Gwen (given name)

Gwen
GenderFemale
Name day6 July
Origin
Word/namefrom Welsh Gwen, the feminine form of Gwyn ("white, bright, fair, pure, blessed, holy")
Meaning"white, holy"
Region of originWales
Other names
Related names
  • Gwenn (Breton);
  • Gwenno, Gwenog (medieval diminutives);
  • Gwyn (masculine equivalent)

Gwen is a Welsh feminine given name meaning "white, holy". It can also be a shortened form of Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) or other names beginning with the same element, such as:

  • Gwenhael, Gwenael, Gwenvael, Gwenaelle
  • Gwenda (explained as a compound of gwen "white, pure, blessed, holy" + da "good, well")
  • Gwendolen, Gwendoline, Gwendolyn
  • Gweneira (from gwen "white" + eira "snow")
  • Gwenfair (combination of gwen "blessed, holy" + -fair, soft mutation of Mair, "(the Virgin) Mary"
  • Winefride (originally Gwenffrewi) (Breton: Gwenvred)
  • Gwenfron (from gwen "white" + fron, mutated form of bron "breast"; cf. Bronwen)
  • Gwenyth, Gwenith (identical to the Welsh word for "wheat")
  • Gwenllian
  • Gwennant (compound of gwen "white" + nant "stream, brook")
  • Gwenola (modern feminized form of Breton Winwaloe)

Although superficially similar, Gwyneth has a different, albeit uncertain, etymological origin (likely either from Gwynedd or the Welsh gwynaeth, meaning joy, bliss or happiness).[1]

  1. ^ "Welsh Names-intro".