My wife and I have out first daughter due in just a couple weeks. We love the name [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and have chosen it as our daughter’s name. However, we want her to have a formal first name. Though we do like [name_f]Gweneth[/name_f], my wife and I really love the name [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f].
Here’s my issue: due to the spelling difference, I really feel like [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] and [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] are two different names. I feel like that might create confusion down the road, if my daughter has to constantly correct people who try to spell her full name (for checking accounts, licenses, etc) based on her common name being ‘[name_f]Gwen[/name_f].’ We’ve tossed around the idea of spelling her full name ‘[name_f]Gwenevere[/name_f],’ but I haven’t seen this spelling before, and wonder if that would only create greater confusion (plus, we like more traditional things and would much prefer to use the traditional spelling).
So tell me, am I overthinking this [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]/[name_f]Gwen[/name_f] dilemma? Smarter to go with the ‘[name_f]Gwenevere[/name_f]’ spelling? All thoughts and opinions are appreciated.
[name_f]Gwen[/name_f] is fine for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], just as [name_f]Katie[/name_f] is common for [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and [name_m]Jack[/name_m] for [name_m]John[/name_m]. There’s a little [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] at my church–beautiful child! I also have a few Gwendolyns in the family, the youngest nn’d [name_f]Gwennie[/name_f]. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is the traditional spelling–definitely keep that. The nickname spelling really doesn’t have to match, but you could spell it Guin, if matching is important to you.
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is lovely, ethereal and rare. It’s also a name with a glorious mythological pedigree. I wouldn’t change the spelling as it’s part of its charm really, isn’t it? Why tamper with perfection? It’s gorgeous the way it is. [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] is perfectly acceptable as a nn for [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. [name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f] is usually spelled this way but you can still use [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] as well.
I think it’s much better to go with [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] nicknamed [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f] is a good option, but then you’d still have the [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u]/[name_f]Gwen[/name_f] thing. Besides, you love [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]!
I don’t think it’s strange at all for a nickname to be different in some way from the full name–[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Katie[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Meg[/name_f], [name_f]Mary[/name_f] and [name_f]Polly[/name_f].
I agree with the previous posters. There’s a whole slew of names that have nicknames that are slightly different. I’ll add [name_m]Jim[/name_m] for [name_u]James[/name_u] as well. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is so lovely, I would keep it spelled that way.
What?! I always thought it was common knowledge that [name_m]Jim[/name_m] was short for ‘Jimothy’? Kidding…
Appreciate the feedback from everyone. Oddly enough, there’s not really anyone in my family that goes by nn’s so I haven’t had much experience with this, outside of very common ones (such as [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] and [name_u]James[/name_u]). I agree with everyone–[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] is too rich of a name to change the spelling of. And to one poster above, I did consider the nn of ‘Guin’ but quickly realized that would really create confusion. [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]/[name_f]Gwen[/name_f] it is. Thanks to all.
I quite like [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] and I feel you’re over thinking it. The beginning of the name is pronounced with the [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] sound and I think most people know how to spell [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]. I wouldn’t worry on it. It’s a stunning name with fabulous mythology.
Technically, the original spelling of [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] would be Gwenhwyfar, if that makes you feel better about using [name_f]Gwen[/name_f] as a nn. I don’t think it’s a problem at all.