See the results of this poll: Which name do you prefer?
Respondents: 67 (This poll is closed)
- Guinevere : 29 (43%)
- Gwendolen: 38 (57%)
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is what’s on my list, but I appreciate them both.
Both are spunky and romantic, with [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] being most down-to-earth.
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] is actually on my longer list of names (in the top 20 as opposed to the top 10). This name just has sentimental value as my mother loved this name for each of her children, but was always shot down by everyone. She planned on naming us [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] and nicknaming us “[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]” which I’ve always found so, so adorable. [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] sounds very sweet, charming, and Southern.
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] has always come off as very rigid and overly grandeur, almost like I couldn’t take the name seriously.
My name is [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] and as a kid I used to wish it was [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]! Now I like my name, but I still wouldn’t mind being a [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] 
[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] has long been one of my favorites - I like that it’s a little bit fairy tail, and a little bit down-to-earth. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is pretty too, but too connected to the sort of iffy mythological character for me to use, because I have never met a real-life [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. It’s a bit more dramatic, and most of my favorites aren’t.
I love them both, and I really think both are usable. However, I recently met a little girl named [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], (and I loved it when I saw it written down on my papers) and though hate to admit it, I felt very silly saying her full name the first few times I addressed her. It wasn’t hard to get used to, but I was surprised by my own reaction to saying the name aloud, even though I have always thought it was a beautiful, romantic name. I think maybe it is too closely tied to the Arthurian legends to really feel like a person’s name; it would be like using [name_f]Cinderella[/name_f] or [name_f]Pocahontas[/name_f] or [name_m]Hercules[/name_m].
I prefer [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. The name as a whole is beautiful, but the nicknames really made my decision. I like the unexpected [name_f]Ginny[/name_f] and [name_f]Eve[/name_f] for it. I’ve never been a fan of [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]. It’s bit too heavy(?) for me. I prefer just [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] by itself.
I agree with others that [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is a little too fanciful and tied to one image for me. As the mother of a [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] (whose birthday is 4/17 by the way!), I found it really hard to pair for a sibling - I think [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] would be even harder. I love how [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] is more natural for [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] than [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], and how it really isn’t that hard to spell or pronounce (I imagine having some difficulty with misspellings for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]). Good luck!
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] all the way!
It’s hard to choose, but I think I prefer [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] (that spelling instead of the -en ending). [name_u]Love[/name_u] the nickname [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] too. 
I have a deep and abiding love for both names, but I voted for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. I agree with pps that [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] can be difficult to pull off irl but I think [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] can equally as difficult. Both are regal and have historical meaning. I think if you want people to think of “[name_f]Queen[/name_f]” go with [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], if not [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]. Ultimately, I voted for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] because if these were my choices it is the one I would name myself.
I do not like [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] as I have encountered too many fictional Gwendolens that I do not like. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is quite grand but is better than [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f].
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] <3 It has a beautiful sound, and the lovely nickname Winnie. Gwendolen is just too clunky.
I think [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] flows more and sounds more elegant, so it’s my favorite! But [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] is nice too.
Definitely [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is saccharine sweet, [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] is pretty but has a bit more life. Plus you get the cute and modern nickname [name_f]Gwen[/name_f].
I love both, but I find [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] a bit difficult to say somehow. I think it’s the ‘eh’ sounds. [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] is a little better, but I don’t personally like that it’s not the original spelling, or the look of it. You can’t go wrong either way in my opinion.
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]! I agree with PP’s that [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] sounds clunky, and I really dislike the “[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]” spelling (would prefer [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]). I do also agree that [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] feels a little over the top even though it’s on my list… SO really likes it and so do I, I’m just afraid it’s too grand that no one would be able to take her name seriously.
Wow, a 50/50 poll!
All of your comments have been so insightful and helpful. I think I wasn’t familiar enough with the [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] legends to understand how strong the perceived connection is with [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. @axps123 your comment really helped me to see how the connection can make the name unwearable for a “real” person.
@gwensmom, how funny about the birthday! That is a really great point about the difficulty of finding a sib set with the name.
I had preferred the original “[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]” spelling to “[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f],” but now I’m reconsidering that as well.
I’m also starting to become concerned that maybe neither of these names, when shortened to nickname [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], would work for my last name, which sounds like [name_m]Bennett[/name_m]. [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] [name_m]Bennett[/name_m]. Is that a terrible flow or am I overthinking it?
Naming a real child is so much more difficult than dreaming up combinations for fun! 
I love the sound of [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] and the nickname option of Guin/[name_u]Gwynn[/name_u] is adorable.
I dislike [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f], but I like [name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f]. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is also fun to say aloud. Gorgeous.
I love both of these names and both are on my girls list!
I love [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] slightly more. It just flows off the tongue and is so beautifiul. It also has nickname potential like [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], [name_m]Doll[/name_m], [name_f]Leni[/name_f] (depending on spelling, and [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] or even [name_f]Wendy[/name_f]. It would give a girl a lot of options but its not too long to just stick with the full name too.
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is pretty but more severe sounding. And I think the Guin- spelling of the beginning throws me off a little and isn`t the most pleasing to the eye. I also cant come up with any good nicknames.