boy's name
Erwan
AIR-wahn
- Origin French
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (France)
- Births on record 40,786
France
#360
2025 births
Erwan is the Breton form of Yves, so it means yew — the same tree as Yvon in this group, reached by a Celtic route rather than a French one. Saint Yves of Kermartin is the patron saint of lawyers.
- Erwan is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in France in 2006, when 1,520 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in France.
- Today about 1 in 4,211 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1943.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Erwan Over Time
Births per decade in France, 1940s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 20 |
| 1950s | 95 |
| 1960s | 870 |
| 1970s | 6,190 |
| 1980s | 5,510 |
| 1990s | 8,085 |
| 2000s | 12,575 |
| 2010s | 6,055 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,260 |
What Erwan Means
Erwan means yew. The name is Breton and descends from the same Germanic tree word as Yves, so the sense is the wood rather than any personal quality.
Where Erwan Comes From
Erwan is Breton, the local form of Yves, built on the Germanic iv, a yew. Saint Yves of Kermartin was a thirteenth-century Breton lawyer who represented the poor without charge and became the patron saint of lawyers; his feast is still marked in Brittany. The young warrior reading sometimes given for Erwan appears to be a folk etymology on the Breton, not a derivation. Yvon, elsewhere in this group, is the same root by a French route.
Erwan in Use
Erwan peaked in France in 2006, when 1,520 babies were registered, and is falling. It charts in exactly one market, at 360th in France on 140 births, across 40,786 lifetime births. It is on record from 1943, and it has effectively no history outside France.
How Popular Is Erwan?
In 2025, Erwan was given to 140 babies in France, ranking #360 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in France.
Where Erwan Is Used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Erwan
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Erwan Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Erwan over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Erwan
- Pronunciation AIR-wahn /ɛʁ.wɑ̃/
Erwan in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Erwan
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Erwan — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Erwan
What does the name Erwan mean?
Yew — the Breton form of Yves, from the Germanic iv.
Does it mean young warrior?
That appears to be a folk etymology on the Breton rather than a derivation.
Who was Saint Yves?
A Breton lawyer who represented the poor without charge, and the patron saint of lawyers.
Where is Erwan used?
France, at 360th. It has effectively no history elsewhere.
How popular is the name Erwan?
In 2025, Erwan was given to 140 babies in France, ranking #360 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in France.
Is Erwan a girl's or a boy's name?
Erwan is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Erwan?
Erwan has 2 syllables.
When was Erwan most popular?
Erwan peaked in 2006, when 1,520 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Erwan a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Erwan currently ranks #360 in France. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.