What does Bronwen mean?
Bronwen joins the Welsh for “breast” and “fair, blessed.”
What does Olwen mean?
Olwen means “white footprint,” for flowers said to spring up where she walked.
Bronwen vs Olwen
Which is more popular?
Bronwen is more popular than Olwen today: about 10 US babies were given the name Bronwen in 2025, compared with 0 named Olwen.
| Bronwen | Olwen | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Fair, blessed breast | White footprint |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | BRON-wen | OL-wen |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1941 | 1913 |
| Peak year | 1980 (25) | 1917 (12) |
| In 2025 | 10 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bronwen
Olwen
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bronwen | Olwen |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 28 | 0 |
| 2010s | 69 | 5 |
| 2000s | 99 | 0 |
| 1990s | 101 | 0 |
| 1980s | 126 | 0 |
| 1970s | 189 | 0 |
| 1960s | 111 | 0 |
| 1950s | 67 | 0 |
| 1940s | 82 | 0 |
| 1910s | 0 | 22 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bronwen or Olwen more popular?
Bronwen is more popular than Olwen today: about 10 US babies were given the name Bronwen in 2025, compared with 0 named Olwen.
What is the difference between Bronwen and Olwen?
Bronwen means Fair, blessed breast (Welsh origin), while Olwen means White footprint (Welsh origin).
Which name is older, Bronwen or Olwen?
In US records, Bronwen first appears in 1941 and Olwen in 1913, so Olwen has the longer recorded history.