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Baby names

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

Original poster

Gwendolen?

61 replies

Lilacbluecloud · 14/01/2023 19:43

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

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KirstenBlest · 14/01/2023 19:55

Gwendolen is welsh and is pronounced Gwen-DOL-en, not Gwendoline/Gwendolyn, which are anglicised spellings. I think just Gwen is nicer.

Epicstorm · 14/01/2023 19:54

I thought the most common spelling was Gwendolyn so there is potential for it being misspelled a lot. Not my personal taste at all but if you like it why not?

Original poster
Lilacbluecloud · 14/01/2023 19:54

RhubarbFairy · 14/01/2023 19:47

I'd think you'd spelled Gwendoline wrong.

I'm not a fan. It makes me think of Gwendoline Mary Lacey from the Malory Towers book series, who was spiteful and spoiled.

I think Gwendolen is the more original Welsh version, though happy to be corrected.

I've never read the Mallory Towers books and so I'm not familiar with that association.

OP posts:
NannyR · 14/01/2023 19:53

Gwyneth is nice and you could use Gwyn or Gwen.

mathanxiety · 14/01/2023 19:52

How often would you use the full name?

Gwendolen keeps on autocorrecting to Gwendolyn on my phone - not sure which is the more usual spelling.

Regardless, it's very elegant imo. Gwen as a name in its own right is also nice, but has a different feel to it - more farmer's daughter than lady of the manor. Which vibe are you going for?

NannyR · 14/01/2023 19:50

Gwendoline Mary lacey was my first thought too - I was a big fan of the books as a child and she wasn't a very nice character.

Galarunner · 14/01/2023 19:50

The mean, spoilt girl in Malory Towers!

greenspaces4peace · 14/01/2023 19:48

l love it and love the nn Gwen.

RhubarbFairy · 14/01/2023 19:47

I'd think you'd spelled Gwendoline wrong.

I'm not a fan. It makes me think of Gwendoline Mary Lacey from the Malory Towers book series, who was spiteful and spoiled.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 14/01/2023 19:45

I think Malory Towers, then Gavin and Stacey.

Username6194 · 14/01/2023 19:44

Not a fan. Sorry.