910 | — | — |
| 2017 | 317 | #864 | — | — |
| 2016 | 373 | #766 | — | — |
| 2015 | 377 | #749 | — | — |
| 2014 | 278 | #963 | — | — |
| 2013 | 266 | #954 | — | — |
| 2012 | 224 | #1,110 | — | — |
| 2011 | 196 | #1,225 | — | — |
| 2010 | 163 | #1,410 | — | — |
| 2009 | 185 | #1,308 | — | — |
| 2008 | 201 | #1,252 | — | — |
| 2007 | 186 | #1,311 | — | — |
| 2006 | 160 | #1,418 | — | — |
| 2005 | 156 | #1,383 | — | — |
| 2004 | 123 | #1,595 | — | — |
| 2003 | 149 | #1,358 | — | — |
| 2002 | 134 | #1,429 | — | — |
| 2001 | 91 | #1,911 | — | — |
| 2000 | 68 | #2,292 | — | — |
| 1995 | 37 | #3,114 | — | — |
| 1990 | 55 | #2,301 | — | — |
| 1985 | 104 | #1,290 | — | — |
| 1980 | 175 | #875 | — | — |
| 1975 | 323 | #535 | — | — |
| 1970 | 354 | #534 | 6 | #4,435 |
| 1965 | 484 | #426 | — | — |
| 1960 | 893 | #317 | 7 | #3,472 |
| 1955 | 740 | #316 | 6 | #3,661 |
| 1950 | 457 | #379 | 5 | #3,892 |
| 1945 | 365 | #367 | — | — |
| 1940 | 357 | #338 | 8 | #2,749 |
| 1935 | 302 | #362 | 5 | #3,870 |
| 1930 | 248 | #421 | 6 | #3,762 |
| 1925 | 109 | #708 | — | — |
| 1920 | 93 | #754 | — | — |
| 1915 | 93 | #686 | — | — |
| 1910 | 24 | #881 | — | — |
| 1905 | 16 | #943 | — | — |
| 1900 | 11 | #1,195 | — | — |
| 1895 | 5 | #1,696 | — | — |
| 1890 | 8 | #1,041 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Gwen
- Gwen Stefani Singer · b. 1969
- Gwen Verdon Actor · 1925–2000
- Gwen John Painter · 1876–1939
- Gwen Torrence Athlete · b. 1965
- Gwen Jorgensen Athlete · b. 1986
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gwen mean?
A female given name from Welsh.
How popular is the name Gwen in 2025?
Gwen ranked #725 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 384 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Gwen?
32,911 babies have been named Gwen in the United States since 1890, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gwen most popular?
Gwen peaked in 1959, when 951 newborns received the name.
Is Gwen a boy or girl name?
Gwen is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Gwen rising or falling?
Gwen is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Gwen?
Well-known people named Gwen include Gwen Stefani (singer), Gwen Verdon (actor), Gwen John (painter).