Yes! An American student (not sure from which part, sorry to generalise again!) a while ago asked me about an author called Barry - it took a couple of minutes of fruitless searching before we worked out they were actually called Berry.
I was about to say that Gwen is the feminine adjective (meaning 'white, bright, blessed' etc.) and the masculine is Gwyn...BUT there is a man named Gwên (with a long e) in the medieval Llywarch Hen poetry. I don't know what it means, but it means that Gwen could legitimately be a boy's name?
Welsh aside, in the interests of equality, since there are many girls with traditionally male names (including Gwyn) and a boy named Phaedra, one could say why not a male Gwen?
Ditto all of Chimu's first paragraph. My discovery of the day (apart from Aunt Flo...) was Benedict Arnold.
I know we've had many accent discussions here, but I did a little double-take at the pronunciation of the vowel in names like John ("JAHN"). I generally end up having a go saying them out loud in a really bad American accent. Without wanting to open a can of worms, does that mean Honor and Ana sound the same?
Seconded! My unwritten rule bugbear is "flow".
I can't help thinking Russell Russell is rather a lot of onomatopoeia in a name!
Congratulations!
Yes! An American student (not sure from which part, sorry to generalise again!) a while ago asked me about an author called Barry - it took a couple of minutes of fruitless searching before we worked out they were actually called Berry.
Thanks! Very interesting to look at, even with the caveats.
How sweet! And Kathaleen does have a certain appeal...! I remember when I was little I had a doll who was called Emly, and definitely not Emily.
I can see why Rowen seems masculine by analogy with Owen...but definitely another vote for sticking to Rowan. Lovely name!
Oops, somehow posted that twice.
And another cousin, Mandalynn.
Ginger (g), Ivy (g), Laurel (g), and Kenny (b)
Fair point, that would put a bit of a downer on it!
I was about to say that Gwen is the feminine adjective (meaning 'white, bright, blessed' etc.) and the masculine is Gwyn...BUT there is a man named Gwên (with a long e) in the medieval Llywarch Hen poetry. I don't know what it means, but it means that Gwen could legitimately be a boy's name?
Welsh aside, in the interests of equality, since there are many girls with traditionally male names (including Gwyn) and a boy named Phaedra, one could say why not a male Gwen?
I too would guess a foreign-language influence. (I was about to say German, but then I looked up Grimm and found that he was a Jacob.)
Or - just a quick thought - perhaps Mal or Mallie?
Graham(b) Elspeth (g), Vaughn (b), Alistair (b), Maeve (g), and Fiona (g)
I thought the bit comparing naming children with naming brands was interesting too.
From a colleague last week: Jessamyn St3lla
Thanks, all! I realise that "American accent" was a massive generalisation..
Ditto all of Chimu's first paragraph. My discovery of the day (apart from Aunt Flo...) was Benedict Arnold.
I know we've had many accent discussions here, but I did a little double-take at the pronunciation of the vowel in names like John ("JAHN"). I generally end up having a go saying them out loud in a really bad American accent. Without wanting to open a can of worms, does that mean Honor and Ana sound the same?
Temperance (g), Journey (g), Clarity (g), and Peregrine (b)
My copy has just arrived! It's so interesting to have a name book with an American perspective, and find out what the fuss is all about :-)