WeeNames Scotland’s favourite name finder

← All names

Ewen

Boy name · 504 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ewen: 504 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 29 births in 1976.

The name Ewen is a classic Scottish and Irish choice, ultimately deriving from the Gaelic Eoghan, meaning "born of the yew tree" – a tree long associated with strength and longevity in Celtic tradition. It is also sometimes linked to the Greek name Eugene, meaning "well-born." Notable bearers include Ewen Bremner, the Scottish actor best known for his role as Spud in *Trainspotting*, and the 18th-century Gaelic scholar and poet Ewen MacLachlan. The name also echoes in the landscape at Glen Ewen in the Scottish Borders, while Ewen is a village name in Gloucestershire. A very close variant, Ewan, is perhaps even more widely used in Scotland today, and both forms share a warm, timeless feel that has remained popular with Scottish parents for generations.

Boy 42 of 52 years

Peak year
197629 babies
Latest (2024)
#7273 babies
Total births
504since 1974
5-year trend
▼ 23%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1976 · 29
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).