Ellwyn
A Welsh feminine name derived from the word elyn, meaning "elk".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Ellwyn. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ellwyn today is around 90 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ellwyn births was 1920 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ellwyn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ellwyn is about 90 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ellwyns were born before 1946.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ellwyn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1920
9 babies that year
Average age
90
years old
1947 SSA rank
#3,897
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Ellwyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ellwyn from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 47 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Ellwyn remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ellwyn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ellwyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ellwyn
The given name Ellwyn has its origins in the Welsh language, originating in the early medieval period around the 6th to 7th century AD. The name is derived from the Welsh elements "ail" meaning "second" and "gwyn" meaning "fair" or "blessed." Together, these elements suggest the name Ellwyn may have initially meant "second blessed one" or "blessed again."
In its earliest recorded usage, the name Ellwyn appeared in ancient Welsh texts and manuscripts from the region now known as Wales in the United Kingdom. It was a popular name among the Celtic Britons during the Middle Ages. The spelling and pronunciation of the name likely evolved over time, with similar variants like Ellwyn, Elwyn, and Elyn emerging across different regions and time periods.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Ellwyn was Ellwyn ap Gwrgan, a Welsh prince and ruler of the Kingdom of Ergyng (now part of Monmouthshire) in the late 6th century. He is mentioned in various Welsh genealogies and chronicled for his role in defending the region against the encroaching Anglo-Saxon invaders.
Another notable individual bearing the name was Ellwyn ab Anarawd, a Welsh prince and warrior who lived in the late 10th century. He is recorded as having fought alongside his father, King Anarawd ap Rhodri of Gwynedd, in battles against the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings.
In the 12th century, a Welsh cleric named Ellwyn of Bangor gained prominence as a scholar and author. He is known for his work on Welsh grammar and his contributions to the preservation of Welsh literary traditions.
Moving forward in history, a Welsh poet and bard named Ellwyn ap Rhys (c. 1550-1620) gained recognition for his poetic works, which often celebrated Welsh culture and traditions. His poetry is considered an important part of the Welsh literary canon.
Another individual of note was Ellwyn Thomas (1836-1911), a Welsh clergyman and educator who served as the principal of the Church of England's theological college in Lampeter, Wales. He played a significant role in the education and training of clergy in the region.
While the name Ellwyn has its roots in Welsh culture and history, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with Welsh influences or connections. However, the name remains relatively uncommon and retains its strong ties to its Welsh origins and cultural significance.
People
Ellwyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ellwyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ellwyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ellwyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ellwyn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Ellwyn a common name?
We classify Ellwyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 82 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ellwyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Ellwyn was 1920, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ellwyn is about 90 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ellwyn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ellwyn a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ellwyn in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ellwyn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ellwyn in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ellwyn can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Ellwyn?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Ellwyn on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.