Yvain

Form of OWAIN used by the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes for his Arthurian tales.

OWAIN   male   Welsh, Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Romance
Probably a Welsh form of EUGENE, though it might be derived from Welsh eoghunn meaning "youth". This was the name of several figures from Welsh history and mythology. In Arthurian legend Owain (also called Yvain in French sources) was one of the Knights of the Round Table, the son of King Urien and husband of the Lady of the Fountain. His character was based on that of Owain ap Urien, a 6th-century Welsh prince who fought against the Angles. This name was also borne by Owain Glyndwr, a 14th-century leader of Welsh resistance against English rule.
EUGENE   male   English
English form of Eugenius, the Latin form of the Greek name Ευγενιος (Eugenios) which was derived from the Greek word ευγενης (eugenes) meaning "well born". It is composed of the elements ευ (eu) "good" and γενης (genes) "born". This was the name of several saints and four popes.

This name was not particularly common in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. It became more popular in part due to the fame of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736), a French-born general who served the Austrian Empire. A notable bearer was the American playwright Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953).
EQUIVALENTS
ANCIENT GREEK: Eugenios, Eugenius
ARTHURIAN ROMANCE: Owain, Ywain
BULGARIAN: Evgeni
CROATIAN: Eugen
CZECH: Eugen, Evžen
ENGLISH: Eugene, Owen
FRENCH: Eugène
GALICIAN: Uxío
GERMAN: Eugen
ITALIAN: Eugenio
LATVIAN: Eižens, Jevgēņijs, Jevgeņijs
LITHUANIAN: Eugenijus
MACEDONIAN: Evgenij
POLISH: Eugeniusz
PORTUGUESE: Eugênio
ROMANIAN: Eugen
RUSSIAN: Evgeni, Evgeniy, Evgeny, Yevgeni, Yevgeniy, Yevgeny
SLOVAK: Eugen
SPANISH: Eugenio
UKRAINIAN: Yevgen, Yevhen, Yevheniy
WELSH MYTHOLOGY: Owain
WELSH: Owain, Owen
DIMINUTIVES AND SHORT FORMS
ENGLISH: Gene
RUSSIAN: Genya, Zhenya
FEMININE FORMS
AFRICAN AMERICAN: Lagina
ANCIENT GREEK: Eugeneia, Eugenia
BASQUE: Eukene
BULGARIAN: Evgenia, Evgeniya, Zhenya
ENGLISH: Eugenia, Geena, Gena, Genie, Gina
FRENCH: Eugénie
GALICIAN: Uxía
GREEK: Evgenia
ITALIAN: Eugenia
LATVIAN: Jevgēņija, Jevgeņija
MACEDONIAN: Evgenija
POLISH: Eugenia
PORTUGUESE: Eugênia
ROMANIAN: Eugenia
RUSSIAN: Evgenia, Evgeniya, Yevgeniya, Zhenya
SPANISH: Eugenia
UKRAINIAN: Yevheniya
WELSH: Owena
OTHER FORMS
AFRICAN AMERICAN: Tyrese
ANCIENT IRISH: Eógan
ENGLISH: Taryn, Ty, Tyron, Tyrone
HUNGARIAN: Jenci, Jenő
IRISH MYTHOLOGY: Eógan, Eoghan
IRISH: Eoghan, Owen
SCOTTISH: Eoghan, Euan, Ewan, Ewen