Guinevere vs Genevieve vs Gwendolen! Help!

[name]Hi[/name] all!

I’m having trouble deciding between these three;

The fact that the meaning of [name]Genevieve[/name] is disputed bothers me. I like the ending of [name]Genevieve[/name] and [name]Guinevere[/name] better than [name]Gwendolen[/name], but I’m not sure if [name]Guinevere[/name] is too hard to wear. I’ve seen comments on blogs where parents or women go “That’s my baby’s name, we get compliments all the time/I love my name!” so maybe the adulterer image isn’t THAT bad?

The -dol part of [name]Gwendolen[/name] seems heavy to me.

To sum up the issues;

  • the meaning of [name]Genevieve[/name]
  • the image of [name]Guinevere[/name]
  • the -dol part of [name]Gwendolen[/name]

I like all of these names, and I like less popular names in general. So, which one? Or should I go with a completely different name?

Any compromises that can be made? I prefer names that do not end in -a, otherwise I’d consider [name]Ginevra[/name]!

Thanks berries!

I’m in the same situation as you - renaming. As a potential [name]Genevieve[/name], I love this name. The different meanings don’t bother me at all - I can pick and choose depending on my mood that day :wink: I don’t think [name]Guinevere[/name]'s too hard to wear, especially if you’re already past childhood, where there could be potential pronounciation issues. [name]Gwendolen[/name] I just don’t like very much. Personally, I’d go with [name]Guinevere[/name]. It’s stunning.

My choice:

[name]Gwendolyn[/name]
[name]Guinevere[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name]

Thank you for your input, [name]Genevieve[/name] and sol! I think the uncertain meaning makes [name]Genevieve[/name] a non-keeper for me. As beautiful as it is, I prefer that my future name have a history everyone can agree upon! (Well, I also think of the elegantly named dog from Madeliene…but I’m not a huge fan of [name]Paris[/name] etc).

What do you suppose is in people’s minds when they see the name [name]Guinevere[/name], apart from “[name]King[/name] [name]Arthur[/name]”? I mean, I haven’t seen the recent movie with [name]Keira[/name] Knightley, or read the myths in a while.

[name]Gwendolen[/name], on the other hand, is literary but can’t really be seen as “pretentious” the way [name]Guinevere[/name] might. But the -dol part is clunky. Ahhh!

Well, got one name off the table, as lovely as it is it just is not for me!

I love [name]Gwendolen[/name]. I don’t think the -dol part is an issue at all. When I say it, it doesn’t sound like “doll”, it blends in with the other parts of the name. The [name]Gwen[/name], and -len part stand out most.

I’m not a fan of [name]Guinevere[/name], it’s too…much imo. [name]Gwendolen[/name] is lovely.

Gosh, unless they’ve been living under a rock they’re probably gonna think [name]King[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] when they hear [name]Guinevere[/name]. I love the myths & history, and there’s a surprising amount of people who are in the same boat as me. Specifically though, I just like fantasizing about them living happily ever after :stuck_out_tongue: Yeah, it can seem kinda pretentious, but if you don’t spout off about how awesome your name is every thirty seconds, you should be fine lol. Also, having a “normal” nn can totally help with that. Strange fact, people tend to think that [name]Gwendolen[/name] is a made-up name - I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s just my age group that has no outside exposure to names :wink:

I dont link [name]Guinevere[/name] to the movie or myth, others might because its such a luminous name. I like it because of its sensual elegance, the way it looks, sounds, and even to say it, is elegant.

[name]Gwendolyn[/name] on the other hand isnt as elegant or luminous, but more bouncy, happy, and playful but still mannerly.

I also think it takes a certain type of personality to do [name]Guinevere[/name] justice. Someone who stresses alot about little things, and is a nervous sort of person called [name]Guinevere[/name] seems like a bit of an oxymoron. Whereas a slow, graceful mover, someone who doesnt let things get to her easily, suits this name.

Whereas [name]Gwendolyn[/name] is more open to different personalities, a tomboy who goes by [name]Gwen[/name], a fashion elite…

All three are such beautiful names though.

My absolute favorite is [name]Genevieve[/name], I just love it!

I say [name]GWEN[/name]-də-lin for [name]Gwendolen[/name], so I never hear ‘dol’. The middle syllable is the softest, imo, and you don’t hear it as much as the first and third syllables. It’s a gorgeous name but I prefer [name]Guinevere[/name].

I know meaning is important and I will look into [name]Genevieve[/name] for you but if it makes a difference St. [name]Genevieve[/name] is the patron saint of [name]Paris[/name] because she basically saved the city so I think the namesake makes it a worthwhile name.

Im also pretty sure [name]Genevieve[/name] and [name]Guinevere[/name] are both connected to juniper.

I love both [name]Genevieve[/name] and [name]Gwendolen[/name]. [name]Both[/name] are elegant names with great nickname choices. I think [name]Guinevere[/name] would be fine for the middle but as a first name, it’s just too much. The only association most people have with the name is Camelot, giving it too much of a fairy tale feeling to me. If you don’t care for the -dol part of [name]Gwendolen[/name], how about [name]Gwyneth[/name] instead?

@[name]Pansy[/name], you took the words right out of my mouth! [name]Gwyneth[/name] would be a perfect compromise, and it is Welsh for “blessed, happy.”:slight_smile:

I adore [name]Guinevere[/name], it’s my top girls name, so it definitely gets my vote. I’ve also often wondered whether it’s too much, but the associations I have with the name are generally really positive. Think beautiful fairy tale queen rather than adulterer :slight_smile: [name]Genevieve[/name] would have been my second choice, but I understand that meaning is important to you. [name]Gwendolen[/name] is lovely, but feels totally different to [name]Guinevere[/name] to me. It is more happy and bouncy and innocent, whereas I think of [name]Guinevere[/name] as mysterious, magical and more mature.

[name]Just[/name] a thought, but if you’re really worried about the impact [name]Guinevere[/name] might make, you could always introduce yourself as [name]Gwen[/name] or [name]Wyn[/name] or another, tamer nickname.

Good luck and I hope this helps :slight_smile:
Mx

I do not associate any meaning, character or movie when I see these names. I know a [name]Gwendoline[/name] who never tells people that’s her real name and puts [name]Gwen[/name] on every and anything. I’ve known several Genevieves all who love their name and were lovely girls and women. [name]Guinevere[/name] doesn’t sit well with me. I vote [name]Genevieve[/name] by a long shot. If I didn’t know several it would probably be on m list. Who cares about the meaning because when your child is born that name will mean your child and that’s it. Meanings are highly over rated.

Thanks for all of your opinions! I was prepared for some serious hate for [name]Guinevere[/name], actually. I like the name [name]Gwyneth[/name], but I’m looking for something that is 3 syllables. I’ve been described as “colorful”, “quirky”, “spunky” and “gorgeous”, although that last one is totally subjective! But I find it hard to picture an unattractive [name]Arabella[/name], for example. So judging by people’s impressions of [name]Guinevere[/name]*/[name]Gwendolen[/name], I’m more of a [name]Gwendolen[/name]…or another name?

*But I am assuming that people’s impressions of [name]Guinevere[/name] are formed by the mythical queen, not anyone [name]IRL[/name]. So [name]Guinevere[/name] [name]Turner[/name] or [name]Guinevere[/name] van Seenus probably have their own distinct personalities independent of that.

If I were to go by [name]Guinevere[/name] or [name]Gwendolen[/name], I would go by it in full, and nicknames would be a byproduct. I don’t think people are lazy enough yet that 3 syllables is too much to say!

I love [name]Gwendolen[/name], I think it’s adorable, but I’m not so sure about [name]Guinevere[/name]. I think it’s difficult to spell and difficult to pronounce, but maybe it’s just me being illiterate:)

I love the name [name]Guinevere[/name]. I think all 3 are beautiful names but [name]Guinevere[/name] just takes the cake. My strongest association is a children’s book I had called “[name]Young[/name] [name]Guinevere[/name].” It took place when she was a teenager and hanging out with unicorns, not committing adultery haha. I don’t know if I would be brave enough to use it though because it definitely would take a certain type of personality to pull off.