Gwen is a Welsh feminine given name meaning "white, holy". It can also be a shortened form of Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) or other names beginning with the same element, such as: Gwenhael, Gwenael, Gwenvael, Gwenaelle Gwenda (explained as a compound of gwen "white, pure, blessed, holy" + da "good, well") Gwendolen, Gwendoline, Gwendolyn Gweneira (from gwen "white" + eira "snow") Gwenfair (combination of gwen "blessed, holy" + -fair, soft mutation of Mair, "(the Virgin) Mary" Winefride (originally Gwenffrewi) () Gwenfron (from gwen "white" + fron, mutated form of bron "breast"; cf. Bronwen) Gwenyth, Gwenith (identical to the Welsh word for "wheat") Gwenllian Gwennant (compound of gwen "white" + nant "stream, brook") Gwenola (modern feminized form of Breton Winwaloe)
Although superficially similar, Gwyneth has a different, albeit uncertain, etymological origin (likely either from Gwynedd or the Welsh gwynaeth, meaning joy, bliss or happiness).
People Pre-modern world Saint Wenna (died c. 492), also known as Gwen of Talgarth, medieval princess and Christian martyr Saint Wenna (queen), also known as Gwen ferch Cynyr, 5th century queen of Cornwall Gwen Teirbron, 5th or 6th century Breton Catholic and Russian Orthodox saint
Modern world Gwen Apuli (born 2003), stage name Gwen (singer), Filipino singer and member of the girl group Bini Gwen Benaway (born 1987), Canadian poet and activist Gwen Barlee (1963–2017), Canadian environmental activist Gwen Berry (born 1989), American hammer thrower Gwen Bristow (1903–1980), American author and journalist Gwen Carr (born 1949), American activist, public speaker, and author
Gwen Davis (born 1936), American novelist Gwen Dickey (born 1953), American musician Gwen ferch Ellis (c. 1542–1594), the first recorded woman accused of witchcraft in Wales Gwen Farrar (1897–1944), English musician, actress and comedian Gwen Fleming (1916–2011), Australian doctor Gwen Frostic (1906–2001), American artist, entrepreneur, and author Gwen Gillen (1941–2017), American sculptor and artist Gwen Graham (born 1963), American lawyer and politician Gwen Guthrie (1950–1999), American singer Gwen Hall (1951–2006), American minister and activist Gwen Harwood (1920–1995), Australian poet Gwen Heeney (1952–2016), British sculptor Gwen Ifill (1955–2016), American journalist Gwen John (1876–1939), Welsh artist Gwen Jorgensen (born 1986), American world and Olympic champion triathlete Gwen Kelly (1922–2012), Australian novelist and short-story writer Gwen Knapp (1961–2023), American sports journalist Gwen Shamblin Lara (1955–2021), American founder of the Remnant Fellowship Cult and The Weigh Down Workshop Gwen Lee (1904–1961), American actress Gwen Margolis (1934–2020), American politician Gwen Marston (1936–2019), American quilter, teacher, lecturer, and author Gwen McCrae (born 1943), American singer Gwen Meredith (1907–2006), Australian writer, dramatist and playwright, and radio writer Gwen Moore (born 1951), American politician Gwen Nagel (1946–2009), New Zealand cricketer and international cricket umpire Gwen Ngwenya (born 1989), South African academic and politician Gwen O'Mahony (born 1972), Canadian politician Gwen Plumb (1912–2002), Australian performer Gwen van Poorten (born 1989), Dutch television presenter Gwen Ramokgopa, South African politician Gwen Raverat (1885–1957), English wood engraving artist Gwen Rix (1918−2000), New Zealand diver Gwen Richardson (1894–1944), Australian actress and travel writer Gwen Sebastian (born 1974), American country-rock singer Gwen Shamblin, American author Gwen Smith, Trinidadian cricketer of the 1990s Gwen Somerset (1894–1988), New Zealand educator Gwen Stefani (born 1969), American pop-rock, Ska and R&B singer Gwen Svekis (born 1996), American softball player Gwen Torrence (born 1965), American sprinter and Olympic champion Gwen Verdon (1925–2000), American dancer and actress Gwen Walz (born 1966), American civic leader and educator Gwen Watford (1927–1994), English actress
Fictional characters Gwen Cooper, one of the main protagonists in the television series Torchwood Gwen Norbeck Munson, from the TV soap opera As the World Turns Gwen Poole, the protagonist of the Unbelievable Gwenpool comic book series Gwen Raiden, from the TV series Angel Gwen Rizczech, from the American soap opera Days of Our Lives Gwen Stacy, a character in Marvel Comics comic books and films Gwen Tennyson, from Cartoon Network's Ben 10 franchise Gwen Warren (Spider-Girl), a superhero and member of the X-Men Gwen Hotchkiss Winthrop, from the American soap opera Passions Gwen Wu, from the Nickelodeon animated TV series The Mighty B!
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