What does Gwen mean?
Gwen means “white,” “fair” or “blessed” in Welsh.
What does Elin mean?
Elin is the Welsh form of Helen, “light” or “torch.”
Gwen vs Elin
Which is more popular?
Gwen is more popular than Elin today: about 384 US babies were given the name Gwen in 2025, compared with 53 named Elin.
| Gwen | Elin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | White, fair, blessed | Light |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | GWEN | EL-in |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1890 | 1893 |
| Peak year | 1959 (942) | 2011 (428) |
| In 2025 | 384 | 53 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Gwen
Elin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Gwen | Elin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,113 | 553 |
| 2010s | 2,817 | 3,032 |
| 2000s | 1,453 | 369 |
| 1990s | 512 | 143 |
| 1980s | 1,071 | 145 |
| 1970s | 2,753 | 111 |
| 1960s | 5,961 | 109 |
| 1950s | 6,780 | 138 |
| 1940s | 4,050 | 164 |
| 1930s | 2,808 | 77 |
| 1920s | 1,337 | 85 |
| 1910s | 716 | 87 |
| 1900s | 186 | 25 |
| 1890s | 60 | 14 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gwen or Elin more popular?
Gwen is more popular than Elin today: about 384 US babies were given the name Gwen in 2025, compared with 53 named Elin.
What is the difference between Gwen and Elin?
Gwen means White, fair, blessed (Welsh origin), while Elin means Light (Welsh origin).
Which name is older, Gwen or Elin?
In US records, Gwen first appears in 1890 and Elin in 1893, so Gwen has the longer recorded history.