The vowel before the N

General Name Discussion
1

Many first names in [name_f]English[/name_f], especially boy’s names, are 2-3 syllables and end in an unstressed vowel “schwa” followed by an N. In IPA: /ən/, an unstressed “un” or “in” sound.

[name_u]Aidan[/name_u], [name_m]Steven[/name_m], Kevin*, [name_m]Brandon[/name_m], Marilyn* are examples.

*Some accents differentiate words spelled -in or -yn from the others.

In [name_f]English[/name_f], any of the 6 vowels can represent the “schwa” sound. U is rarely used for the /ən/ sound, rarely I’ll see things like Jaydun.

In these names, do you have a preference toward one of the vowel + N spellings in general (-an, -en, -in, -on, -un, -yn)?

There are some cases where multiple options exist for a name. Which of these spellings do you prefer?

Boys
[name_u]Aidan[/name_u], [name_u]Aiden[/name_u]
[name_m]Alan[/name_m], [name_m]Allen[/name_m]
[name_u]Austen[/name_u], [name_u]Austin[/name_u]
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m], [name_m]Brendon[/name_m]
[name_m]Damian[/name_m], [name_m]Damien[/name_m]
[name_u]Darian[/name_u], [name_u]Darien[/name_u]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u], [name_u]Darrin[/name_u]
[name_u]Devin[/name_u], [name_u]Devon[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u], [name_u]Jadon[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m], [name_m]Kellen[/name_m]
[name_u]Linden[/name_u], [name_u]Lindon[/name_u]

Girls
[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u], [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f], [name_f]Kristin[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u], [name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_f]Robyn[/name_f]

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2

In my accent, it feels like almost every word/name has a schwa sound somewhere in it! I’m sure that’s not true, but it feels that way.

Of the examples you listed, I prefer…
[name_u]Aidan[/name_u]
[name_m]Alan[/name_m]
[name_u]Austin[/name_u]
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m] (I’ve always considered these different names but just realized I pronounce them the same!)
[name_m]Damian[/name_m]
[name_u]Darian[/name_u]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u]
[name_u]Devin[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
[name_u]Linden[/name_u]

[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]

3

I almost always prefer i’s and e’s. For example from your list:

Boys:
[name_u]Aiden[/name_u]
[name_m]Allen[/name_m]
[name_u]Austin[/name_u]
[name_m]Brendon[/name_m]
[name_m]Damien[/name_m]
[name_u]Darien[/name_u]
[name_u]Darrin[/name_u]
[name_u]Devin[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellen[/name_m]
[name_u]Linden[/name_u] (on my own list!)

I also almost always dislike y’s as well

Girls:
[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] (traditional spelling)
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristin[/name_f]
Marian/Marion (I pronounce these slightly different)
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]

4

Males
[name_u]Aiden[/name_u]
[name_m]Allen[/name_m]
[name_u]Austin[/name_u]
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m]
[name_m]Damian[/name_m]
[name_u]Darien[/name_u]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u]
[name_u]Devin[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
[name_u]Linden[/name_u]
I reckon I prefer -en seeing as how that’s what I picked for 6 out of the 11 boy names with -an being next having 3 of 11, and -in being last with 2 of 11.

Females
[name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]
[name_f]Robyn[/name_f]
I like -yn the most with 4 of 6 and -en along with -an are tied with 1 of 6 each for girls.

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5

[name_u]Aiden[/name_u]
[name_m]Alan[/name_m]
[name_u]Austen[/name_u] g/Austin b
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m]
[name_m]Damien[/name_m]
[name_u]Darian[/name_u]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u]
[name_u]Devon[/name_u]
[name_u]Jayden[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellen[/name_m]
[name_u]Linden[/name_u]

[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]

6

boys

[name_u]Aiden[/name_u]
[name_m]Alan[/name_m]
[name_u]Austin[/name_u]
[name_m]Brandan[/name_m]
[name_m]Damien[/name_m]
[name_u]Darien[/name_u]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u]
[name_u]Davon[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
[name_u]Linden[/name_u]

girls
[name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] (but I like both)
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]

7

I almost always prefer -an and occasionally -yn. I’m not a fan of -in or -on but I do like -en enough ( -un is just weird imo and not pleading to the eye).

From your examples I prefer:
[name_u]Aidan[/name_u]
[name_m]Alan[/name_m]
[name_u]Austen[/name_u] (and actually Austan)
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m]
[name_m]Damian[/name_m]
[name_u]Darian[/name_u]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u] (or Darryn)
[name_u]Devon[/name_u] (or Devan)
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u] (or Jadyn)
[name_m]Kellen[/name_m] (only time I really like -en over -an, but I also prefer Kelyn)
[name_u]Linden[/name_u] (or Lindan)

[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] (with girl names its different for some reason, I like [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], [name_f]Ashlin[/name_f], [name_f]Roslin[/name_f], ect.)
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]
[name_f]Robyn[/name_f] (but I like [name_u]Robin[/name_u] for a boy)

8

I usually prefer (what seems to me) the classic version: [name_u]Aidan[/name_u], [name_m]Alan[/name_m], [name_u]Austin[/name_u], [name_u]Darian[/name_u], [name_u]Darren[/name_u], [name_u]Jaden[/name_u], [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], [name_m]Brandon[/name_m]. Some, like Kristen/Kristin, Marian/Marion, Marten/Martin I consider different names rather than different spellings.

9

Generally I prefer an -en spelling, because that’s most intuitive to me. I often pronounce -an, -in, -on and -yn names differently, not like /ən/. And like you already pointed out, the -un spelling is rare, so that looks a bit weird to me.

I prefer these spellings:
[name_u]Aiden[/name_u]
[name_m]Allen[/name_m]
[name_u]Austin[/name_u]
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m]
[name_m]Damian[/name_m]
[name_u]Darian[/name_u]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u]
[name_u]Devin[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
[name_u]Linden[/name_u]
[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]
[name_u]Jordyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
[name_u]Marian[/name_u]
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]

10

Many of these preferences are only a slight preference as I often can’t decide between the vowel before the end spellings and that if I name my kid one of these names like Aidan/Aiden, I’m probably going to forget which spelling was chosen lol One of these names is actually a family member’s middle name and I forget which way it’s spelled :sweat_smile:

Typically, I think the ‘i’ makes the spelling look short or incomplete with exceptions like [name_u]Austin[/name_u] since that’s the spelling of the capitol, Caitlin/Kaitlin, and [name_u]Robin[/name_u] since that’s the spelling of the bird.

[name_u]Aidan[/name_u]
either
[name_u]Austin[/name_u]
[name_m]Brendan[/name_m]
either
either
idk
[name_u]Devon[/name_u]
[name_u]Jaden[/name_u]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
either

[name_f]Kaitlin[/name_f] & [name_f]Katelyn[/name_f] > [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] > all other variants
either
[name_u]Jordan[/name_u]
[name_f]Kristen[/name_f]
either
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]

a: won 4, tied 4, lost 0
e: won 2, tied 6, lost 3
i: won 3, tied 1, lost 2
O: won 1, tied 2, lost 2
y: won 0, tied 1, lost 3

11

  • [name_u]Aidan[/name_u], [name_u]Aiden[/name_u] - I would be more likely to say AY-dun for [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] and AY-den for [name_u]Aiden[/name_u]. I prefer the [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] spelling, though the name itself is too trendy for my taste.

  • [name_m]Alan[/name_m], [name_m]Allen[/name_m] - I would say un for [name_m]Alan[/name_m] and en for [name_m]Allen[/name_m]. I don’t really have a preference for spelling; they look equally legitimate.

  • [name_u]Austen[/name_u], [name_u]Austin[/name_u] - I would say both of these AH-stin. I strongly prefer the [name_u]Austen[/name_u] spelling because of the literary reference. I also strongly associate [name_u]Austin[/name_u] with [name_u]Texas[/name_u], which is not one of my favorite places.

  • [name_m]Brendan[/name_m], [name_m]Brendon[/name_m] - I would be more likely to pronounce [name_m]Brendan[/name_m] like BRIN-din, while [name_m]Brendon[/name_m] would be more like BRIN-dun. I don’t really have a spelling preference here.

  • [name_m]Damian[/name_m], [name_m]Damien[/name_m] - [name_m]Damian[/name_m] would be more like DAY-mee-un, while [name_m]Damien[/name_m] would be more like DAY-mee-in. I slightly prefer the latter spelling but don’t have strong feelings either way.

  • [name_u]Darian[/name_u], [name_u]Darien[/name_u] - I would pronounce [name_u]Darian[/name_u] like DARE-ee-un and [name_u]Darien[/name_u] like DARE-ee-in, though the difference between these two when said aloud is more subtle than some of the others. I prefer the [name_u]Darien[/name_u] spelling.

  • [name_u]Darren[/name_u], [name_u]Darrin[/name_u] - I would pronounce both of these the same way - DARE-in. I prefer the [name_u]Darren[/name_u] spelling.

  • [name_u]Devin[/name_u], [name_u]Devon[/name_u] - I would pronounce [name_u]Devin[/name_u] like DEV-in and [name_u]Devon[/name_u] like DEV-un. I slightly prefer the [name_u]Devon[/name_u] spelling. O’s are one of my favorite letters.

  • [name_u]Jaden[/name_u], [name_u]Jadon[/name_u] - I would say [name_u]Jaden[/name_u] like JAY-din and [name_u]Jadon[/name_u] like JAY-dun. I don’t have a preference for spelling because I dislike the name in general. (Sorry)

  • [name_m]Kellan[/name_m], [name_m]Kellen[/name_m] - I would say [name_m]Kellan[/name_m] like KELL-un and [name_m]Kellen[/name_m] like KELL-in. I prefer the [name_m]Kellan[/name_m] spelling.

  • [name_u]Linden[/name_u], [name_u]Lindon[/name_u] - I would say [name_u]Linden[/name_u] like LIN-din and [name_u]Lindon[/name_u] like LIN-dun. I strongly prefer the [name_u]Linden[/name_u] spelling due to the nature connection.

  • [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] - There is no difference in how I would pronounced these two; they’re both KATE-lin. I slightly prefer the [name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f] spelling.

  • [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f], [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] - There is no difference in how I would pronounce these two; they’re both GWIN-doh-lin. I prefer the [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] spelling.

  • [name_u]Jordan[/name_u], [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u] - I would pronounced [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] like JOHR-dun and [name_u]Jordyn[/name_u] like JOHR-din. I prefer the [name_u]Jordan[/name_u] spelling, but don’t care for the name in general.

  • [name_f]Kristen[/name_f], [name_f]Kristin[/name_f] - There is no difference in how I say these; they’re both KRIHSS-tin. I prefer the [name_f]Kristin[/name_f] spelling, but I’m biased because that’s my middle name.

  • [name_u]Marian[/name_u], [name_u]Marion[/name_u] - There is no difference in how I say these; they’re both MARE-ee-un - although I have know people who pronounced [name_u]Marian[/name_u] like Mary-Anne. I definitely prefer the [name_u]Marion[/name_u] spelling.

  • [name_u]Robin[/name_u], [name_f]Robyn[/name_f] - There is no difference in how I say these; they’re both ROB-in. I slightly prefer the [name_u]Robin[/name_u] spelling, for both the nature connection and the [name_u]Robin[/name_u] Hood namesake.