What does Olwen mean?
Olwen means “white footprint,” for flowers said to spring up where she walked.
What does Seren mean?
The modern Welsh word for 'star', a popular girls' name in Wales. (A separate Turkish surname Seren is unrelated.)
Olwen vs Seren
Which is more popular?
Seren is more popular than Olwen today: about 50 US babies were given the name Seren in 2025, compared with 0 named Olwen.
| Olwen | Seren | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | White footprint | Star |
| Origin | Welsh | welsh |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | OL-wen | SEH-ren |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1913 | 1981 |
| Peak year | 1917 (12) | 2016 (62) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 50 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Olwen
Seren
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Olwen | Seren |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 214 |
| 2010s | 5 | 471 |
| 2000s | 0 | 255 |
| 1990s | 0 | 62 |
| 1980s | 0 | 24 |
| 1910s | 22 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Olwen or Seren more popular?
Seren is more popular than Olwen today: about 50 US babies were given the name Seren in 2025, compared with 0 named Olwen.
What is the difference between Olwen and Seren?
Olwen means White footprint (Welsh origin), while Seren means Star (welsh origin).
Which name is older, Olwen or Seren?
In US records, Olwen first appears in 1913 and Seren in 1981, so Olwen has the longer recorded history.