WDYT?

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

I met a girl in one of my classes yesterday, and she had an interesting name.

Olwyn.

I actually really really like it. It's not a name that I would use myself, and it's not even one that I would normally like (there aren't many O names that I like), but there's something about this name that I think is really cool. It suits the girl perfectly, too, and it sounds great with her last name.

I believe the traditional spelling is Olwen, which I also like, but this is one of the few examples where random Ys in place of other vowels doesn't actually bother me.

WDYT?

Comments

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

Well, considering that it's taken from a Welsh name, the spelling in English terms is a little more open to interpretation. For example Gwyneth v. Gweneth, etc. It's not like taking a true English name like Christopher and turning it into Chrystophyr.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

That's true, I did think of that after I posted, when I went to go look up the origins of the name.

I just meant that this spelling makes it look like it fits right in with the modern creative spellings that people are coming up with, but it still looks good (to me).

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree. It's really not bad at all. I like the name, as well, but it's a little unisex for my taste. I generally like names with clear genders. Olwyn's pretty, but it's so close to Owen that I think I would stay away from it.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

I'm not *positive*, but I think when the girl introduced herself she actually pronounced it closer to ALL-win than OLE-win.

Unless you meant that it was similar only in terms of spelling, in which case I obviously agree.

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

Hmm... yeah, I'm not great with Welsh names. If she does pronounce it ALL-win, that's still pretty close to another boy's name, Alden... which I used to like a few years ago, but not so much anymore.

I wish that people were more educated about name history or just etymology in general... but since I know that isn't going to happen any time soon, I think Olwen/Olwyn will just stay on my "That's Pretty, But Not For an American Baby" list.

P.S. I'm not sure if I've ever complimented you on your Katharine icons, but I always notice them. I love her, she's the original "fierce" actress. Haha.

[nothingtolose19.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just me, but it kind of reminds me of owl .. lol.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I've been meaning to make more ... for about four years now. *Sigh*

I have all these great ideas and I just can't get them to turn out how I'd like them.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

I think I would feel the same way if I had seen it in writing first, rather than hearing it.

[rorylareina.livejournal.com]

I know an Olwen, and it's an interesting name, and it really suits her. I feel like it's kind of a mouthful; not that it's hard to pronounce, just the movement of sounds are a little strange.

[nothingtolose19.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I glanced at your post first, I thought it said Owl, haha.

[aqualectra.livejournal.com]

i like it .. but i would definately nickname her owly, which i dont mind either. *smiles*

[laminy.livejournal.com]

There's actually a traditional spelling? Looking at it, I just assumed that it was something that Tolkien made up or something.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

Hehehe ... apparently it's a name from Welsh mythology.

It means "white track" or "white footprint".

[shortbutfast.livejournal.com]

it sounds very... fantasy novel-ish to me. not horrible but i wouldn't use it.