Owen

maleStatistical record

What official birth registration shows about Owen: which national registrars published it, in which years, and how its recorded position changed.

No researched meaning, origin or pronunciation yet — what that means.

Owen: Recorded since 1953, it reached #31 in 2002, and it stood at #317 in 2025.

6registrars recorded it
146times a registrar ranked it
73years from first to last
#31highest recorded position
32groupings it qualifies for

What stands out in Owen's record

Held a top-100 place for 58 years running. Names by top-100 run
England and Wales registered 2,349 births with the name in 2002, its largest count from any one registrar. Names by yearly birth count
Held at least one birth in every 2,000 for 22 years. Names by sustained share
Moved 222 places between two consecutive years — its largest recorded change. Names by largest single-year move

Region

Falling

among boys in England and Wales · 1996–2024

View as table

England and Wales · Boys rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#100
1997	#74
1998	#40
1999	#35
2000	#47
2001	#37
2002	#31
2003	#33
2004	#35
2005	#36
2006	#34
2007	#45
2008	#48
2009	#47
2010	#59
2011	#71
2012	#78
2013	#85
2014	#92
2015	#101
2016	#113
2017	#121
2018	#118
2019	#124
2020	#132
2021	#149
2022	#145
2023	#140
2024	#155

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Boys

Recorded in official data among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 18 of the 69 years from 1953 to 2021.

In 2024: #95 among boys in Scotland, #155 among boys in England and Wales, #216 among boys in Northern Ireland, #374 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Official data from 6 national registrars across 6 regions, 1953–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

Popularity journey

First recorded1953
First recorded at #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #31 among boys in England and Wales, in 2002 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #317 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys

Owen appears in 5 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Republic of Ireland · Boys, with 62 ranked years and 4,114 births registered; the earliest is New South Wales, Australia · Boys, from 1953.

Owen across 5 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Owen's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
New South Wales, Australia · Boys	#98 (1953)	#71 (2018)	#95 (2021)	18 of 69	2,005 (1953–2021)	147 (2016)
New Zealand · Boys	#75 (1954)	#75 (1954)	#91 (2017)	8 of 64	484 (1954–2017)	76 (1954)
Republic of Ireland · Boys	#71 (1964)	#68 (1978)	#317 (2025)	62 of 62	4,114 (1964–2025)	128 (1978)
England and Wales · Boys	#100 (1996)	#31 (2002)	#155 (2024)	29 of 29	33,517 (1996–2024)	2,349 (2002)
Northern Ireland · Boys	#78 (1997)	#46 (1999)	#216 (2024)	28 of 28	991 (1997–2024)	74 (1999)

Owen by decade in Republic of Ireland · Boys

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Owen in Republic of Ireland · Boys, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1960s	416	6 of 10	69
1970sbusiest	979	10 of 10	98
1980s	956	10 of 10	96
1990s	647	10 of 10	65
2000s	644	10 of 10	64
2010s	356	10 of 10	36
2020s	116	6 of 10	19

Across Republic of Ireland · Boys, the 1970s were its busiest decade, averaging 98 births a year.

Its sharpest single-year move came between 1975 and 1976, when recorded births rose by 27, from 84 to 111.

See the names Republic of Irelandhas recorded the most births with →

Owen appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

Popularity data

Official popularity data is available for 6 regions, from 1953 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #31 in England and Wales in 2002.

Owen's recorded popularity observations by year, region and administrative category, including rank, registered births, source confidence and when each region's data was last reviewed.
Year	Region	Category	Rank	Births registered	Confidence	Status
2024	England and Wales	male	#155	332	High	Verified
2023	England and Wales	male	#140	373	High	Verified
2022	England and Wales	male	#145	367	High	Verified
2021	England and Wales	male	#149	384	High	Verified
2020	England and Wales	male	#132	418	High	Verified
2019	England and Wales	male	#124	455	High	Verified
2018	England and Wales	male	#118	506	High	Verified
2017	England and Wales	male	#121	489	High	Verified
2016	England and Wales	male	#113	586	High	Verified
2015	England and Wales	male	#101	621	High	Verified
2014	England and Wales	male	#92	663	High	Verified
2013	England and Wales	male	#85	708	High	Verified
2012	England and Wales	male	#78	839	High	Verified
2011	England and Wales	male	#71	943	High	Verified
2010	England and Wales	male	#59	1,238	High	Verified
2009	England and Wales	male	#47	1,630	High	Verified
2008	England and Wales	male	#48	1,607	High	Verified
2007	England and Wales	male	#45	1,677	High	Verified
2006	England and Wales	male	#34	1,965	High	Verified
2005	England and Wales	male	#36	2,013	High	Verified
2004	England and Wales	male	#35	2,232	High	Verified
2003	England and Wales	male	#33	2,282	High	Verified
2002	England and Wales	male	#31	2,349	High	Verified
2001	England and Wales	male	#37	1,897	High	Verified
2000	England and Wales	male	#47	1,497	High	Verified
1999	England and Wales	male	#35	2,201	High	Verified
1998	England and Wales	male	#40	1,896	High	Verified
1997	England and Wales	male	#74	813	High	Verified
1996	England and Wales	male	#100	536	High	Verified
2021	New South Wales, Australia	male	#95	99	Insufficient	Not yet available
2020	New South Wales, Australia	male	#74	116	Insufficient	Not yet available
2019	New South Wales, Australia	male	#75	122	Insufficient	Not yet available
2018	New South Wales, Australia	male	#71	132	Insufficient	Not yet available
2017	New South Wales, Australia	male	#79	113	Insufficient	Not yet available
2016	New South Wales, Australia	male	#73	147	Insufficient	Not yet available
2015	New South Wales, Australia	male	#96	103	Insufficient	Not yet available
2014	New South Wales, Australia	male	#92	111	Insufficient	Not yet available
2013	New South Wales, Australia	male	#91	112	Insufficient	Not yet available
2012	New South Wales, Australia	male	#83	125	Insufficient	Not yet available
2011	New South Wales, Australia	male	#89	118	Insufficient	Not yet available
2010	New South Wales, Australia	male	#92	112	Insufficient	Not yet available
2009	New South Wales, Australia	male	#84	126	Insufficient	Not yet available
2007	New South Wales, Australia	male	#91	116	Insufficient	Not yet available
2006	New South Wales, Australia	male	#97	102	Insufficient	Not yet available
2005	New South Wales, Australia	male	#97	99	Insufficient	Not yet available
2003	New South Wales, Australia	male	#94	96	Insufficient	Not yet available
1953	New South Wales, Australia	male	#98	56	Insufficient	Not yet available
2017	New Zealand	male	#91	59	High	Verified
1960	New Zealand	male	#91	65	High	Verified
1959	New Zealand	male	#100	51	High	Verified
1958	New Zealand	male	#92	60	High	Verified
1957	New Zealand	male	#83	70	High	Verified
1956	New Zealand	male	#100	45	High	Verified
1955	New Zealand	male	#85	58	High	Verified
1954	New Zealand	male	#75	76	High	Verified
2024	Northern Ireland	male	#216	9	High	Verified
2023	Northern Ireland	male	#169	13	High	Verified
2022	Northern Ireland	male	#177	12	High	Verified
2021	Northern Ireland	male	#150	16	High	Verified
2020	Northern Ireland	male	#186	11	High	Verified
2019	Northern Ireland	male	#138	18	High	Verified
2018	Northern Ireland	male	#128	19	High	Verified
2017	Northern Ireland	male	#157	17	High	Verified
2016	Northern Ireland	male	#156	17	High	Verified
2015	Northern Ireland	male	#98	31	High	Verified
2014	Northern Ireland	male	#118	25	High	Verified
2013	Northern Ireland	male	#161	16	High	Verified
2012	Northern Ireland	male	#101	31	High	Verified
2011	Northern Ireland	male	#86	39	High	Verified
2010	Northern Ireland	male	#103	31	High	Verified
2009	Northern Ireland	male	#84	39	High	Verified
2008	Northern Ireland	male	#63	57	High	Verified
2007	Northern Ireland	male	#70	46	High	Verified
2006	Northern Ireland	male	#55	56	High	Verified
2005	Northern Ireland	male	#64	50	High	Verified
2004	Northern Ireland	male	#63	49	High	Verified
2003	Northern Ireland	male	#52	60	High	Verified
2002	Northern Ireland	male	#51	55	High	Verified
2001	Northern Ireland	male	#59	51	High	Verified
2000	Northern Ireland	male	#56	54	High	Verified
1999	Northern Ireland	male	#46	74	High	Verified
1998	Northern Ireland	male	#56	56	High	Verified
1997	Northern Ireland	male	#78	39	High	Verified
2025	Republic of Ireland	male	#317	13	High	Verified
2024	Republic of Ireland	male	#374	10	High	Verified
2023	Republic of Ireland	male	#215	22	High	Verified
2022	Republic of Ireland	male	#231	21	High	Verified
2021	Republic of Ireland	male	#193	27	High	Verified
2020	Republic of Ireland	male	#211	23	High	Verified
2019	Republic of Ireland	male	#191	28	High	Verified
2018	Republic of Ireland	male	#216	25	High	Verified
2017	Republic of Ireland	male	#244	21	High	Verified
2016	Republic of Ireland	male	#218	25	High	Verified
2015	Republic of Ireland	male	#149	42	High	Verified
2014	Republic of Ireland	male	#237	23	High	Verified
2013	Republic of Ireland	male	#167	39	High	Verified
2012	Republic of Ireland	male	#169	40	High	Verified
2011	Republic of Ireland	male	#136	52	High	Verified
2010	Republic of Ireland	male	#122	61	High	Verified
2009	Republic of Ireland	male	#119	63	High	Verified
2008	Republic of Ireland	male	#103	74	High	Verified
2007	Republic of Ireland	male	#116	59	High	Verified
2006	Republic of Ireland	male	#92	68	High	Verified
2005	Republic of Ireland	male	#95	67	High	Verified
2004	Republic of Ireland	male	#88	67	High	Verified
2003	Republic of Ireland	male	#104	52	High	Verified
2002	Republic of Ireland	male	#84	65	High	Verified
2001	Republic of Ireland	male	#83	67	High	Verified
2000	Republic of Ireland	male	#84	62	High	Verified
1999	Republic of Ireland	male	#85	65	High	Verified
1998	Republic of Ireland	male	#82	55	High	Verified
1997	Republic of Ireland	male	#97	51	High	Verified
1996	Republic of Ireland	male	#86	65	High	Verified
1995	Republic of Ireland	male	#92	60	High	Verified
1994	Republic of Ireland	male	#88	63	High	Verified
1993	Republic of Ireland	male	#91	65	High	Verified
1992	Republic of Ireland	male	#99	58	High	Verified
1991	Republic of Ireland	male	#83	78	High	Verified
1990	Republic of Ireland	male	#79	87	High	Verified
1989	Republic of Ireland	male	#79	81	High	Verified
1988	Republic of Ireland	male	#85	70	High	Verified
1987	Republic of Ireland	male	#75	94	High	Verified
1986	Republic of Ireland	male	#76	90	High	Verified
1985	Republic of Ireland	male	#71	103	High	Verified
1984	Republic of Ireland	male	#69	106	High	Verified
1983	Republic of Ireland	male	#76	91	High	Verified
1982	Republic of Ireland	male	#70	117	High	Verified
1981	Republic of Ireland	male	#78	102	High	Verified
1980	Republic of Ireland	male	#78	102	High	Verified
1979	Republic of Ireland	male	#76	107	High	Verified
1978	Republic of Ireland	male	#68	128	High	Verified
1977	Republic of Ireland	male	#73	104	High	Verified
1976	Republic of Ireland	male	#69	111	High	Verified
1975	Republic of Ireland	male	#87	84	High	Verified
1974	Republic of Ireland	male	#76	92	High	Verified
1973	Republic of Ireland	male	#72	109	High	Verified
1972	Republic of Ireland	male	#81	89	High	Verified
1971	Republic of Ireland	male	#90	77	High	Verified
1970	Republic of Ireland	male	#81	78	High	Verified
1969	Republic of Ireland	male	#69	92	High	Verified
1968	Republic of Ireland	male	#77	67	High	Verified
1967	Republic of Ireland	male	#80	64	High	Verified
1966	Republic of Ireland	male	#75	69	High	Verified
1965	Republic of Ireland	male	#72	65	High	Verified
1964	Republic of Ireland	male	#71	59	High	Verified
2024	Scotland	male	#95	56	High	Verified

England and Wales hub — collected by Office for National Statistics
New South Wales, Australia hub — collected by NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
New Zealand hub — collected by NZ Department of Internal Affairs
Northern Ireland hub — collected by NISRA
Republic of Ireland hub — collected by CSO Ireland
Scotland hub — collected by National Records of Scotland

See methodology and data sources for how popularity data is collected and what "confidence" means.

What the record shows

Recorded by 6 registrars between 1953 and 2025, ranked in 70 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #31, first reached in 2002.

It held a top-100 place in 67 years, 58 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 2,349 births, registered in England and Wales in 2002.

Its record falls into 2 separate stretches, with a longest absence of 3 years.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1954, and 71 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Owain · #220, 29y
Owais · #533, 29y
Owi · #2018, 10y
Owyn · #1367, 24y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 6 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Remi · #31, 66y
Stuart · #31, 73y
Kathryn · #30, 73y
Bernard · #33, 74y

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1950 and 1959.

Debbie · #31, 66y
Henriette · #31, 71y
Janine · #31, 59y
Maureen · #31, 70y

Owen was ranked #31 in England and Wales · Boys in 2002. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Owen and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,573 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Owen without appearing here.

Owen moved ahead of

Ciaran Compare
In 2017 they stood at #244 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys; by 2018 that had become #216 and #520.
Brian Compare
In 2020 they stood at #186 and #186 in Northern Ireland · Boys; by 2021 that had become #150 and #326.
Declan Compare
In 1997 they stood at #74 and #69 in England and Wales · Boys; by 1998 that had become #40 and #85.
Richard Compare
In 1997 they stood at #74 and #71 in England and Wales · Boys; by 1998 that had become #40 and #82.

Moved ahead of Owen

Scott Compare
In 2023 they stood at #215 and #224 in Republic of Ireland · Boys; by 2024 that had become #374 and #187.
Frank Compare
In 2023 they stood at #215 and #268 in Republic of Ireland · Boys; by 2024 that had become #374 and #267.
Evan Compare
In 2023 they stood at #169 and #181 in Northern Ireland · Boys; by 2024 that had become #216 and #125.
Daithi Compare
In 2012 they stood at #101 and #112 in Northern Ireland · Boys; by 2013 that had become #161 and #74.

Moved the opposite way to Owen

Alexander Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 while Alexander went from #116 to #55.
Benjamin Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 while Benjamin went from #139 to #83.
Conor Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 while Conor went from #56 to #16.
Liam Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 while Liam went from #54 to #7.

Moved the same way as Owen

Alfred Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 and Alfred from #134 to #286.
Denis Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 and Denis from #21 to #232.
Frank Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 and Frank from #164 to #286.
George Compare
Between 1964 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen went from #71 to #317 and George from #52 to #112.

What's not yet available

Meaning
Origin
Pronunciation
Nicknames and spelling variants

Absence from this list does not mean the name isn't genuinely meaningful or widely used — only that Namewise hasn't sourced and reviewed that content yet. Absence from a specific year or geography above does not prove zero use there either; official statistics only publish names above a minimum threshold.

Official popularity data is available for 6 regions, from 1953 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #31 in England and Wales in 2002. Source data last verified 2026-07-21.

Owen

Owen at a glance

What stands out in Owen's record

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Owen across 5 official records

Owen by decade in Republic of Ireland · Boys

Owen appears in

Popularity data

What the record shows

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Names published alongside Owen

Owen and the names beside it

Owen moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Owen

Moved the opposite way to Owen

Moved the same way as Owen

Owen at a glance

What stands out in Owen's record

Owen across 5 official records

Owen by decade in Republic of Ireland · Boys

Owen appears in

What the record shows

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Names published alongside Owen

Owen and the names beside it

Owen moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Owen

Moved the opposite way to Owen

Moved the same way as Owen