Arwen.... Is it a proper Welsh name?

[OhWhatAPalaver]

DP really likes the name Arwen, to the point of which he (and his family!!) is already calling her Arwen all the time and I'm only just 26 weeks!

I do kinda like it too but still not sure about it. I've heard it's an old Welsh name but not sure if the LOTR connections are too much... I might prefer something a bit more traditionally Welsh but have had trouble convincing DP otherwise!

[trollopolis]

It was coined for LOTR (from traditional Welsh elements) (or possibly dragged out of extreme obscurity, which amounts to pretty much the same as coining).

Yes, it will scream LOTR across the globe.

[sonlypuppyfat]

Not everyone has seem LOTR I haven't, it just sounds Welsh to me. I think it's lovely

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Arwen is nice enough as a name, just don't go round telling people it's Welsh. Just admit that it's from LotR.

[MyNameIsSuz]

I think the worrying thing is that you're not sure, but he already has his whole family behaving like it's a done deal! If you're not sure you need to make sure they know that!

[EBearhug]

Anwen is a Welsh name which is similar.

It's no surprise Arwen sounds Welsh - Tolkien was well-versed in linguistics and elvish was aligned with Welsh in that way. But it is fiction, not Welsh.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

I came across it while I was browsing lists of Welsh names and was surprised to see it, thought it was invented by Tolkien! Dp just immediately loved it but I'm not entirely sure... I think I prefer Arianwen.

[HeadForHeights]

What about Anwen - just as nice and definitely real Welsh but no LOTR link?

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Dp doesn't like Anwen... :/

[Rpj16]

I love Arianwen. Wanted it, DP hated it and we had a boy anyway.

I know a grown-up called Arwen, she is Welsh, it's lovely. It is a Welsh name!

What about Aeronwy. Dylan Thomas's daughter.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Aeronwy is lovely!

Nice to hear someone pre-dating LOTR is called Arwen as well... Dp's argument is that no children dd's age will know LOTR and therefore the connections won't be picked up on by anyone apart from people in our age group. I'm not convinced though! I do think it's a lovely name but it's is niggling at me.

[ShatnersBassoon]

When do you think LOTR was written?

[EBearhug]

LOTR was first published in the '50s, so you'd need to be in your 60s or older to predate it. (Though it wasn't widely read till a decade later.)

[trollopolis]

I think your DH is wrong, because LOTR is consistently top of the nation's most loved books and will continue to be read.

It also has a huge (and international) geeky following.

[Bogburglar99]

Well, not many pre and primary school children will have read LOTR - but on the likely assumption that it continues to be read and admired, she is going to grow up, and from teenager years onwards, a good proportion of her peers will recognise the name!

Anyway Arwen in LOTR is a beautiful and extremely boring stereotype (sorry Tolkien). Eowyn if you must do LOTR!

Thread on Olwen recently - quite similar name with a proper Welsh pedigree and a good story behind it? Or Branwen (though she really didn't have a good time of it in the legends!)

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Yes I loved LOTR as a child and they will remain well known as your child grows up. BUT if you love the name then use it, there are many names people love taken from literature. I have used a name of a writer for one of my DC and a name from a song me and DH and I love for another. If you like one of the the welsh alternatives that is an option Aeronwy is lovely, but you aren't choosing a welsh name really your DH wants a name from a book/ film he likes so if you are not comfortable with it there are thousands of names to choose from - you should both be happy with the choice as compromise can lead to resentment.

I speak as a child who was only given my name cos my Dad was a scouser and couldn't say Marie right (in Mums opinion Maaarreee was painful to hear)! My two younger siblings don't not use the first names that are on their birth certificates and use alternatives because my parents were rubbish at agreeing on a name and sticking to it. Learn from my experience and only use a name you both like - of course your dc may grow up and change their name to Moonbeam or something then all this agonising will seem trivial.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Hah, I guess that just because you're a grown up you don't necessarily predate the books! Silly me...

Hmm... Looks like I'll be suggesting some different names later. Arsenal is a lovely name but I don't want her getting teased about it later in life.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Arwen! Not arsenal! Bloody phone...

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I think Arwen is lovely and despite having read the books and seen all the movies, I wouldn't immediately associate it with LoTR. It just sound like a normal welsh name to me.

Some people might associate it but so what?

It hasn't stopped people using Atticus (much loved on here) or Harper (Lee) or Piper or Scout or Wendy.....I'd probably not be supportive of using Bilbo though. :)

Biblical names are all the rage too and those are just names from a book.

Every name was made up at some point by somebody.

[SqueegyBeckinheim]

To me Arwen is like Wendy (although I like Arwen, Wendy not so much) as a name coined for fiction which has passed into common usage.

Considering the recent popularity of GoT names I don't think you need to worry about Arwen as teasing fodder.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

That's a good point actually magnum. Maybe I'm reading too much in to it...!

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I'd say if you both like it then go for it, if you aren't sure about it then suggest other names until you find something you both like.

[OhWhatAPalaver]

And also another good point Squeegy... Lots of Arya's cropping up recently!

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I'd say the most comment she would be likely to get is as a grown up where someone may say "Oh Arwen, like the character in LoTRs?" There are thousands of kids called Thomas, Peter (Rabbit) and other names that are featured in books, I don't think many people try to work out whether the book or the name came first.

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

and if I remember correctly Arwen was someone you wouldn't mind being names after.