Owain

Owain is a Welsh masculine given name. It is the Welsh form of Owen and is used particularly in Wales and Welsh-speaking communities. The name is also associated with Arthurian legend, where a hero named Owein (Ywain) appears in early romances. The precise origin of Owain is uncertain, but it is widely treated as the Welsh form of Owen, a name often linked to the Latin Ioannes (John) through medieval usage. In English-speaking contexts the name is commonly Anglicized as Owen.

Historically, the name Owain has been borne by several notable Welsh figures. Owain Gwynedd (c. 1100–1170) was a king of Gwynedd who helped consolidate Welsh power in the 12th century. Owain Glyndŵr (c. 1359–1415) is celebrated as the last native Prince of Wales and led a major uprising against English rule in the early 15th century. In Arthurian legend, Owain (often rendered as Owein) is a knight of the Round Table, known in later literary traditions as Ywain or Yvain, and appears in various Welsh and French romances.

In modern usage, Owain remains a common name in Wales and among Welsh communities abroad, often rendered in English-language contexts as Owen. Notable people with the name include the Welsh-born American actor Owain Yeoman (born 1978), among others who carry the name in contemporary culture.