Owen Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Owen is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Owen?
Owen is spelled O-W-E-N. The name has 4 letters.
Owen at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Owen is generally understood to derive from the Welsh name Owain, which is likely related to the Latin name Eugenius meaning “well-born.”
- Origin
- Owen is commonly associated with Welsh origins and is used in English-speaking countries.
- Pronunciation
- OH-wen · 2 syllables
Owen Popularity in 2025
Rank#4,265
Recorded Births33
Rank#31
Recorded Births7,190
- Girls usage rose 1,534 places to #4,265 and recorded 12 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 5 places to #31 and recorded 409 fewer 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 Owen Mean?
Owen is generally understood to derive from the Welsh name Owain, which is likely related to the Latin name Eugenius meaning “well-born.”
Origin: Owen is commonly associated with Welsh origins and is used in English-speaking countries. It may derive from the Welsh name Owain, which itself is connected to older Latin roots.
How Do You Pronounce Owen?
PronunciationOH-wen
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Owen?
- History
- The name Owen has been used in Wales and English-speaking regions for many centuries, appearing in historical records and Welsh literature.
Owen 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 | 33 | #4,265 |
| 2025 | Boys | 7,190 | #31 |
| 2024 | Girls | 21 | #5,799 |
| 2024 | Boys | 7,599 | #26 |
| 2023 | Girls | 30 | #4,565 |
| 2023 | Boys | 8,015 | #20 |
| 2022 | Girls | 26 | #5,028 |
| 2022 | Boys | 8,589 | #18 |
| 2021 | Girls | 39 | #3,801 |
| 2021 | Boys | 8,770 | #22 |
| 2020 | Girls | 25 | #5,003 |
| 2020 | Boys | 8,669 | #22 |
| 2019 | Girls | 27 | #4,909 |
| 2019 | Boys | 9,347 | #21 |
| 2018 | Girls | 25 | #5,152 |
| 2018 | Boys | 9,337 | #25 |
| 2017 | Girls | 30 | #4,576 |
| 2017 | Boys | 9,363 | #28 |
| 2016 | Girls | 26 | #5,130 |
| 2016 | Boys | 10,305 | #24 |
| 2015 | Girls | 18 | #6,721 |
| 2015 | Boys | 9,608 | #36 |
| 2014 | Girls | 23 | #5,625 |
| 2014 | Boys | 9,159 | #36 |
When Was Owen 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.
2016 · Boys
10,305 recorded births
National rank #24
2015 · Boys
9,608 recorded births
National rank #36
2017 · Boys
9,363 recorded births
National rank #28
2019 · Boys
9,347 recorded births
National rank #21
Where Owen 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 |
|---|---|---|
| VT | #9 | 20 |
| IA | #10 | 106 |
| NH | #10 | 56 |
| RI | #10 | 38 |
| PA | #11 | 383 |
| MA | #11 | 259 |
| WI | #12 | 192 |
| MT | #12 | 37 |