boy's name
Hywel
HUH-wel (Welsh)
- Origin Welsh
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 270
Hywel is a boy's name with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 6 babies in England and Wales. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Hywel is a name of Welsh origin.
- Peaked in England and Wales in 1996, when 28 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in England and Wales.
- Today about 1 in 87,827 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1996.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Hywel Over Time
Births per decade in England and Wales, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 72 |
| 2000s | 89 |
| 2010s | 67 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 37 |
How Popular Is Hywel?
In 2025, Hywel was given to 6 babies in England and Wales. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Hywel Is Used
Figures for England and Wales leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Hywel
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Hywel Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Hywel over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Hywel
- Welsh HUH-wel
Sibling Names for Hywel
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Hywel — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Hywel
How popular is the name Hywel?
In 2025, Hywel was given to 6 babies in England and Wales. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Hywel a girl's or a boy's name?
Hywel is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Hywel?
Hywel has 2 syllables.
When was Hywel most popular?
Hywel peaked in 1996, when 28 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Hywel a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Hywel currently ranks #3,297 in England and Wales. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.