Owen Boy
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 | |
| TX | 544 | |
| NY | 414 | |
| OH | 355 | |
| FL | 345 | |
| PA | 334 | |
| IL | 296 | |
| MI | 277 | |
| MA | 249 | |
| NC | 237 | |
| MN | 214 | |
| VA | 202 | |
| IN | 201 | |
| WI | 198 | |
| TN | 188 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,574 |
| 2023 | 8,011 |
| 2022 | 8,584 |
| 2021 | 8,768 |
| 2020 | 8,667 |
| 2019 | 9,346 |
| 2018 | 9,335 |
| 2017 | 9,363 |
| 2016 | 10,302 |
| 2015 | 9,607 |
| 2014 | 9,158 |
| 2013 | 8,766 |
| 2012 | 8,695 |
| 2011 | 8,341 |
| 2010 | 8,177 |
| 2009 | 8,142 |
| 2008 | 7,800 |
| 2007 | 8,247 |
| 2006 | 8,172 |
| 2005 | 7,169 |
| 2004 | 6,707 |
| 2003 | 5,701 |
| 2002 | 4,190 |
| 2001 | 3,032 |
| 2000 | 2,715 |
| 1999 | 2,377 |
| 1998 | 1,872 |
| 1997 | 1,368 |
| 1996 | 1,005 |
| 1995 | 701 |
| 1994 | 490 |
| 1993 | 458 |
| 1992 | 453 |
| 1991 | 455 |
| 1990 | 480 |
| 1989 | 439 |
| 1988 | 467 |
| 1987 | 462 |
| 1986 | 408 |
| 1985 | 412 |
| 1984 | 399 |
| 1983 | 357 |
| 1982 | 376 |
| 1981 | 381 |
| 1980 | 353 |
| 1979 | 371 |
| 1978 | 272 |
| 1977 | 324 |
| 1976 | 277 |
| 1975 | 298 |
| 1974 | 337 |
| 1973 | 337 |
| 1972 | 316 |
| 1971 | 248 |
| 1970 | 238 |
| 1969 | 274 |
| 1968 | 215 |
| 1967 | 228 |
| 1966 | 264 |
| 1965 | 273 |
| 1964 | 294 |
| 1963 | 279 |
| 1962 | 350 |
| 1961 | 353 |
| 1960 | 386 |
| 1959 | 385 |
| 1958 | 370 |
| 1957 | 406 |
| 1956 | 400 |
| 1955 | 347 |
| 1954 | 402 |
| 1953 | 414 |
| 1952 | 455 |
| 1951 | 377 |
| 1950 | 389 |
| 1949 | 369 |
| 1948 | 386 |
| 1947 | 406 |
| 1946 | 392 |
| 1945 | 369 |
| 1944 | 392 |
| 1943 | 418 |
| 1942 | 415 |
| 1941 | 412 |
| 1940 | 363 |
| 1939 | 383 |
| 1938 | 406 |
| 1937 | 412 |
| 1936 | 385 |
| 1935 | 411 |
| 1934 | 435 |
| 1933 | 440 |
| 1932 | 444 |
| 1931 | 456 |
| 1930 | 513 |
| 1929 | 526 |
| 1928 | 505 |
| 1927 | 552 |
| 1926 | 554 |
| 1925 | 582 |
| 1924 | 634 |
| 1923 | 587 |
| 1922 | 632 |
| 1921 | 703 |
| 1920 | 598 |
| 1919 | 556 |
| 1918 | 591 |
| 1917 | 489 |
| 1916 | 488 |
| 1915 | 479 |
| 1914 | 356 |
| 1913 | 293 |
| 1912 | 265 |
| 1911 | 156 |
| 1910 | 118 |
| 1909 | 90 |
| 1908 | 105 |
| 1907 | 104 |
| 1906 | 82 |
| 1905 | 89 |
| 1904 | 71 |
| 1903 | 83 |
| 1902 | 63 |
| 1901 | 80 |
| 1900 | 93 |
| 1899 | 66 |
| 1898 | 64 |
| 1897 | 70 |
| 1896 | 83 |
| 1895 | 75 |
| 1894 | 80 |
| 1893 | 80 |
| 1892 | 102 |
| 1891 | 73 |
| 1890 | 68 |
| 1889 | 75 |
| 1888 | 98 |
| 1887 | 68 |
| 1886 | 83 |
| 1885 | 70 |
| 1884 | 91 |
| 1883 | 63 |
| 1882 | 65 |
| 1881 | 67 |
| 1880 | 78 |