Her father is fated to die if she ever marries, so when Culhwch comes to court her, he is given a series of immensely difficult tasks he must complete before he can win her hand. With the help of his cousin King Arthur, Culhwch succeeds and the giant dies, allowing Olwen to marry her suitor.

The name "Olwen" reappears in the folktale Einion and Olwen, about a shepherd who travels to the Otherworld to marry Olwen. The tale was collected at the turn of the 20th century but is certainly related to Culhwch and Olwen.

Andrew Lang retold the tale in "The Winning of Olwen" for The Lilac Fairy Book.

This name was also used by Monica Hughes in the young adult novel Keeper of the Isis Light.