Gwen (given name)
| Gender | Female (Wales), male (France) |
|---|---|
| Name day | 6 July |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | from Welsh Gwen, the feminine form of Gwyn ("white, bright, fair, pure, blessed, holy") |
| Meaning | "white, holy" |
| Region of origin | Wales |
| Other names | |
| Related names | |
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).