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Baby names

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Original poster

Robyn vs Sylvie vs Elowen

32 replies

Frankiefarr · 19/12/2021 17:42

Surname is a colour so quite short.

Thinking woodland, nature, etc but Willow and Rowan feel too used may be.

Sylvie I like but quite girly

Robyn - so fits in with local tradition of naming daughter with same initial as father. Also happens to be first part grandmother’s maiden name plus appropriate for time of year.

Elowen - I love this on paper, looks good with surname but I’m just not too sure I like the actual proper Cornish pronunciation which is Elooen or El-Oh-wen as opposed to nicer sounding American EL-i-win (my best attempt at being phonetic) 😳

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ZebraKid71 · 21/12/2021 20:27

Dislike Sylvie, love Elowen and have it on my list for DC3 but the pronunciation issue put me off - someone mentioned Ffion which has a similar feel to me.

Robyn is lovely and I like the family connection.

strawberrymilk7 · 20/12/2021 15:37

I like them all. Robyn is my fav, followed very closely by Sylvie

mrsrobin · 20/12/2021 15:17

Robyn is my vote

Olga03 · 20/12/2021 14:57

I picture Sylvie as a 50 year old Dutch woman (was popular in the Netherlands decades ago).
Robyn is fine.
Elowen is my favourite out of these three, very lovely.

Edenember · 20/12/2021 13:55

My vote goes to Sylvie.

Wellington17 · 20/12/2021 13:05

Love Robyn and Sylvie! Both high on my list. I’d veto Elowen as although it’s nice she’ll likely become Ellie and there’s millions of those about at the minute.

Synchrony · 20/12/2021 12:06

I love Robyn (prefer Robin) and Sylvie. Dislike Elowen, I find it awkward to say with either pronunciation and forgettable amongst all the other "El" names.

WashableVelvet · 19/12/2021 23:01

It’s a modern Cornish name and not mega frequent. I don’t think anyone’s going to turn in their grave if it’s pronounced with an accent on the first syllable by English speakers.

(I have a foreign name where English speakers put the accent somewhere different. It’s fine by me)

Anaximedes · 19/12/2021 22:55

Someone may have said this, but Sylvie makes me think of the ballerina Sylvie Guillem. Which is no bad thing in my book.

Anaximedes · 19/12/2021 22:54

I prefer Robyn. Sylvie is also nice. They will both sounds good with a variety of short Colour surnames. Not personally keen on either pronunciation of Elowen, and of the three names, that is the one that wil lead to the most mispronunciation (and also on the phone, spelling issues) of the 3, if that is of concern to you.

None of the 3 would make it onto my Names I Actively Dislike mental list though. Smile

Pattygonia · 19/12/2021 21:49

I like Robin and Sylvie - but far prefer Robin spelled with an i not y

WhatsWrongWithMyUsername · 19/12/2021 21:45

Elowen if you aren’t precious about pronunciation. Second choice would be Robyn.

Original poster
Frankiefarr · 19/12/2021 21:41

Thanks everyone some interesting comments. Think it’s between Sylvie and Robyn. Dislike Sylvia always makes me think of blue rinses

OP posts:
SoftSheen · 19/12/2021 21:35

Elowen is lovely.

CoffeeWithCheese · 19/12/2021 21:33

I am very biased - I have a Robyn and she really really suits it. Gets expensive this time of the year when all the cute stuff with the birds on is out and she wangles me buying it cos "it's got Robins on and I'm Robyn so I need it!"

Cotswoldmama · 19/12/2021 21:31

Love Sylvie ♥️

GuiltyPleasure · 19/12/2021 21:29

Sylvie is lovely, Elowen is nice. Sorry, I really dislike Robyn/Robin

ratussbaguss · 19/12/2021 21:18

Sylvia, then Robyn but prefer Robin

Rrrob · 19/12/2021 21:18

Robyn and Elowen were (and still are) on my list so I vote for these. Someone above mentioned Annie…this is the name I went for in the end!

MoominMeggy · 19/12/2021 21:16

I live Sylvia and know a little one (and a 70 year old one). Timeless name with a great meaning.

I like Robyn, prefer Robin - but kind of reminds me of the woman from In the Thick of It, and I feel like it might have a bit of a dated feel to it, like Amber.

Elowen is beautiful written down, but the correct pronunciation is a bit awkward, which puts me off.

I love Willow, but it is quite popular, though not overly so.

I love Rowan for a girl, but v. popular as a boy's name atm.

Have you considered Fern? Beautiful, underused and nice link with Charlotte's Web.

AnnaSW1 · 19/12/2021 21:13

Sylvie is a fantastic name. To my ears it's a strong name

Tulips21 · 19/12/2021 21:11

Elowen is a hard name to pronounce tbh, will always need to be corrected! I read it as El-owen.

I prefer Sylvie

WisestIsShe · 19/12/2021 21:05

Robyn for me, then Sylvie.

delshell · 19/12/2021 21:03

Elowen is lovely. Not so keen on the other two.

ozzyfroggy · 19/12/2021 20:54

Your theme makes me think of the secret garden so Mary and Martha come to mind. And in the same vibe, Jane, Annie or Flora.

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