What is "owain"

Owain is a name of Welsh origin, apparently corresponding (along with Iwan) to Irish " Eoghan". There is more than one proposed etymology for this name. Several etymologists consider it to be cognate with Eugene meaning noble-born. However, the encyclopedia Irish Names disputes the connection with Eugene and derives the name . An alternative but less likely origin of the name is Proto-Celtic "Esugenos", meaning "engendered of Esos".

Owain is one of the few Welsh names to be consistently popular over the last 100 years in England and Wales, particularly with the spelling Owen. Other variants of the name Owain include Ewein, Iguein, Owein, Ouein, Ywein, Ywain, Yuein, and Yvain. Owain has also been Latinized as "Oenus" and as "Audoenus", which itself evolved into another variant Audoen. Patronymics include "Bowen" (from "[a]b Owain") and Owens. The name Ednywain (along with variants Ednywein, Ednowain, and Ednywen) is associated with Owain, and "appears to be a name constructed by a reshuffle of the naming elements, i.e. taking 'Edn'- from ' Ednyfed' and putting it before 'Owain'".