| Owen | Ellis | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Young warrior, well-born | Benevolent; from Elijah |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | OH-en | EL-iss |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2016 (10,305) | 2025 (1,417) |
| In 2025 | 7,190 | 1,417 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Owen | Ellis |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 48,832 | 7,039 |
| 2010s | 91,098 | 7,098 |
| 2000s | 61,878 | 2,355 |
| 1990s | 9,658 | 1,796 |
| 1980s | 4,050 | 1,514 |
| 1970s | 3,017 | 1,664 |
| 1960s | 2,916 | 2,596 |
| 1950s | 3,945 | 3,970 |
| 1940s | 3,922 | 4,617 |
| 1930s | 4,285 | 4,482 |
| 1920s | 5,873 | 6,125 |
| 1910s | 3,791 | 4,433 |
| 1900s | 860 | 1,100 |
| 1890s | 761 | 886 |
| 1880s | 758 | 728 |
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.
From the Welsh Elis, a form of Elijah, “the Lord is my God,” and linked to “benevolent.”
Owen is more popular than Ellis today: about 7,190 US babies were given the name Owen in 2025, compared with 1,417 named Ellis.
Owen means Young warrior, well-born (Welsh origin), while Ellis means Benevolent; from Elijah (Welsh origin).
In US records, Owen first appears in 1880 and Ellis in 1880, so Owen has the longer recorded history.