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Baby names

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

Original poster

Baby girl - Elowen? Honest thoughts please!

34 replies

funtimesahead · 19/04/2017 15:31

Hello all,

Our baby girl is due soon and DH and I are seriously struggling to agree on a name. We have recently come across the name 'Elowen' which is apparently Cornish in origin, meaning Elm tree. It fits well with our son's name and we like the 'Lord of the Rings' vibe of it but I'm really not sure if it's a bit too random and if she will just end up being Ellie.

Honest opinions needed please! What do you think and how would you pronounce it?

Big thanks in advance!

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catley · 21/04/2017 11:05

I love Elowen :)

MissSmilie · 20/04/2017 13:43

A friend of mine has Elowyn.

I LOVE it. So pretty.

Elbi · 19/04/2017 18:44

That's fair. I've just seen it crop up on here a few times lately - because mumsnet is the marker for everything, obviously Wink

ThursdayLastWeek · 19/04/2017 17:35

Especially as 25 of those 35 are probably in Cornwall Bertrand!

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 19/04/2017 17:35

How about Elodie ?
I do like Elowen, and also Lowenna.

BertrandRussell · 19/04/2017 17:31

I don'5 think you can say that a name that has gone from 0 a year to 35 a year in 20 years is "getting more popular"! Well, technically, I suppose.

35 in 300000 is hardly loads........

ThursdayLastWeek · 19/04/2017 17:30

I am in Cornwall and as far as I know all the Elowen's I know haven't had their name shortened .

I like it, but I don't think I would use it alongside Rowan TBH

Elbi · 19/04/2017 17:27

It's nice but does seem to be getting more popular (not necessarily a bad thing). Other Cornish 'E' names are Enora (honour) and Ebrel (April - if she really is due soon!)

CakeRattleandRoll · 19/04/2017 16:32

I love it. The only thing that put me off using it for my DD was the likelihood of the Ellie nickname, (esp as she already has a cousin with that nickname). I think the Cornish pronunciation would generally have the stress on the middle syllable, so el-LOW-en, which could give nn of Lowie. But that pronunciation really does sound similar to Rowan!

Other suggestions:
Eirwen
Arianwen
Aderyn
Morwenna

ShmooBooMoo · 19/04/2017 16:02

Or Robin (don't like it with a y) or Merle which means blackbird in French.

DramaAlpaca · 19/04/2017 16:02

It's lovely. I'd pronounce it as you do OP, so it's not too similar to Rowan.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/04/2017 16:01

I like it, doesn't strike me as that similar to Rowan.

Eowyn is the best of the LOTR names and rather similar....

Original poster
funtimesahead · 19/04/2017 16:00

Thanks for all the super-speedy responses everyone! This really is a helpful exercise :) In my mind the names don't sound similar so it's interesting to see that so many of you think they do!
Rockaby - we would pronounce it EL-owen so with the emphasis on the first syllable if that makes sense. I think that might be why it doesn't sound as similar to Rowan in my head!

OP posts:
WindwardCircle · 19/04/2017 15:56

I like it, bit I agree with others it's too close to Rowan. How about a bird name to go with a tree name, I like both Wren and Linnet.

ShmooBooMoo · 19/04/2017 15:56

Nice but maybe too close... How about Sylvie? I think it means 'of the forest' which ties in with Rowan (tree)?

littleoldladywho · 19/04/2017 15:55

Way too similar to Rowan.
The Rowan I know has a sister Hazel, if you are looking for tree names.

Rockaby · 19/04/2017 15:55

Would you be pronouncing it El-OW-en op? That is very similar to Rowan. I'd probably avoid, though it's a shame as they are such gorgeous names!

EffieIsATrinket · 19/04/2017 15:54

Idril, Haleth or Morwen similar connotations.

I knew Morven at school which is nice too.

Sophronia · 19/04/2017 15:52

Lovely but too similar to Rowan

sunnysouthend · 19/04/2017 15:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MyBootsAreMuddy · 19/04/2017 15:49

I wouldn't use it when you have a Rowan as they sound too similar.
I do like it though, and know a 15yr old who doesn't get Ellie for short (but only because she has a totally unrelated nn).

EffieIsATrinket · 19/04/2017 15:48

It's lovely bit too close to Rowan.

I'd go for Arwen or Elanor if you're into LOTR.

Dontrocktheboat · 19/04/2017 15:48

I think it's lovely - maybe a bit too similar sounding to Rowan though! Anwen is another which sounds similar. And Eluned.

LapinR0se · 19/04/2017 15:43

Not with

LapinR0se · 19/04/2017 15:43

No. Not without a brother called Rowan.