Eoghan
/ˈoːən/noun
Eoghan is a traditional Irish and Scottish Gaelic masculine given name, anglicized as Owen or occasionally Eugene.
Did you know?The yew’s association with cemeteries and immortality makes the traditional “yew-born” interpretation especially evocative, although scholars debate Eoghan’s exact origin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic / Early Celtic
Celtic
*Eugenos or *Ouenos
“A reconstructed ancestral form proposed for the name; its exact derivation remains disputed.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Eugenius
“A Latin personal name meaning “well-born,” from Greek eugenēs; this may have influenced or become associated with Celtic forms.”
Old Irish
Old Irish
Éogan
“The early Irish form of the personal name, borne by several legendary and historical figures.”
Early Medieval Ireland
Old Irish
Eógan
“A prominent dynastic name, including Eógan mac Néill, ancestor-name of the Cenél nEógain dynasty.”
Middle Irish
Middle Irish
Eóghan
“A continued Gaelic form of the masculine personal name.”
Modern Gaelic
Irish / Scottish Gaelic
Eoghan
“The modern Gaelic spelling, commonly anglicized as Owen; proposed meanings include “born of the yew” or “well-born,” but no single derivation is certain.”