NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Gwenna

A Welsh feminine name derived from the word "gwen" meaning fair or blessed.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Gwenna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gwenna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 4 births.

This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2008 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 25 living people in the UK are called Gwenna. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Gwenna ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 4 girls were registered as Gwenna.
  • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gwenna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5687

2023

Births in 2023

3

Latest year

Peak year

2008

4 births

Estimated living

25

2026

Meaning

What does Gwenna mean?

The name Gwenna is of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh word "gwen," meaning fair or blessed. It was a popular name in medieval Wales, particularly in the regions of Gwynedd and Powys.

The earliest recorded use of the name Gwenna dates back to the 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Gwenna ferch Gruffydd, a Welsh noblewoman who lived during the late 12th century. She was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth.

In the 13th century, Gwenna ferch Llywelyn, a Welsh princess, was born around 1216. She was the daughter of Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd, and his wife, Joan, Lady of Wales.

During the 14th century, Gwenna Goch, a Welsh poet and bard, was active in the court of Owain Glyn Dŵr, a Welsh prince and the last native Prince of Wales to rebel against the English. Her poetic works were highly regarded in her time.

In the 15th century, Gwenna Griffith was a Welsh noblewoman and the wife of Sir Rhys ap Thomas, a prominent figure in the Wars of the Roses. She played a significant role in the support of the House of Lancaster during the conflict.

Another notable bearer of the name was Gwenna Aubrey, a 16th-century Welsh landowner and philanthropist. She was known for her charitable works and her support of the local community in Monmouthshire.

While the name Gwenna has its roots in medieval Wales, it has been used across various cultures and regions over the centuries, though it remains most closely associated with its Welsh heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Gwenna over time

The chart below shows babies named Gwenna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Gwenna, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Gwenna
01234200820152023

Decades

Gwenna by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gwenna was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #5678 6 2
2010s #4728 12 3
2000s #5040 7 2

Related

Names similar to Gwenna

FAQ

Gwenna: questions and answers

How popular is the name Gwenna in the UK right now?

In 2023, Gwenna was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Gwenna most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 4 babies registered as Gwenna in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Gwenna?

A Welsh feminine name derived from the word "gwen" meaning fair or blessed.

How many people are called Gwenna in the UK?

A total of 25 babies have been registered as Gwenna across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.