Bowen Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bowen is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bowen?
Bowen is spelled B-O-W-E-N. The name has 5 letters.
Bowen at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Bowen may derive from the Welsh elements “bwa” meaning “bow” (as in archery) and the diminutive suffix “-en”, possibly meaning “little bow” or…
- Origin
- Bowen is commonly associated with Welsh origins, where it is used as a surname and given name.
- Pronunciation
- BOH-en · 2 syllables
Bowen Popularity in 2025
Rank#3,975
Recorded Births36
Rank#266
Recorded Births1,292
- Girls usage rose 412 places to #3,975 and recorded 4 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 55 places to #266 and recorded 215 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bowen Mean?
Bowen may derive from the Welsh elements “bwa” meaning “bow” (as in archery) and the diminutive suffix “-en”, possibly meaning “little bow” or “young archer.”
Origin: Bowen is commonly associated with Welsh origins, where it is used as a surname and given name.
How Do You Pronounce Bowen?
PronunciationBOH-en
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Bowen?
- History
- Historically, Bowen has been found as a surname in Welsh records and later adopted as a given name; its use has expanded beyond Wales in recent centuries.
Bowen Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 36 | #3,975 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,292 | #266 |
| 2024 | Girls | 32 | #4,387 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,077 | #321 |
| 2023 | Girls | 25 | #5,126 |
| 2023 | Boys | 941 | #348 |
| 2022 | Girls | 24 | #5,309 |
| 2022 | Boys | 820 | #389 |
| 2021 | Girls | 30 | #4,507 |
| 2021 | Boys | 889 | #368 |
| 2020 | Girls | 20 | #5,850 |
| 2020 | Boys | 778 | #395 |
| 2019 | Girls | 19 | #6,176 |
| 2019 | Boys | 709 | #433 |
| 2018 | Girls | 21 | #5,785 |
| 2018 | Boys | 709 | #429 |
| 2017 | Girls | 22 | #5,661 |
| 2017 | Boys | 660 | #459 |
| 2016 | Girls | 16 | #7,230 |
| 2016 | Boys | 638 | #481 |
| 2015 | Girls | 15 | #7,613 |
| 2015 | Boys | 557 | #516 |
| 2014 | Girls | 13 | #8,485 |
| 2014 | Boys | 492 | #563 |
When Was Bowen Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
1,292 recorded births
National rank #266
2024 · Boys
1,077 recorded births
National rank #321
2023 · Boys
941 recorded births
National rank #348
2021 · Boys
889 recorded births
National rank #368
Where Bowen Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ID | #125 | 20 |
| MS | #126 | 25 |
| LA | #127 | 39 |
| SD | #127 | 10 |
| UT | #136 | 38 |
| OK | #136 | 34 |
| SC | #139 | 40 |
| WV | #140 | 14 |