Gwenifer?

[Tirnanogg]

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?!

What’s wrong with just Gwen, seeing as that’s what you want to call her?

No, but I might have mentioned it I wish I kept that name because every so often I look at her and think that should be her name.

It might be a real name but please don't give it to your child

But why did you need to point out that Gwenore is not Welsh when I never said it was? It’s not Irish or French or Malaysian either, so what? You said it wasn’t Welsh as if trying to correct me, but I hadn’t said it was, the OP hadn’t specified she wanted a Welsh name, so I don’t get why you would feel the name to point it out as if you were trying to catch me out. Also not sure how you can say something isn’t a name when I know somebody with the name, so clearly it is. A name is anything somebody uses for a name, all names were made up and in new usage at some point, Wendy for example wasn't a name when used in the book Peter Pan but is now a relatively common and used name. As you pointed out yourself Gwenore is on a number of baby naming websites, so obviously it’s not completely made up and unknown even if not common. Just because you wouldn’t know how to say it doesn’t mean it can’t be used, lots of people choose names which wouldn’t immediately be pronounceable by others and many ‘real names’ which you can find on darkgreener such as Alicia, Helena, Maya etc have several possible pronunciations anyway, just because you can’t pronounce a name doesn’t mean it’s illegitimate for somebody else to consider it.

As for ‘sheepdogs tend to have one syllable names’, what a ridiculous comment. I grew up in a farming community, tons of the sheepdogs I have known had two syllable names, yes plenty also had one syllable names but a few had 3+ syllables too. Obviously sheepdogs are called what their owner decides to names them there’s no rule book that says the name must only have one syllable! You seem to be just trying to act superior and pull me up for things for the sake of it or maybe you’re trying to prove you’re some sort of sheepdog/ welsh name etc expert by trying to look like you know more than anyone else on the thread? If you need to do that to feel superior to others fine, but it’s ridiculous to be pulling people up on things that they haven’t even suggested - I never said Gwenore was a Welsh name so there was really no need to try and make yourself look clever/ make me look stupid by pointing out that it isn’t one.

@MolkosTeenageAngst , As for ‘sheepdogs tend to have one syllable names’, what a ridiculous comment.
Not at all. There's a reason why the names tend to be one syllable - it's to do with how the commands are used. It's not particularly relevant to the thread.

Why did you mention it then if it’s not relevant? I don’t understand why you are trying to pull me up on everything I say. I tell you that I know two sheepdogs called Gwenno and you tell me that sheepdogs only have one syllable names, it’s clearly not true because my own lived experience proves otherwise! I feel that if I’d said on this thread the sky is blue you would be telling me that actually it’s green.

@MolkosTeenageAngst , ...and you tell me that sheepdogs only have one syllable names...
What I said was
Sheepdogs tend to have one syllable names.

I feel that if I posted the sky is sometimes blue someone would post that I claimed the sky was always blue.

But if sheepdogs aren’t relevant to the thread, why mention they tend to have one syllable names at all if it wasn’t to try and call me out or make out I’m wrong somehow? Why did you feel the need to mention it at all, only to later tell me it’s irrelevant? It’s not like I’d said anywhere sheepdogs usually have names with X number of syllables and you were trying to correct me, I said I know two sheepdogs called Gwenno which is true, and you said sheepdog names tend to have only one syllable as if I am either lying or wrong about my own lived experience. If that wasn’t your intention, and if sheepdogs are irrelevant to the thread, why did you bring it up at all?

Then I shall suggest Cabbage. The Victorians used it for girls.

A beautiful name with a wealth of history and links with health and nature - thank you @MrsCarson . I shall suggest it to DH.

for the nod to Jennifer could Jenna work?

Lettuce is also a name!
What about Jessica? Similar sound/rhythm to Jennifer.

@inappropriateraspberry , the name is Lettice. It's a middle name of an ex PM's daughter.

Choux Fleur?

I typed that - must have autocorrected! 😆

I sometimes call my husband my petit choux flour!

Letitia could be Letty or Tish

That's what I thought too, like "Gwenifer made their first public appearance together"

Try using Gwen as a full name.
Gwen Genevieve
Gwen Jennifer
Genevieve Wendy - Gwen

Well l think Gwenifer is an absolutely gorgeous name.
It seems like most of you guys have not heard of Gwenifer Raymond the musician.
It is a Welsh name.. but it means white ghost.
OP. I'd definitely use it.
Especially if you daughter is born with fair hair.

To get the same sound in Welsh as Jennifer wouldn't it have to be Gweniffer?
It has actually grown on me as the thread has moved on, the Strike reference definitely helped. I'm bit disappointed it's off the cards for the OP.

@Moier , it's from a Welsh name, Gwenhwyfar. It's not an actual Welsh name, unless you go by the 'someone used it as a name so it's a name'.
I have heard of GR, but don't know how she says her name.

@OhNaffOffYouWazzock , you'd need to shift the stress to the first syllable.
Welsh always stresses the next-to-last syllable.
Exceptions like Elinor , Elisabeth, Jonathan etc are because they are not from a Welsh origin.

Haven't read the whole thread but I used to know a Gwenda...

I think it's awful 😖.
Infact I might choose Jennifer.

Gwenhwyfar is the Welsh equivalent to Jennifer/Guinevere.

Gwenifer is awful. Sounds like you have a speech impediment.

Go with Gwenhwyfar. It's a proper name and it's quite a nice one too.