Is Gwendolyn really that unpopular as a baby name?

[Waheymum]

I'm just about to go overdue with my second baby. DH and I have decided on Gwendolyn Puck as first and middle names. I wanted Puck as a first name but it rhymes with the F word and also sounds like pucker (pucker up? 🤮) so that's why it's been downgraded to a middle name. Loads of people I've mentioned Gwendolyn as a name to have either hated it or just said "oh" or something equally along the lines of 'if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything'. Is Gwendolyn (Gwen) a horrible name?

I know a 5yo Gwen and think its totally fine.

2 really ugly names there.

Puck is the name of a fantastic Dutch cyclist. She's a huge talent and brings the peloton to life. It's a great name as far as I'm concerned, because that's the connection I have with it. (Puck Pieterse, if you want to look her up)

Gwendolyn is a bit grannyish, but Gwen is lovely.

I haven't met a Gwendolyn in person as it's not a very common name, and like PPs, my first association with the full name is Gwendoline Mary Lacey (the Malory Towers books were very popular).

However, over the last few years, I've met a couple of late teens/early 20's girls called Gwennan, and it's really grown on me since, as they're lovely.

I would associate Puck with Shakespeare and hockey.

Gwen Stefani
Gwenno (the Welsh-Cornish singer)

I know a Gwendolyn. Although, everyone just calls her Gwen. She's beautiful and funny and really suits the name. Stick with Gwendolyn but please reconsider puck!

Sometimes people just create threads to wind em up no?

Had an awful realisation quote recently that the name Gwendolyn Mary Lacey had lodged deep in my psyche from overdosing on Malory Towers as a child and I have named a child with a 3 syllable first name - Mary - our surname is very similar to Lacey 🙈.

Shame the OP had already decided on the name when she posted…no wonder she hasn’t come back 😬

I love it. It has all the letters of my dad's name if given a different version and I fought hard for it but dh would not be swayed.
It's beautiful long or short. Gwennie is so adorable

I like the name Gwen and know three young Gwens and a Gwynne. So I don't think it's unusual at the moment. I know one of the Gwens is actually Gwenan, no idea about the others.

Never heard of Puck, i wouldn't want it as my name.

Inspired by a thread yesterday, why not try substituting/adding some random letters? Spell it Guennderleanne. That’s bound to win people round!

It’s terrible. Really awful.

If you must insist on a Shakespearean sprite, Ariel might be slightly more useable for a girl. If it's after the puck in ice hockey, I have no suggestions, other than don't.

I do think it's a horrible name, sorry,

Not improved by a weird middle name, either.

Gwendolyn or whatever fancy spelling you have given it - doesn’t do it me for me. Very old fashioned (think Oscar Wilde / Agatha Christie) and a bit twee in my book. And as for Puck? Really? Really? Poor child!

Yea, the name will be forever tied to a homesick, wet, stick in the mud.

😂

Brutal but nails it.

I actually have a soft spot for that character: she wasn't all bad, and her pride in her name was rather sweet.

I love Gwen best just as Gwen 10/10.
Gwendolyn is not a fave.

Others I like ..
Gwenith
Gwyneth
Gwenda
Gwenevere
Gwenore

Puck, I could not use.

Gwenith Faerie
Gwenda Pixie
Gwen Titania
Gwyneth Helena

Gwynne is awful. It's a surname. It's like calling a girl Johnne.

The Oscar Wilde character was Gwendolen.

Meh, I like Gwendolyn and love Gwen. I think the latter is very chic, and actually I love Wendy too as another nn option.

Puck is weird, unless it’s a family surname or something?

Sorry OP but if this is real then I would have a rethink as I think both names are awful. Puck is setting her up to be ridiculed and bullied. Rhymes too easily with f*ck and she will hate it.

"Waheymum · 21/03/2026 11:46
I'm 8-9 months pregnant. "

The baby might be here. OP has a toddler DD too.

Gwendolyn Puck sounds like a new friend of Wallace and Gromit.

However, Gwen is cute, I know a primary aged Gwen and it wouldn't raise any eyebrows where I live.