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Gwen


Gender: Feminine
Language
: English
Etymology:
Gwen is a Welsh name, often short for names like:
Gwendolyn, possibly meaning of “White Ring.”
-or-
Guinevere, meaning “White Smooth,” from “gwen” (white) and “hwyvar” (smooth).
-or-
Gwenda, meaning “Fair Good,” from “gwen” (fair, white, holy) and “da” (good).

In all cases, “Gwen” means “White,” “Fair,” with connotations of “Holy,” or “Beautiful.”

History:
Gwen was a Welsh name that spread to the rest of Britain and the English-speaking world (helped by the revival of the name Gwendolyn) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Pronunciation: gwen.

Diminutives: Gwennie, Gwenny.

Alternates: Gwenn.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Gwen John
(1876-1939)
British painter.
Gwen Williams (Jean Rhys) (1894-1979)
English novelist.
Gwen Pharis Ringwood (1910-1984)
Canadian writer.
Gwen Harwood (1920-)
Australian poet.
Gwen Verdon (1925-2000)
American dancer.

Religious Figures:
St. Gwen (5th century)
Martyred by Saxons. Also called Blanche, or Candida.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.031 % named Gwen
0.002 % named Gwenn

Popularity of Gwen
:
Popularity (for newborns)
:
In the United States...
1900-1910: 832nd most popular.
1910-1920: 641st most popular.
1920-1930: 702nd most popular.
1930-1940: 413th most popular.
1940-1950: 382nd most popular.
1950-1960: 325th most popular.
1960-1970: 406th most popular.
1970-1980: 593rd most popular.
1980-2000: N/A




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