Fun Facts About the Name Morwenna
- 38 babies named Morwenna: U.S. records list 38 babies given the name Morwenna from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Morwenna Mean?
Morwenna is a Cornish feminine name usually explained as "sea-white" or "fair sea," from the Brittonic Celtic elements mor "sea" and gwen "white, fair, blessed," with the g- of gwen softened away in the compound. The final -a is a Latin feminine ending rather than an extra root. The "blessed" sense of gwen belongs to Christian usage and is a customary interpretation; the literal sense is "white" or "fair." A similar-looking Welsh word, morwyn "maiden," is sometimes offered as a gloss, but the gwen element points to the sea-and-white explanation. The Welsh name Morwen is closely related and uses the same elements.
Morwenna Name History & Origins
The name is best known from Saint Morwenna, a virgin saint venerated in north Cornwall. According to traditional accounts, she was a daughter of the semi-legendary Welsh king Brychan Brycheiniog and lived in the fifth or sixth century; these details come from later hagiography rather than contemporary records. Her cult is attached to Morwenstow, where the parish church is dedicated to St Morwenna and St John the Baptist, and her feast is observed on 5 July in some calendars. The place-name Morwenstow joins her name to Old English stow, "holy place" or "place," so it means "Morwenna's stow."
The Latinized form Morwenna adds the feminine ending -a to the Brittonic name. The related Welsh name Morwen shares the same elements, but Morwenna's recorded use is tied to the Cornish saint and the church at Morwenstow. In modern times the name has been used as a given name in Cornwall and elsewhere in the English-speaking world; it also appears in fiction, including as the name of a character in Winston Graham's Poldark novels.
How Popular is the Name Morwenna?
Morwenna has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #7,120 in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,771 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #13,007 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #11,848 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #7,120 | 16 | 0.0010% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Morwenna Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Morwenna's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Morwenna's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.