I had a best friend in high school who’s name was [name]Gwendolyn[/name], and I always loved her name. At that time, she was the only one I knew with that name. I never gave it much thought, but now I’m seeing it here and there on nameberry and wondering what category would [name]Gwendolyn[/name] fall into? Seems like the most popular it ever got was 112 in 1951, but it’s been in the top 1000 for at least 100 years. Would that make it underused?
I’ve never met one, though I’ve known one or two [name]Wendy[/name]'s so I guess it could have been their full name.
I do think it’s underused. It’s lovely!
Really pretty. Feels more down to earth than other [name]Gwen[/name] options
Feels like the kind of name where you won’t meet another yet it’s totally familiar which I love
It is one of those “in between” names, a happy medium. I adore [name]Gwendolyn[/name] and am contemplating using it for a middle name!
I think [name]Gwendolyn[/name] is an underused but very pretty name. I really like it (not as much as some [name]Gwen[/name] names).
I really like it, though my favourite spelling is [name]Gwendolen[/name].
I prefer the [name]Gwendolen[/name] spelling as well. We have in our list for a girl, but might never use it because we have a cat named [name]Gwenevere[/name], that we call [name]Gwen[/name]. It might be a bit of [name]Gwen[/name] overkill, especially since I am not even that fond of the nn. [name]Gwendolen[/name] as a full name, I love.
I love [name]Gwendolen[/name] (and this spelling, but both are nice.) It does seem like a familiar name, yet I have never met one and have only met one [name]Gwen[/name]! I’d agree it’s underused.
I like the nn [name]Winnie[/name].
I love [name]Gwendolyn[/name]! I know [name]Gwendolen[/name]'s the original feminine Welsh form (and as I’m Welsh myself, I feel like I should stick to that), and I love [name]Gwendolen[/name] [name]Fairfax[/name] in The Importance of Being [name]Earnest[/name], but I just love the [name]Gwendolyn[/name] spelling so much more. I agree that it’s underused, and not dated at all. It’s been a favorite of mine for a decade at least, maybe even closer to 15 years! I love it.
ETA: Like the pp, I adore the nn [name]Winnie[/name] for it. I like [name]Gwen[/name], but I like just [name]Gwendolyn[/name], or [name]Winnie[/name], better than just [name]Gwen[/name]. I also really like [name]Leni[/name], but I think that really only works for the [name]Gwendolen[/name] spelling.