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Baby names

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

Gwendolen?

61 replies

Lilacbluecloud · 14/01/2023 19:43

Thoughts on the name Gwendolen please. Nickname likely 'Gwen'.

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AuntieStella · 24/01/2023 21:34

Mallory Towers

Do check out the books (they were reprinted not so long ago as DD had them), because you'll have seen from the number of replies that it's a strong association

LynetteScavo · 24/01/2023 21:31

I love Gwen! I'm not sure which is the best /correct spelling of Gwendoline/Gwendolyn.

I think it means "fair haired" which is why I didn't use it for DD. All the old lady Gwendolyn I knew have passed away, but they were all people I greatly respected.

Agrandmato7 · 24/01/2023 06:32

@Lilacbluecloud I read this and I think the name Gwendolen, Gwendolyn, Gwendalynn, or Gwendolin is a beautiful name for a baby girl and you can spell it any way that you want. She’s your baby, please don’t allow others to be rude to you or to your baby girl to be. This is your special time so enjoy it.
I had just popped in here to give you a positive feedback because somehow your post came up on a news clip. Well it hurt my feelings seeing the mean and rude comments that people were sending to you. I mean there were a couple polite comments but I just wanted to let you know it’s a beautiful name.
Take Care, Tina 🥰🧸

Firebird83 · 16/01/2023 22:28

Lovely. I know a little Gwen.

Itawapuddytat · 16/01/2023 16:03

The name makes me think of Gwendoline Christie. Games of Thrones, Star Wars, Wednesday and more. She's fantastic!

ThomasinaLivesHere · 16/01/2023 14:44

I love it! I really like Welsh names even though I’m not Welsh and have no connection. I also really like Gwen so you have the option of a shorten name too.

Talapia · 15/01/2023 18:43

I was thinking of Gwendolin the other day and I'm sure it's ready for a revival.
Lots of potential nicknames
Gwen
Gwennie
Gwendy knew a Gwendy as a child
Wendy
Dol
Dollie
Lin
Lennie

Go for it !

Adviceneeded200 · 15/01/2023 18:36

Malory Towers!!

I'd say no.

PMAmostofthetime · 15/01/2023 18:31

I like it Gwennie for when she's younger Gwen for when she's older x

DuchessOfSausage · 15/01/2023 16:44

If Gwen doesn't go very well with the surname, I'd choose something else.

Twizbe · 15/01/2023 08:19

Love it. But I'm a big fan of Gwendoline Christie. I considered it for our DD as I wanted her to have a name that would suit a tall woman.

We went for Cerys in the end as she was so big when born I realised she needed a short name lol.

VenusClapTrap · 15/01/2023 08:18

I love it. My first association was the awesome Gwendoline Christie, despite reading Mallory Towers as a child.

webuiltthiscityonrockandwheat · 15/01/2023 08:17

Love it! My daughter is Gwendolyn which we shorten to Gwen, Gwennie, Gwenlyn. I also read Malory towers as a child but she's Gwendoline and anyway I didn't care. Gwendolyn or Gwendolen is beautiful. And definitely not a "private school name" Hmm

Y7drama · 15/01/2023 08:08

Malory towers association for me too!

devildeepbluesea · 15/01/2023 08:06

This is my friend’s name. She’s called Gwen 100% of the time. I like it - we are in Wales though.

toastofthetown · 15/01/2023 08:04

I find it ugly, clunky and thoroughly unappealing. The Gw- sound to me is universally unpleasant.

TentyTenty3 · 15/01/2023 01:40

I'm afraid Malory Towers has ruined it for me.

I prefer Gwen but even then...

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 15/01/2023 01:29

I assumed you’d read the latest Kate Atkinson book and seen the name there - I hadn’t realized it’s the Welsh spelling.

I think it would probably get misspelled a lot tbh. And as someone whose name has similarly been misspelled my entire life I’ve avoided using unusual name spellings for my own children.

june0707 · 15/01/2023 00:19

I didnt like it, sorry.

Hadtocomment · 14/01/2023 23:47

I like it

MackerelTabby · 14/01/2023 23:10

I like it. Only seen it spelled Gwendoline but Gwendolen looks ok. I might be tempted to use Dolly as a pet name, mainly because I love Dolly Parton.

Notellinganyone · 14/01/2023 23:03

I love it, taught a lovely girl called Gwendolyn who was known as Gwennie. Also like Gwenllian.

flagpole · 14/01/2023 22:57

Love. It.

LolaSmiles · 14/01/2023 22:49

I think it's a pretty name and would probably assume you were Welsh.

modgepodge · 14/01/2023 22:47

Malory towers association here too I’m afraid. Never met a Gwendolyn of any age in real life!

there was a girl at my primary school called Gwenen (not sure of spelling sorry), pronounced gwen-un. Might be an option.