Gwen
Girl name · #726 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
Gwen is currently the #726 girl name in the United States — 384 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #748, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,688 girls born in 2025 was named Gwen.
Babies named Gwen per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 135-year story
Gwen first appears in the Social Security records in 1890, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1959, when 942 girls were named Gwen — good for #295 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gwen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gwen in class?
Gwen scores 54 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Gwen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gwen is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Gwens were CA (56), UT (32), TX (24), FL (20), MI (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Gwen
Statistically, parents drawn to Gwen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Myra, Eileen, Greta, Carmen, and Roslyn.
MyraEileenGretaCarmenRoslynRosalynGwendolynMargo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gwen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 384 | #725 |
| 2024 | 403 | #698 |
| 2023 | 341 | #817 |
| 2022 | 329 | #851 |
| 2021 | 325 | #847 |
| 2020 | 331 | #822 |
| 2019 | 328 | #828 |
| 2018 | 295 | #909 |
| 2017 | 317 | #864 |
| 2016 | 373 | #765 |
| 2015 | 377 | #748 |
| 2014 | 278 | #962 |
| 2013 | 266 | #953 |
| 2012 | 224 | #1108 |
| 2011 | 196 | #1224 |
| 2010 | 163 | #1402 |
| 2009 | 185 | #1307 |
| 2008 | 201 | #1250 |
| 2007 | 186 | #1308 |
| 2006 | 160 | #1415 |
| 2005 | 156 | #1378 |
| 2004 | 123 | #1593 |
| 2003 | 149 | #1358 |
| 2002 | 134 | #1425 |
| 2001 | 91 | #1901 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gwen a popular girl name?
Gwen ranked #726 among girls in 2025 with 384 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #748.
When was the name Gwen most popular?
Gwen peaked in 1959, when 942 American girls received the name (ranked #295 that year). Since 1959 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gwen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,688 newborn American girls was named Gwen. It scores 54/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.