Olwen is a distinctive choice, ranked #1895 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Olwen in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#1895
About the Name Olwen
Olwen is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 49 places over five years. Its high point was #1774 in 2023, and it now sits at #1895. The name has been a regular feature in UK records since 1998.
Olwen is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school â standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Olwen
Unlikely. With around 15 UK babies named Olwen per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Olwen in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Olwen has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 49 places in the last five years. Its peak was #1774 in 2023. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Olwen is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Olwen does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice â your child is unlikely to encounter American Olwens in the wild.
15
UK babies named Olwen (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 49 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Olwen
Likely around 1 other Olwen in the class
UK Popularity (1998–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Olwen
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Lady Olwen Elizabeth Carey Evans was a Welsh humanitarian and daughter of British Prime Minister David Lloyd George. She was known as Lady Carey Evans from when her husband was knighted in 1924 until her father was made an Earl.
In Welsh mythology, Olwen (or Olwyn) is the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden and cousin of Goreu. She is the heroine of the story Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion.