Not a question I thought I’d ever ask!
I’m really loving [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] at the moment, as a middle name since I’m not quite brave enough for a first.
Thoughts please on [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]? Is it too close to [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u], the aforementioned mistress and prostitute?
I don’t think it’s an issue. I wouldn’t have made the connection. I think [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] is fairly obscure to the average person.
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is gorgeous, by the way.
I’ve never heard of the connection, I wouldn’t worry about it all, especially since the name you are proposing isn’t exactly the same.
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is lovely and I wouldn’t have made that connection
Ooh, I love [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] too. I have her on my shortlist! To be honest [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] is why I can’t get into [name_f]Nell[/name_f], so [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is too much for me personally. But you could get away with it, given that not everyone she meets would necessarily know her middle name too. Plus I really like history, and I don’t think I was taught it in school or anything, so I’m guessing a good deal of people might not know who she is anyway.
I think she’s pretty obscure by now, only a huge history buff/professor would make the connection.
I don’t think it’s a big deal. She won’t often be called by both names. I love [name_f]Nell[/name_f].
To be perfectly honest, if it were me, I would be delighted if someone mentioned that my daughter’s name was similar to a 17th century royal mistress. Unless you’re a history professor at a top university, I can’t imagine you’ll meet more than a dozen people the rest of your life who will have any recognition of [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u]'s name. (I don’t know which country you live in; I guess if it’s [name_f]England[/name_f] or [name_f]Scotland[/name_f], you could expect a few more.)
If you love [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], go for it. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is too frilly for my taste; I’m more likely to have an [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] and call her [name_f]Nell[/name_f]. But don’t let a slight historical association hold you back. Good luck, and congratulations!
I’ve never heard of her, and I think [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is lovely!
TBH, I don’t even know who [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m] II is, let alone his mistress. I also haven’t gone very deep into the history of a country other than my own (unfortunately, because American history gets very boring after you do it in 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 11th grade…) so maybe it’s just because I’m ignorant to the subject. I love [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]!
Never heard of her.
I have heard of her but only thought of the connection when you explained it. And I agree with the poster who said they’d be delighted with the connection anyway! So I don’t think it’s an issue. [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is a divine name - I really love it! I just adore both separately and they’re wonderful together.
No, but I had no clue on the mistress name.
Never heard of her. I’m American, so maybe if you’re British it would be more recognizable? [name_m]Even[/name_m] so, I don’t think anyone from the 17th century is relevant enough to not use a name you love. It’s gorgeous, btw. [name_u]Love[/name_u] the simpleness of [name_f]Nell[/name_f] paired with the royal [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is absolutely gorgeous! She’s perfect with [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u], too. (I suppose [name_f]Helena[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nell[/name_f] might be a bit over-the-top for your sibset, but I think [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] would be gorgeous, and might remove the [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] issue? Or even [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], but I remember you’ve considered [name_f]Helena[/name_f] before…)
Being American, I can admit that I’ve never actually come across [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] before, but I’m more familiar with American history than European (or British) history. I guess it more matters to those who make the association (or those who might be affected by said history?), but I do think [name_f]Helena[/name_f] nn [name_f]Nell[/name_f] could solve your problems pretty well! 
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is a fantastic name, any girl would be lucky to have it! And I had no idea who [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] was (granted, I am from the U.S.). I think you’re fine, but I can’t speak as someone living in the UK where the association would be most prevalent.
No idea who she is but [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is pretty awesome!
Thanks all. Classic overthinking! [name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] probably is better known here than in the US but agreed that it’s a pretty niche reason not to use a name I love!
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] is the reason I love the name [name_f]Nell[/name_f], so I’d consider the association a bonus, as some posters have already said. I’ll also echo the fact that I don’t think she’s necessarily common knowledge these days. I’m Australian and only know her because I studied drama in my undergrad.
I wouldn’t have made that connection.