Bowen is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #1217 in 1998 with 101 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2025 with 1,292 births ranking #266. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 74.1%. In 1998, approximately 1 in every 18,924 boys born was named Bowen. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Bowen is a Welsh surname name meaning "son of Owen". It has a calm, tailored sound and works well for parents who like surname names with real history behind them.
The name comes from a Welsh family-name tradition rather than from an ancient personal name of its own. Its modern use follows the wider popularity of polished patronymic surnames as first names.