| Dylan | Owen | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sea, son of the wave | Young warrior, well-born |
| Origin | welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | DIL-an | OH-en |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1953 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2001 (16,497) | 2016 (10,305) |
| In 2025 | 6,208 | 7,190 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Dylan | Owen |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 41,138 | 48,832 |
| 2010s | 96,354 | 91,098 |
| 2000s | 140,125 | 61,878 |
| 1990s | 122,074 | 9,658 |
| 1980s | 14,171 | 4,050 |
| 1970s | 4,036 | 3,017 |
| 1960s | 684 | 2,916 |
| 1950s | 97 | 3,945 |
| 1940s | 0 | 3,922 |
| 1930s | 0 | 4,285 |
| 1920s | 0 | 5,873 |
| 1910s | 0 | 3,791 |
| 1900s | 0 | 860 |
| 1890s | 0 | 761 |
| 1880s | 0 | 758 |
From Welsh, traditionally interpreted as containing an element meaning 'sea' or 'tide'; in medieval Welsh myth Dylan ail Don is a sea figure who takes to the waves at birth. The exact derivation of the first element is debated, but the sea association is ancient.
Owen is a Welsh name, traditionally linked to “young warrior” or “well-born,” and connected to the Latin Eugene. It has been borne by Welsh princes and heroes.
Owen is more popular than Dylan today: about 7,190 US babies were given the name Owen in 2025, compared with 6,208 named Dylan.
Dylan means Sea, son of the wave (welsh origin), while Owen means Young warrior, well-born (Welsh origin).
In US records, Dylan first appears in 1953 and Owen in 1880, so Owen has the longer recorded history.