Arianwen?

[MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird]

What do you think? I am welsh, DH is not, not living in Wales at the moment.

The only Arwen I know is a bloke in his 60s

I think it's beautiful. I really liked Arianne when pregnant but just didn't feel right once she was actually here.

Never come across this name before, but if pronounced as suggested upthread it is gorgeous, perhaps one of the most beautiful names ever

Hahaha, I'm Welsh and don't like it. Sorry! It's just a personal thing - sounds too wishy-washy and fairy for me. So I stress, it's just me, I like a more traditional kind of Welsh name. I don't hate it, just wouldn't use it myself.
Queen of the elves by Tolkien was Arwen - also made up.
It means arian = silver and wen = fair/white (fem form), but Gwen/Gwyn doesn't have to refer to a fair child, it can be the purity aspect of it.

Don't use 'wen' - it's nasty. Doesn't it mean a boil or growth or something?

I like it but wouldn't choose it, both mine have welsh names (probably because we are Welsh ) I've yet to find anyone english who can pronouce DS name but his Korean cardiologist can. It does annoy him a bit even thoug he's only 4. Its harder to pronouce than Arianwen though so I think you could get away with it outside Wales

I quite like the name but think you could have a few problems with prounciation. Ds and I used to go to a baby sign class and there was an Arianwen there. We all introduced ourselves and our babies and when it came to Arianwen there were a few puzzled faces. All of us mums forgot or misspronunced her name for months on end and this seemed to really annoy her mum (understandably so)!

I think if you live somewhere where welsh is widely spoken and people have a good grasp on the language it would be fine but we live in s.wales and people really struggled with it.

Very pretty, I knew an Arianwen and always liked the name

OP - I love your name

That is a good point Iwantscallops, definately worth thinking about.

Thank you Jamieandhismagictorch!

It's my daughter's middle name. I'm from wales but my husband is English. I insisted on her having a welsh name as one of her names. We live in England and she thinks its unique for here.

My daughters name is Arianwen. We shorten it to Ari mostly, but she gets pet names right from Ari-wen to Azi.

She absolutely adores her name. We dont tend to get many problems with pronunciation (although we do live in Wales ). She gets numerous comments on how beautiful her name is and I couldnt have made a better decision for her, it suits her perfectly.

Its actually a very old, traditional Welsh name, but, in my opinion, absolutely beautiful (even if I am biased.) The name is believed to be the name of one of Brychan Brycheiniogs' (Famous 5th century king) numerous daughters.

I think it's a lovely name. I have never heard of it before but read it right straight away and I am not welsh.

I think it's lovely. The snow spider was one of my favourite books, and the sequel, Emlyn's Moon. DD loves them too.

It's interesting that it means white/fair silver, I always assumed it to mean white spider, maybe because arian seemed quite similar to ariadne.

I am on holiday looking at the black mountains at the moment and feeling quite nostalgic about the book now! I used to stare at the cover with the girl's white blonde sparkly hair for hours.

Love love love it.

Eirwen?
I have an aunt called that.

I like Anwen or Arianne better. I do, however, feel that anyone who has the chance to call their daughter Angharad should seize it with both hands A truly heroic sounding name.

Love it [hgrin] I know an Arianne and an Anwen but I do live in S. Wales and speak Welsh so that's probably why. The Arianne I know gets called Ari which I like as a nn.

No matter if you're not Welsh - I have an ancient Greek name and I'm neither!

It's a gorgeous name, I've not heard it before but I think it's beautiful, go for it.

Yes it's a beautiful name. no people don't always get it first time but they ALWAYS remember it afterwards. I shorten mine to Ri and people do call me Ari too but I always use the full version why hide it? Btw Arian means silver and wen is white, pure or blessed. More romantically inclined name books say it means blessed gem. Good luck with whatever you choose and don't listen to negative comments I'll bet your daughter will love it x

It's a yes vote from me!

Reminds me of my favorite trilogy, the snow spider!
Love it

Beautiful name. I'm not Welsh but can't see why the pronounciation is tricky at all.

It's gorgeous. It made my final shortlist for DD2 - but we went with Celyn Sionedd instead. Use it.

Beautiful go for it!