[name_m]Hi[/name_m]. We love this name but we prefer it pronounced Eh-loh-WIN (or [name_f]Ella[/name_f]-WIN with the schwa sound in the middle) as opposed to Ello-when.
Im from [name_m]Wales[/name_m] and so - wen and - wyn names are pronounced predominantly differently.
I prefer the look of [name_f]Elowen[/name_f]. And I dont mind if others use the -WHEN pronounciation but I worry - WIN won’t get used at all.
We also have a daughter [name_f]Caelyn[/name_f] and I worry [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Caelyn[/name_f] are both too similar, in sound, but also looks wise since they would both have el and yn in their names and will seem almost intentional.
Im in such a dilemma over the spelling. Me and my partner have agreed on [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] for now but Im still debating what spelling to go with.
Would you say [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] and [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] differently, and any thoughts you have regarding pronunciation and spelling? TIA
I’m Welsh so I would say them differently.
I prefer the look of [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], but if you want the eh-loh-winn or ella-win pronunciation, then [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] would be better as. But if the pronunciation from others isn’t too important, and you’re not worried about correcting people with your preferred pronunciation, then I’d say go with [name_f]Elowen[/name_f].
If it helps, my name ([name_f]Carys[/name_f]) gets pronounced slightly differently by others depending on where in [name_m]Wales[/name_m] they’re from, and it doesn’t bother me
If you really want the -win pronunciation you will need to spell it [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f]. I’m from [name_m]Wales[/name_m] too, and you’re completely right that nobody would pronounce [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] with the -win sound, especially if you’re planning on having her speak Welsh.
I think [name_f]Elowen[/name_f]/Elowyn is such a beautiful name! I love both spellings. I personally pronounce them the same (I’m from NY!), but I’m sure other people would pronounce them differently.
I think if you want the -win pronunciation (the pronunciation I prefer as well!), then I’d go with [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f]. I don’t think [name_f]Caelyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] are too close. If anything, the ‘yn’ ending could be a sweet connection between the two.
I love the [name_f]Ella[/name_f]-win pronunciation! That’s how I originally thought [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] was pronounced, so I could easily be corrected to that pronunciation. Also, I guess I don’t enunciate that well, because even if someone told me to use the Ello-when pronunciation, sometimes it would still come out as -win for me. [name_m]Just[/name_m] as I say [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] like Lor-in, [name_f]Karen[/name_f] like Care-in, etc.
I agree [name_f]Caelyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] look kind of similar. I also just love the [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] spelling. It reminds me of flowers because eLOWEn and fLOWEr, so I think it’s really pretty.
I’d go with the [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] spelling to get the pronunciation you want. If it was spelled [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], I’d probably pronounce it more as [name_f]Ell[/name_f]-oh-wen
I’d pronounce [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] “eh-LOW-en”, so I’d go for [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] for the WIN pronunciation you want. I’m not sure people will naturally stress the final syllable though, if that’s what you’re hoping for.
I think [name_f]Caelyn[/name_f] and [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] work fine together, the first part of each name is different enough for the shared ending sound not to be too much of an issue.
I’m welsh also, and I love [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] infinitely more. I say [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] like Elo-wen, and [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] like Elo-win
Welsh background and as you say, I’d pronounce [name_f]Elowyn[/name_f] with a “win” sound and [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] as “when”.
Having said that, how much does it bother you? You can explain to family you want to call her “win” but didn’t want both siblings with the same letters in their name and accept that family will pronounce it “win” and the majority of welsh people “when”.
Alternatively you might decide the pronounciation is more important than both girls having the same letters and go with the “wyn” spelling. For what it’s worth, I would have no problem with those two names for siblings. I think they look and sound really nice together.