Erwan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Erwan has been for the last 13 years (from 2007 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Erwan

A masculine given name of Celtic origin meaning "lord" or "brown-haired".

Popularity of Erwan by gender

Based on the last 13 years of data, Erwan is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Erwan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2019 6 0
2007 5 0

The history of the first name Erwan

The given name Erwan has its roots in the Breton language, which is a Celtic language spoken in the region of Brittany in northwestern France. The name is derived from the Breton words "er" meaning "the" and "gwen" meaning "white" or "fair".

The name Erwan likely originated in the medieval period, when the Breton language and culture flourished in the region of Brittany. It was commonly used among the Breton people, who have a rich cultural heritage and a strong sense of identity.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Erwan can be found in the Breton language literature and folklore from the 12th and 13th centuries. It was sometimes used as a descriptive name, referring to a person with fair or pale complexion.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Erwan. One of the earliest known figures was Erwan de Lanrivain, a Breton knight who lived in the 13th century and fought in the Crusades.

Another prominent figure was Erwan Ar Moal, a Breton poet and composer from the 15th century, who is renowned for his contribution to the preservation of the Breton language and culture through his works.

In the 17th century, Erwan Bourdoulous was a Breton sailor and explorer who is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to set foot on the Hawaiian Islands.

More recently, Erwan Bergot (1930-2017) was a French artist and sculptor known for his abstract works, while Erwan Le Prado (born 1957) is a contemporary Breton singer and songwriter who has helped popularize the Breton language through his music.

The name Erwan has maintained its popularity among the Breton people and those with Breton heritage, serving as a connection to their cultural roots and identity. While not as widely used outside of Brittany, it remains a distinctive and meaningful name with a rich historical background.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Erwan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Erwan, please contact us.

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"Erwan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 13, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/erwan-meaning-and-history/.

"Erwan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/erwan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 June, 2025

Erwan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/erwan-meaning-and-history/.

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