Gwen

Gwen is a Welsh feminine given name meaning "white, holy". It can also be a shortened form of Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) or other names beginning with the same element, such as: Gwenhael, Gwenael, Gwenvael, Gwenaelle Gwenda (explained as a compound of gwen "white, pure, blessed, holy" + da "good, well") Gwendolen, Gwendoline, Gwendolyn Gweneira (from gwen "white" + eira "snow") Gwenfair (combination of gwen "blessed, holy" + -fair, soft mutation of Mair, "(the Virgin) Mary" Winefride (originally Gwenffrewi) (Breton: Gwenvred) Gwenfron (from gwen "white" + fron, mutated form of bron "breast"; cf. Bronwen) Gwenyth, Gwenith (identical to the Welsh word for "wheat") Gwenllian Gwennant (compound of gwen "white" + nant "stream, brook") Gwenola (modern feminized form of Breton Winwaloe) Although superficially similar, Gwyneth has a different, albeit uncertain, etymological origin (likely either from Gwynedd or the Welsh gwynaeth, meaning joy, bliss or happiness).