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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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