Scottish Gaelic boy name
Ewan Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Ewan means possibly 'born of the yew'. From the Scottish Gaelic Eòghann, perhaps meaning born of the yew, and long equated with Eugene
Ewan is the usual anglicised form of the Gaelic Eòghann, and it is often connected with the yew tree, though it has also been equated with Eugene, meaning well-born. It has been used in Scotland for centuries and became well known worldwide through the actor Ewan McGregor. The pronunciation sometimes surprises newcomers, because the spelling suggests a different sound. Euan and Ewen are common spelling variants. It pairs well with Scottish surnames and is friendly and approachable.
Variants of Ewan
EuanEwenEoghannEòghann
Well-known people named Ewan
Ewan McGregor, Ewan Bremner.
Ewan popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Ewan ranked #552 in Ireland (5 babies) and #1,479 in the US (120 babies). The two countries rank it at a similar level.
Ireland (boys)United States (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ewan mean?
Ewan means "possibly 'born of the yew'". From the Scottish Gaelic Eòghann, perhaps meaning born of the yew, and long equated with Eugene.
How do you pronounce Ewan?
Ewan is pronounced YOO-an.
What is the origin of Ewan?
Ewan is of Scottish Gaelic origin. From the Scottish Gaelic Eòghann, perhaps meaning born of the yew, and long equated with Eugene.