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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Could DD have picked her own name? I need some opinions please!

62 replies

3luckystars · 11/03/2016 11:00

I have been agonising over names for a long time. There are lots I liked, but none I loved.

We are having a girl! (yay) At every scan, she pushes her footprint up and the doctor has printed us out several photos of her little white footprint, even at the very early scans. I had "Olwen" on our (very long) list but I only liked it, and wasn't 100% sure about it.

The name Olwen means "little white footprint".

Anyway, I was at a scan yesterday and up appeared this lovely little white footprint again, and the doctor stopped the screen and said "oh look at her beautiful little foot". I actually welled up a bit, and thought "her name is Olwen"

I just want to pick a lovely name for our little girl. Do you think its a nice name?

OP posts:
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LovelyBranches · 11/03/2016 15:25

Indeed Imperial

ImperialBlether · 11/03/2016 15:22

Reuben, Lovely?

LovelyBranches · 11/03/2016 15:17

Op my DS got his name after a baby scan. My husband left the scan mucking around and joking saying 'I have an heir', 'behold, my son'. When we looked at baby names we discovered a name that means behold, a son. That decided his name.

Love the name Olwen, but I also love the spelling Olwyn.

GreatFuckability · 11/03/2016 14:29

Yeah as its spelt. OL-wen.

Footle · 11/03/2016 13:14

Bookday, it's pronounced just as it looks ( well the w might come out a bit different in Wales , but not much ). Fabulous name and story to go with it. Of course it's the only name for her.

MadameDePompom · 11/03/2016 13:14

I'm not a fan, it's on a par with Blodwyn (although maybe Olwen fans love Blodwyn too).

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 11/03/2016 13:04

Beautiful story, beautiful name! You have to call her Olwen now, this is part of your families story Smile

deepdarkwood · 11/03/2016 12:52

Awww, lovely name and lovely story (both yours and the story of Olwen/the white flower footprints from the Mabinogion) - we dithered about dd's name until she was born - dh took one look at her and said she's 'X, look at her' I'd be holing out for Y all along - but he was quite right. She would have been all wrong as Y (a nice, rather pretty and fey girls name - the opposite of dd!!)

Congratulations, OP!

grumpmitchell · 11/03/2016 12:52

What a beautiful story. Olwen must surely be her name!

Jemimapuddleduk · 11/03/2016 12:48

What a lovely story and I think the name is gorgeous.

CeriBerry · 11/03/2016 12:48

Bog- it's a wonderful story. I can still remember sitting in my primary school at about 9 years old and my teacher reading me the part about Olwen. I was absolutely mesmerised, I can remember the beautiful illustrations!

BookDayWorld · 11/03/2016 12:44

Sorry kisses out of habit!!

BookDayWorld · 11/03/2016 12:44

How it's pronounced out of interest? It looks lovely on paper however xx

TheScottishPlay · 11/03/2016 12:44

Lovely.

Bogburglar99 · 11/03/2016 12:42

Cross post Ceri. I'm not Welsh but studied the language and the legends at university a couple of decades ago. Relieved I can still remember how to spell Culhwch!

Bogburglar99 · 11/03/2016 12:40

If you're not Welsh then go and read the story of Culhwch and Olwen from the Mabinogion. Lots of translations and kids versions. It's a great story - giants, magic, princesses, King Arthur and his knights, the works.

Good one to name her after. I think in the story Olwens name comes about because little white flowers spring up wherever she walks, which is even nicer.

CeriBerry · 11/03/2016 12:40

Just to be really anal, I'm Welsh and it doesn't actually mean 'little white foot.' It is more like white trail/tracks/prints, or maybe white footprints. In the story of Culhwch and Olwen, four white flowers appear behind Olwen every time she takes a step. Hence Olwen: Ol-trail/track and wen- white. That being said however, it is still very applicable to your story and is a lovely name so I think you should go for it.

JonSnowKnowsNowt · 11/03/2016 12:36

I think that's a lovely name and it's a story every child would love to have about their name!

sleepyhead · 11/03/2016 12:25

Olwen is one of the chuggington trains (minor character) so people might have heard of it (if they have train obsessed toddlers like mine anyway Grin). It's a lovely name - go for it!

Original poster
3luckystars · 11/03/2016 11:45

Thanks for that story. I have cried a little bit at the responses here too.
I am not Welsh and I know nobody will have ever heard the name so I was unsure, but am so glad I posted now!! Thank you all again for the positive feedback. I will keep this thread for her and hope she likes her name.

OP posts:
Micah · 11/03/2016 11:36

Lovely name :)

I had similar. I was sat at work one day, felt a kick, and without even thinking said "oh hello x, it's you is it".

I dithered for the remainder of my pregnancy anyway, but always came back to that name. And that's what she's called :)

goldenpineapple · 11/03/2016 11:33

Aw this just made me cry a little bit! So so lovely, really pretty name and such a sweet reason for choosing it.

SpidersFromMars · 11/03/2016 11:29

Olwen is gorgeous. Lovely story too, perfect.

Penfold007 · 11/03/2016 11:28

Olwen is a lovely name and your reason for choosing is beautiful.

EllenTheEgret · 11/03/2016 11:25

Lovely name!