Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Evan or Owen

77 replies

RosaAna · 07/03/2025 18:54

Which of these names is your favourite? What type of person do you associate them with?

The middle name will be Francis after a family member.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
YourAmberFawn · 08/03/2025 22:03

Evan

RogueFemale · 09/03/2025 23:10

Much prefer Owen.

Original poster
RosaAna · 10/03/2025 09:19

Thanks for all the replies, seems the majority prefer Evan which was what I am leaning towards myself.

OP posts:
LilyJosephine · 10/03/2025 09:42

Owen - nice and classic but not overused. Evan is nice too but somehow feels a bit trendier (maybe as Ev names are so popular for girls at the moment).

Jessieshome · 10/03/2025 09:50

Evan.

Evan is stronger than Owen. Owen is a nice but a bit meh. Evan is a strong Welsh farmer who loves a bit of rugby, Owen is his shy friend.

That's my thoughts anyway! 😃

Dustmylemonlies · 10/03/2025 20:28

I have an Owen so am biased! Grin

HeyDoodie · 10/03/2025 20:31

Owen

HeyDoodie · 10/03/2025 20:31

I find Evan a bit wishy washy

MumonabikeE5 · 10/03/2025 20:32

Evan

Tkoko · 13/11/2025 12:33

VanillaDaydream · 07/03/2025 19:59

My DS is also an Evan and I love it. It's a nice versatile name and will grow with him. It's not an overly common name either.

Can you please explain versatility in this case? What do you mean by that?

RuthW · 13/11/2025 16:38

Evan

NefiBlw · 13/11/2025 16:48

Old thread, but Owen and Evan or Eoin aren't versions of the same name. Evan and Eoin both have the same meaning.

KayEmAy · 13/11/2025 17:07

Love Evan, I think it's so underrated :)

Peternell · 14/11/2025 08:39

Evan

Onefortheroad25 · 14/11/2025 08:45

Evan. One of ds21’s friends is Evan and he’s a smashing guy.

user1492757084 · 14/11/2025 08:46

Both Evan and Owen are handsome names.
My favourite is Owen.

I also love Euan, Ewan, Ian, Neville and John.

FettleOfKish · 14/11/2025 08:47

Evan. I know one in his 60s and he’s such a decent bloke.

I’d have used it for DS if I didn’t have a bad personal association with a person whose surname is Evans Hmm

Calliopespa · 15/11/2025 22:00

Much prefer Owen.

I think it's rather cute.

EmotionallyWeird · 18/11/2025 20:58

I prefer Owen (and Ewan) but I don't dislike Evan.

My understanding about the meanings is that Evan is always said to be a variant of John, whereas there's been more than one meaning suggested for Owen and Ewan, one of which is a variant of John, but there's also a possible meaning linked with yew trees.

Arlanymor · 18/11/2025 21:02

I prefer Euan, Ifan and Owain... which may or may not be helpful!

Tkoko · 18/11/2025 22:40

Arlanymor · 18/11/2025 21:02

I prefer Euan, Ifan and Owain... which may or may not be helpful!

How do you read all of them and what is it that you like about them? Is it that they are Welsh and sound unique? Otherwise for others that seem to be a strange spelling of traditional names.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 18/11/2025 22:44

Evan. Every Evan that I’ve known of or in person has been lovely.

Owen sounds more like a surname to me

Oohh · 18/11/2025 22:46

Arlanymor · 18/11/2025 21:02

I prefer Euan, Ifan and Owain... which may or may not be helpful!

I also like Owain.

out of Evan and Owen, I think I prefer Owen but it’s close! They’re both great names

Arlanymor · 19/11/2025 16:02

Tkoko · 18/11/2025 22:40

How do you read all of them and what is it that you like about them? Is it that they are Welsh and sound unique? Otherwise for others that seem to be a strange spelling of traditional names.

Show quote history

Not strange spellings - Welsh as you guessed. They don't sound unique... not if you live in Wales at any rate. It is only just across the bridge from England... they're hardly unknown once you get past junction 24 of the M4...

Tkoko · 19/11/2025 16:05

Arlanymor · 19/11/2025 16:02

Not strange spellings - Welsh as you guessed. They don't sound unique... not if you live in Wales at any rate. It is only just across the bridge from England... they're hardly unknown once you get past junction 24 of the M4...

Show quote history

Yes but Ifan is read as Ivan? Or Ifan in England? How do you read them in England?