Gwen
Gwen comes from the Welsh "gwen," meaning white, fair, or blessed. It is the feminine of "gwyn" (the same root as in Gwyneth). The name began as a short form of Welsh names like Gwendolen, Guinevere, and Gwenllian. As a standalone name, Gwen is modern English-language — it emerged in the early 20th century. Gwen was moderately popular in the US in the mid-20th century, peaking at #313 in 1959. The most famous bearer is Gwen Stefani (born 1969), the singer who fronted No Doubt and became a solo star — "Hollaback Girl" (2005) made her one of the defining pop artists of the 2000s. Gwen (the spouse of King Arthur in some versions, via Guinevere) gave the name a mythic dimension. I find Gwen has a brisk, contemporary quality — the "Gw" opening is unusual in English, and the single syllable is direct. The name sounds both Welsh and modern. Gwen has been climbing again in the 2010s as short, vowel-heavy female names returned to fashion. Gwen is a female name of Welsh origin that means "White, fair, blessed". Brisk, contemporary, and Welsh. The name sounds direct. Gwens tend to be energetic. US outside top 500. Climbing. Well-known people named Gwen include Gwen Stefani (singer), Gwen (Arthurian), Gwen Verdon (dancer/actress), Gwen (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Gwen include Gwendolyn (full form), Gwyneth (related), Guinevere (related), Gwenny (nickname).