Bowen
Bowen was the 266th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,292 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 251 places. More babies were named Bowen in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning son of Owen · Welsh
Say it BOH-in /ˈboʊən/
- Rank in 2025
- #266 boys, up 129 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,292boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20251,292 babies
- Total since 1880
- 13,513babies recorded
What does the name Bowen mean?
Bowen is a Welsh surname from ab Owain, "son of Owain", where the b of ab joined the name, as in Powell (ap Hywel). Owain is an old Welsh name of uncertain origin, often linked with Latin Eugenius, "well-born"; Yonge's 1884 gloss "lamb" is outdated. Bowen is now used as a first name for boys.
ab (Welsh, “son of”)Owain (Welsh, “personal name (origin uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Well established. 'Son of Owen' is clear; Owen's own meaning is uncertain.
See also: Welsh names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Bowen', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Charlotte M. Yonge, History of Christian Names, new ed. (1884), index s.v. 'Owen' (19th-century work; used for dated usage facts only), Macmillan (public domain; Internet Archive scan)
Bowen popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 326 since 2004, 36 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #266 | 1,292 |
| 2020 | #395 | 778 |
| 2010 | #1,128 | 165 |
| 2000 | #1,176 | 116 |
| 1990 | #2,494 | 27 |
| 1980 | #2,543 | 19 |
| 1970 | #2,751 | 12 |
| 1960 | #4,093 | 5 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | #3,168 | 6 |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | #4,369 | 5 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Bowen, counting every spelling?
Bowen is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #274 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #266 for Bowen on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,332 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen | 1,292 | #266 | 5,019 |
| Bowyn | 23 | #4,416 | 85 |
| Bowan | 12 | #6,860 | 54 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Bowen?
1,292 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Bowen (0.36 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Bowen born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 6 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Bowen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Bowen?
About 12,900 people born in the US named Bowen are alive today, with a median age of 8; half are between 3 and 13. That makes Bowen a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Bowen by state
How common Bowen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Iowa (3.5×), Nebraska (3.5×), Idaho (3.1×), South Dakota (3.0×), Maine (2.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Nevada, New Jersey, California.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Bowen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Bowen, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Bowen · Sibling names for Bowen
Questions about the name Bowen
What does Bowen mean?
Bowen means “son of Owen” (Welsh origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Bowen?
Bowen was the 266th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,292 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 251 places. More babies were named Bowen in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Bowen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Bowen in the US.
Where is Bowen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Bowen was most common in Iowa (2.04 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nebraska and Idaho.