Owen Boy

Popularity: #26 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: OH-en /ˈoʊ.ən/

Origin: Irish; Welsh

Meaning: Irish: 'noble'; Welsh: 'young warrior'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Owen has its roots in the Welsh language, derived from the Old Welsh name "Owain," which is believed to mean "noble" or "young warrior." The name can also be linked to the Latin "Eugenius," which translates to "well-born" or "noble." The transition into English occurred through the Norman influence in Wales and England, particularly after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Welsh names began to be adopted into English vernacular. Historically, the name Owen is associated with several notable figures, including Owain Glyndŵr, a Welsh nobleman and the last native Welshman to hold the title of Prince of Wales, who led a significant revolt against English rule in the early 15th century.

The name appears in various medieval texts and chronicles, signifying its importance in Welsh culture and history. Additionally, it is found in the works of Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century, where it is linked to legendary figures in Welsh folklore.

Culturally, Owen has been embraced in literature and the arts, often symbolizing strength and nobility. The name has been borne by various saints, including Saint Owen, a lesser-known figure in the Christian tradition, which further solidified its presence in religious contexts.

The diminutive form "Ollie" has also emerged, though it is less historically significant. Overall, the name Owen has maintained a strong cultural resonance, reflecting themes of valor and heritage throughout its history.

Famous people named Owen

In this section, you will find notable people named Owen. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Owen who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Owen who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Owen Wilson is an actor best known for Wedding Crashers, Midnight in Paris, and Cars.

Owen Hart was a professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE and his legacy in the wrestling industry.

Owen Pallett is a musician and composer best known for his work with the band Final Fantasy and collaborations with various artists.

Owen Benjamin is a comedian and actor best known for his stand-up specials and his role in the sitcom Sullivan & Son.

Owen Teague is an actor best known for his roles in It, The Stand, and The Edge of Seventeen.

Fictional characters named Owen

The following list of fictional characters named Owen is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Owen Grady is a fictional character from the film series Jurassic World. He is a dinosaur trainer and behaviorist who plays a crucial role in managing the dinosaurs on the island.

Owen Burnett is a fictional character from the animated television series Gargoyles. He is the human guise of the character Puck and serves as a loyal assistant to the protagonist.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Owen, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Owen. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Owen was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Owen has ranked as high as #35 nationally, which occurred in 2016, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Owen has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Owen is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Owen was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Owen (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 625
9%
TX 544
8%
NY 414
6%
OH 355
5%
FL 345
5%
PA 334
5%
IL 296
4%
MI 277
4%
MA 249
4%
NC 237
3%
MN 214
3%
VA 202
3%
IN 201
3%
WI 198
3%
TN 188
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Owen.

YearBirths
20247,574
20238,011
20228,584
20218,768
20208,667
20199,346
20189,335
20179,363
201610,302
20159,607
20149,158
20138,766
20128,695
20118,341
20108,177
20098,142
20087,800
20078,247
20068,172
20057,169
20046,707
20035,701
20024,190
20013,032
20002,715
19992,377
19981,872
19971,368
19961,005
1995701
1994490
1993458
1992453
1991455
1990480
1989439
1988467
1987462
1986408
1985412
1984399
1983357
1982376
1981381
1980353
1979371
1978272
1977324
1976277
1975298
1974337
1973337
1972316
1971248
1970238
1969274
1968215
1967228
1966264
1965273
1964294
1963279
1962350
1961353
1960386
1959385
1958370
1957406
1956400
1955347
1954402
1953414
1952455
1951377
1950389
1949369
1948386
1947406
1946392
1945369
1944392
1943418
1942415
1941412
1940363
1939383
1938406
1937412
1936385
1935411
1934435
1933440
1932444
1931456
1930513
1929526
1928505
1927552
1926554
1925582
1924634
1923587
1922632
1921703
1920598
1919556
1918591
1917489
1916488
1915479
1914356
1913293
1912265
1911156
1910118
190990
1908105
1907104
190682
190589
190471
190383
190263
190180
190093
189966
189864
189770
189683
189575
189480
189380
1892102
189173
189068
188975
188898
188768
188683
188570
188491
188363
188265
188167
188078