Olwen

[17caterpillars1mouse]

What are your thoughts on Olwen?

Do you know any?

I love it! I only know one who is in her 60s (maybe 70s now). I used to work with her and she was awesome. She said it was a Welsh name, (though we were living in Scotland at the time and she was from Sunderland). Maybe it has different associations or is more popular in Wales.

I know one too and its a gorgeous name.

I really like.

It's the name of this Chuggington train.

It sounds frumpy to me, but I think welsh names are becoming increasingly popular lately.

I love Olwen!

I only know one, and she's in her 80s.

So, to me, it sounds very old and frumpy.

I prefer Arwen.

Yes it's lovely. It was on my list but I had boys. I've known two, both lovely and afaik it's still a current name.

Not as horrendous as some of the recent suggestions on MN but it just sounds so dull - a little girl answering to a grandma name. Do you think your child would like it when they are older? I suppose Ollie would be quite nice.

Beautiful name. Never heard it before.

I know one in her 40s and it's a lovely name.

I like it. Apparently it means “white footprint”

Never heard of it before, but I like it! It sounds elegant to me rather than frumpy.

I'm not keen on Welsh names generally. I think most have a harsh sound.

Are you Welsh op? I know you don't have to be Welsh to use the name, but where I am in the north, it's considered an old fashioned name, as mainly older ladies have it. For me it's of the same era as Dilys, Ethel, Doris etc. However, many of those types of names are making a come back, so who knows. Not my favourite Welsh name by a long shot.

Went to school with one and she was indeed full on frumpy. Reminds me of knitted jumpers and frizzy hair.

daisy that's interesting as the one I know sounds from what others are saying like the only one under 70 - she didn't grow up in Wales - Welsh dad and non-British mum who may just have thought "hmm nice British name" without the nuances that a Welsh mum might have got from it!

I don't really like it, sorry.

My DM was Welsh and her name was Olwyn.

To my Welsh ears it does sound a bit old fashioned. And I think there are many prettier sounding Welsh girls names too

I don't like it (despite being Welsh) and far prefer Elowen

I know one in her 60s. Old and frumpy name imo.

I love Arwen though.

Me Mam is Olwen. Please don't use it as I'm intending to.

Interesting to see the responses from Welsh people!

Arwen is gorgeous too. I'd have loved it for DD, but have no Welsh heritage whatsoever and DH vetoed because of that .

I think it's really nice.