Elowen/Elowyn or Daphne?

[Helpmechooseanamee]

I think we have narrowed it down to these two.
Other three DC all have Celtic names, so Elowen fits well. I think I prefer the pronunciation Elowyn because it comes more naturally to say.
I've always loved Daphne.

Wyn is the masculine in Welsh and so Elowyn seems wrong to me. I know Welsh men with names like Elwyn and Wyn and so that spelling makes Elowyn look masculine to me. Elowen is much prettier. I also like Elora

I love Elowen

I know a few men called Elwyn too - they're Welsh but the name isn't.
The EL-ow-yn pronunciation sounds very close to it.

Moving on from the spelling (I think we would go for Elowen), what nicknames are nice?
Winn? Winnie? Does anyone have or know an Elowen? Thanks. I also quite like Ella, just not really keen on Ellie.

Winn? No
Winnie? OK
Does anyone have or know an Elowen? I know an Elwyn who's El and one who is Lol.
Ella - nice but dull
Ellie - inevitable

Elowen is the feminine version. Don't saddle her with Elowyn.

Daphne - LOL

Do you really think Ellie is inevitable? I work with two Ella's and neither is an Ellie.
Perhaps wishful thinking but I'd avoid Ellie if possible unless she chooses it when she's older which is fine.
I like Luella nickname Lulu, but DH thinks it's an American country and western name!

Ella isn't likely to be changed to Ellie because it's not shorter.

There was a Daphne in The White Lotus. She wasn't old and I doubt she smelt of cats. She was a bit daffy!

I think where you live makes a difference. In North Wales especially, but perhaps the rest of Wales too, many like me and other posters will think of it as Elwyn, Wyn, old man name. But away from here I guess not so much.

I had a lovely Auntie Daphne btw!

@welshpolarbear, the ones I know are from NE Wales and are all older than 75. The name is of English origin but in that age group, -wyn names were very popular for men, and -wen names very popular for women.

Yes my Nain had a ‘wen name. So even though it was similar letters it sounds so much more feminine to me.

You wouldn’t think so but I know Kates, Joes, Bens, Roses and Johns who get their names lengthened frequently whether they like it or not.

@EffervescenceSmallUmbrella, I agree but I think Ella might get El but not Ellie other than by mistake.

Nearly everyone I know who has a short name seems to get it lengthened. Hughie, Jilly, Nuuri, Clarey, Maxi, Rosie etc.

I don't think a Rosa would get nn Rosie or an Elsa get nn Elsie, which compares with the 'Ella doesn't get Ellie' comment.

No I don’t believe shortening’s are inevitable.

my children both have names that could easily be shortened and commonly are. Neither of mine have ever been. We don’t do it and family follow our lead.
Friends just call them by their full names as that’s how they know them.

my children are now of an age that if someone asks (using your preferred name as an example) “is it Ellie?” They reply “😑 no it’s Elowen”

which I love BTW

Respectfully, having ‘Irish heritage’ doesn’t make it ok to bastardise Irish names, and it’s not ‘pedantic’ to say ‘If you can’t spell it and are unsure about the pronunciation, don’t use it.’.

@SomeTameGazelles , love the username!

I agree, OP was thinking of taking a Cornish name and using an anglicised spelling and pronunciation. Nothing to stop her, but I don't like it.

Respectfully, do one.

Thanks, that's helpful to know. I've also noticed all of the Elodies I know are always Elodie. I also know an Elena my age who has only ever been Elena.
I guess it is hard to predict. Eleanors tend to become Ellie in my experience.

Elowen is so beautiful as it is.

Daphne is reminding me of Daffy Duck so I would use it where it stays in it's full floral form - as a second name.

Elowen Daphne.
Elowen Florence
Elowen Rose
Elowen Iris

I dislike the nick name Winnie so I would not spell it as Elowyn.

I know a young Elowen, no one shortens it or seems to have particular issues with pronunciation.

Thank you, that's reassuring. Is it pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable or first?

Lovely ageism.

I met an Elowen at a baby group. Emphasis on first syllable when she was introduced. I’m not sure if they shorten the name but I think Elowen is lovely. I have a name that is ripe for shortening and I’ve been able to keep the long version my whole life so it is possible!

Elowen/wyn irritates me for some reason, sounds like an elf from middle earth or something. But that's just me.

Love Daphne! But it might raise a few eyebrows unless it's about to become popular. Never watched Bridgerton, well I tried but found it dull and nauseating! Daphne to me is very much dated to Australia in the 80's, very much due a revival!