Welsh girl name
Olwen Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Olwen means white footprint. From the Welsh ol (footprint) and gwen (white, blessed)
Olwen is the heroine of the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, one of the oldest Arthurian stories, in which the hero must complete impossible tasks to win her hand. Her name means white footprint, and the tale says white clover sprang up wherever she walked. The name was revived in Wales in the nineteenth century and has been in steady use since. It is short, gentle and easy to pronounce, with the familiar -wen ending found in many Welsh girls' names.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Olwen
OlwynOlwennOlwin
Olwen popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2017 Olwen ranked #873 in Ireland (3 babies) and #17,525 in the US (5 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (girls)United States (girls)
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 Olwen mean?
Olwen means "white footprint". From the Welsh ol (footprint) and gwen (white, blessed).
How do you pronounce Olwen?
Olwen is pronounced OL-wen.
What is the origin of Olwen?
Olwen is of Welsh origin. From the Welsh ol (footprint) and gwen (white, blessed).