Meaning & Origin
Uwe is a boy's baby name of German and Old Norse origin, a Low German form of the Old Norse name Ove — derived from the Germanic element agi (meaning "awe" or "terror") or the Old Norse Auðr (meaning "wealth" or "prosperity"). Uwe has been a popular name in northern Germany, particularly in Hamburg and Lower Saxony, through much of the 20th century.
Uwe is one of those names that's completely normal in one country and genuinely puzzling in another. In Germany it's an everyman name — like Bob or Dave in America — but in the United States it's exotic and unusual. Its pronunciation (OO-veh) is unfamiliar to English speakers but easy once learned. For German-American families, Uwe is a proud cultural marker; for others, it's a minimalist gem with Norse roots.