[Opinions] Bronwyn/Bronwen
Replies
Not sure if this is helpful or if you already know this but in Welsh culture, names ending in a 'wyn' are generally male, while names ending in a 'wen' are generally female. However I traditional Irish culture the other way around.
I like Bronwen, spelled this way. Non-namenerds don't know that the "-yn" ending in the language Bronwen comes from is specifically a masculine ending and, like you, folks tend to think of adding a "y" as feminizing, so I understand how it happens, but it bugs me, to be honest.
For me, the "-wen" ending does not make the name look/feel masculine; there are "girlier-sounding" names with "wen" in them like Anwen, Elowen, Gwen and Wendy. I think some people hear "Bron" as a more masculine sound, perhaps associating it with "brawn" and, visually, "bro" is there. For me, adding a "y" doesn't counter those aspects, but they aren't a problem for me anyway. I also hear Bronte as a feminine name.
I've never heard of the home for peculiar children.
For me, the "-wen" ending does not make the name look/feel masculine; there are "girlier-sounding" names with "wen" in them like Anwen, Elowen, Gwen and Wendy. I think some people hear "Bron" as a more masculine sound, perhaps associating it with "brawn" and, visually, "bro" is there. For me, adding a "y" doesn't counter those aspects, but they aren't a problem for me anyway. I also hear Bronte as a feminine name.
I've never heard of the home for peculiar children.
There are very few B- names I like but I've always liked the sound of Bronwen. I prefer the Bronwen spelling to Bronwyn because people are throwing Ys in all sorts of random places at the moment and it's getting to me. I've never heard of Mrs Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children... Bronwen doesn't look masculine to me at all.
HOWever. I could never use this name and I think I'd struggle meeting a Bronwen too, because I can't get over the fact that it has breast right in there. Somehow I really struggle with that.
HOWever. I could never use this name and I think I'd struggle meeting a Bronwen too, because I can't get over the fact that it has breast right in there. Somehow I really struggle with that.
I love the name. At one time I preferred Bronwyn, but it was pointed out to me that it's not the original spelling, so when I made my PNL I put Bronwen rather than Bronwyn on it. I agree that Bronwyn looks more feminine, but I guess I'm a purist. I guess I don't want to join the "Add a Y, it's feminine" crowd.