Eowyn (pronounced Ayo - win)

[Namingkidsishardwork]

Hello!

A quick survey which will hopefully help me greatly!

When I briefly worked with a lovely teenager called Eowyn about 4 years ago (a beautiful, popular girl with the nickname Ayo), I fell in love with the name and immediately put it on my list for a future daughter.

With that in mind, here is my question for you lovely folk:

without Googling this name or asking someone (no cheating!), what is the immediate thought you would have if you met a female of any age today who introduced herself and said "Hi, I'm Eowyn" (pronounced Ayo - win)?

Thank you :)

[Namingkidsishardwork]

Anybody? Anybody at all?! I have refreshments!

[clairethewitch70]

My immediate thought would be that she was Welsh.

[NannyR]

I would assume it was a masculine name if I saw it written down. It looks a bit like Owen or Ewan.

[Looserwoman]

I would never remember how to say it and if I read it I would assume it was a boy's name.

I have a Welsh friend with an E name pronounced Ay- and most people mispronounce it, even Welsh people.

[Namingkidsishardwork]

Claire Thank you for your input! That response alone is helpful :)

[Whitelisbon]

Refreshments you say?
It's a beautiful name, I've never heard it before though. I knew how to pronounce it, if that helps?

[Etymology23]

Lord of the rings! Would be my thought. Very pretty name though!

[ImADingleDangleScarecrow]

I’m not keen at all on Eowyn but I love the girls name Elowen.

[Namingkidsishardwork]

All helpful responses, thank you! and for all!

[Rhynswynd]

Lord of the rings character.
Nice name .

[Liadain]

Lord of the rings character - she immediately springs to mind!

I like it though, that and Arwen are great names.

[Alittlepotofrosie]

Lord of the rings. I wouldn't. There are no other popular culture references for that name.

[MrsHathaway]

LOTR badass. "I AM NO MAN!"

I think it has a lovely sound too. But the associations are great.

[Ttbb]

Um, nothing really. When I think of the name Eowyn I think of a blond haired angelic little girl in a floral dress and cardigan but that's about it.

[MissWilmottsGhost]

Lord of the rings character.

[Namingkidsishardwork]

alittlepot thank you for your response! It seems like your angle was more for a parent considering it as a potential name for their child. Do you have any additional thoughts on what your reaction would be if you met someone who was already called Eowyn?

[MrsHathaway]

It seems like your angle was more for a parent considering it as a potential name for their child.

In fairness, this is Baby Names and that's what the Topic is for

[Namingkidsishardwork]

MrsHathaway Touché!

[TittyGolightly]

My immediate thought would be that she was Welsh.

I'm welsh. It's not a welsh name. Looks more Irish to me.

[Pidlan]

The -wyn suffix is male in Welsh (Elwyn, Carwyn, Derwyn) and -wen is female (Olwen, Bronwen, Carwen.) So to me (Welsh speaker), Eowyn is male. (Factoid: Ewyn is Welsh for foam!)

You do get Anglicised versions of Welsh names that sound completely wrong to Welsh ears- Bronwyn etc. The worst I've heard is Olwyn instead of Olwen. Olwyn is Welsh for wheel!

[Tumilnaughts]

Lord of the rings. I love that name.

[Namingkidsishardwork]

Pidlan thanks for the insight! Languages are my absolute favourite topic. So it sounds like if you were to meet an Eowyn, you'd not only imagine a bloke, but also a pile of foam! Haha!

[Liadain]

It absolutely isn't Irish - no w or y used in the Irish alphabet.

[Trampire]

I'm Welsh too and I've never heard it and yes, it seems a bit wrong.

Have considered Eirwen? (White Snow).