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Baby names

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

Original poster

Gwenifer?

129 replies

Tirnanogg · 13/01/2024 10:23

I'm looking for a proper unicorn of a name. I would like a first and middle name, ideally allowing Gwen as a nickname, with a nod to the name Jennifer in there somewhere (both grandmothers!) AND be a legitimate, not totally made up name.

We're Welsh-speaking Welsh and Cornish, living in Wales, but I'd like it to be something the English side of the family can say.

I came across Gwenifer this morning, which seems to satisfy most criteria, but is it a real name?!

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SusieSussex · 13/01/2024 10:55

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/01/2024 10:31

Gwenhwyfar?

I prefer that to Gwenifer

Outthedoor24 · 13/01/2024 10:49

You could just call her Gwen.

I came across a Penguin once, actual name Gwen, someone had said 'pass me a pen, Gwen' and it stuck!

Anjea · 13/01/2024 10:46

It sounds like something the papers would call a couple in a relationship. Gwyn and Jennifer.

istoodonlegoagain · 13/01/2024 10:45

Gwynefyrr looks like it could be a Welsh name? 😁 Gwenifer just looks awful, you get an immediate Gwen + Jennifer impression. A girl in my secondary school had a name like that (it was the two names of her grandmother's chopped in half) and every time a new teacher did the roll they'd ask if it was some sort of hybrid name.

nomeslice · 13/01/2024 10:42

What about Genevieve?

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/01/2024 10:42

Tirnanogg · 13/01/2024 10:38

Thank you! That's a very fast and decisive response, which is really helpful.

I've been battling with Gwen names for months - DH won't accept Gwenhwyfar, and I feel like Guinevere might be a bit weird since she's got a cousin called Arthur...

With any luck it'll be a boy and everything will be easier!

I wouldn’t worry about having a Guinevere with a cousin called Arthur. I wouldn’t even consider that odd if they were siblings but definitely no issue for cousins, I wouldn’t have made a link.

Jennifer is derived from Gwenhwyfar so in many ways any Gwen name would be a nod to Jennifer’s. How about Gwenore? Gwenllian? Gwyneth? Gwendolen?

Original poster
Tirnanogg · 13/01/2024 10:41

Gwendolen might work - Gwendolyn is, as @TeenDivided pointed out, inextricably linked to Gwendolyn Mary Lacey...

OP posts:
YouveGotAFastCar · 13/01/2024 10:40

I’d think of the Witcher too.

I think you’re right on Gwen & Arthur too, especially in Guinevere form.

Original poster
Tirnanogg · 13/01/2024 10:38

Thank you! That's a very fast and decisive response, which is really helpful.

I've been battling with Gwen names for months - DH won't accept Gwenhwyfar, and I feel like Guinevere might be a bit weird since she's got a cousin called Arthur...

With any luck it'll be a boy and everything will be easier!

OP posts:
TheForgetfulCat · 13/01/2024 10:36

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/01/2024 10:31

Gwenhwyfar?

Oops. That’s the correct spelling. I did say I wasn’t fluent! It’s a lovely name for Welsh speakers and I should think English family would get it quickly enough given they will know Guinevere.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/01/2024 10:36

IHateLegDay · 13/01/2024 10:33

That's just child abuse 🤦‍♀️

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That’s terribly rude, Gwenhwyfar is a known Welsh name and the OP has said she is Welsh speaking and in Wales. Do you think all names from other cultures and languages are child abuse?

Whataretheodds · 13/01/2024 10:34

IHateLegDay · 13/01/2024 10:33

That's just child abuse 🤦‍♀️

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Would you say that about a Hebrew, Arabic or Nigerian name?

TeenDivided · 13/01/2024 10:33

Gwendoline Mary Lacey Jennifer.

IHateLegDay · 13/01/2024 10:33

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/01/2024 10:31

Gwenhwyfar?

That's just child abuse 🤦‍♀️

WilhelminaBunter · 13/01/2024 10:32

I don't like it.

Guinevere is better.

I love Gwendolyn too. I knew two - one now passed away - would be in her 90s now. The other is a little girl and it's really cute.

Alwaysanotherwine · 13/01/2024 10:31

i’d also think of the witcher series l

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/01/2024 10:31

Gwenhwyfar?

TheForgetfulCat · 13/01/2024 10:31

Gwenifer I have never heard of. Jennifer I am pretty sure is a variant of Guinevere.

I’m not a fluent Welsh speaker but know a bit and I think the best known Welsh variant would be Gwenhyfar?

Takeitinturns · 13/01/2024 10:31

Guinevere is so beautiful, though I’d nickname her Vera

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 13/01/2024 10:30

No offence, but it sounds like someone saying Jennifer in baby-voice. I'm not that keen.

Why not just call her Gwen with Jennifer as a middle name?

ApoodlecalledPenny · 13/01/2024 10:29

Welsh pronunciation or hitting the f as a ff?

BiscuitsandPuffin · 13/01/2024 10:29

It sounds like a Friends joke, like when Joey thinks Ross is short for Rosstopher.

BlackboardMonitorVimes · 13/01/2024 10:29

I would think you are fans of The Witcher, I do like the name though.

PuttingDownRoots · 13/01/2024 10:29

I presumed it was a misspelling of Guinevere.

Amdone123 · 13/01/2024 10:29

I think she'll be forever saying, Gwenifer, not Jennifer !
I really like Jennifer. It's due a comeback !