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Baby names

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

Original poster

Which girl's name?

36 replies

delshell · 26/06/2020 19:58

So hubby and I are choosing a name for our baby girl.

The two names we've narrowed it down to up to now are:

Gwendolen Siân (We'd call her Gwen)
Clara Joanne

What are your thoughts and which do you prefer?

FYI, we want to have a derivative of John for the middle name, because of a recent family member who's passed away. We are from Wales, even though we don't live there now, so quite like the idea of having something Welsh in there (hence the first option), but not a requirement.

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Alwaysundecided · 26/06/2020 21:00

Oh just realised you are spelling it Gwendolen so maybe that's a different pronunciation, never heard of it spelt that way.

Alwaysundecided · 26/06/2020 20:58

I would pronounce Gwendoline as GWEN-du-lin.
Like Pendulum in emphasis if that makes sense.
Anyway, pronounced like that I think it's gorgeous and is my favourite. Unusual but very elegant.
Clara is lovely too.

seriousandloyal · 26/06/2020 20:57

Much prefer Clara

BlackCrow · 26/06/2020 20:57

Gwen Joanna has a Gavin and Stacey connotation! - actress Joanna Page plays Stacey and her mum's character is Gwen.
Overall I like Gwen better than Clara.

gracepoolesrum · 26/06/2020 20:56

Gwendoline definitely, I like Clara but I know a few and think it's shooting up in popularity.

passthemustard · 26/06/2020 20:56

I was thinking about Clara today, love it.
Not keen on Gwen.

sunlightflower · 26/06/2020 20:55

Clara

MikeUniformMike · 26/06/2020 20:54

I know someone with a daughter called Gwen short for Gwendoline and it seems sweet. I think Gwendoline is the anglicised form of Gwendolen.

MikeUniformMike · 26/06/2020 20:51

Gwendolen is pronounced Gwen-DOL-en not GWENdoline, so bear that in mind. I'd just call her Gwen. Gwen Siân seems ok.
I think Gwen is fairly popular in Wales now.

Alternative feminine versions of John are Sioned (SHON-ed) and Siwan (S-EWE-ann or SHOO-ann). These are Janet and Joan in Welsh. Both are quite popular, and I like both very much, as I do Siân.

My preference would be Gwen Siwan I think.

I don't like Clara at all. Joanna is more classic than Joanne.

You could have Gwen Joanna.

There are prettier names that start with Gwen - Gwenllïan, Gwenhwyfar, Gwenfair... - but they will have pronunciation issues. Gwenan, Gwennol or Gwenith are all ok though.

Whatsyourflava · 26/06/2020 20:14

Clara by a mile - so so gorgeous

Angel2702 · 26/06/2020 20:09

I love both I would possibly go for Gwen as less popular but would be a close call.