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Help[Facts] Can -wen names be changed into -wynn?
I'm looking to name a character. I was really stuck on the idea that I wanted it to end with -wyn until I learned that -wyn is for men only and the femenine names use -wen instead (The character is a woman). From what I gathered later on, -wynn is more of a gender neutral option (please correct me if I'm wrong on that), so I'm curious, would it be correct to change -wen names for -wynn? or does anyone know of -wynn names?
The main thing I want to know is what I asked above but also if you have name suggestions they're also welcome! Better if it's historically backed up but not necessary :) so far the ones that have peaked my interest are
- Ealdwynn (apparently something from very recent years, if it's even an actual name to begin with)
- Ælfwynn (Cute and historically backed up but I kinda don't like the "elf" aspect of it)
The main thing I want to know is what I asked above but also if you have name suggestions they're also welcome! Better if it's historically backed up but not necessary :) so far the ones that have peaked my interest are
- Ealdwynn (apparently something from very recent years, if it's even an actual name to begin with)
- Ælfwynn (Cute and historically backed up but I kinda don't like the "elf" aspect of it)
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Replies
First, take care of the origin of names. The assignment -wen (f) / -wyn (m) is valid for Welsh origin, but irrelevant for names of Anglo-Saxon origin. There are two relevant endings here are -win, meaning "friend", for masculine names, and -wyn(n), meaning "joy", for feminine names. While -win names are frequent and exist in many variations, the number of names ending in -wynn is rather low, it seems that wynn- is more frequently used as the first part of a name. Fixing the origin of the character (Celtic or Anglo-Saxon) restricts your naming choices.
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Lots of people think of the letter y as being, in some way, feminine. So we sometimes see Ysabel, for instance. Unless your story takes place in Wales or has Welsh characters, that -wyn ending will look gender neutral.
You could get rid of the elf element by getting rid of the f. Ælwynn - voila!
You could get rid of the elf element by getting rid of the f. Ælwynn - voila!
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But this is a modern view and giving such a name to a character in a medieval Old English setting would look anachronistic.
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That is also a modern consideration. Back in the Middle Ages, the priests or whoever else may have filled in the baptism information often made spectacular spelling errors, so you could probably get away with just about anything.
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At least, the names had different underlying pronunciations at that time; the Anglo-Saxon y was an /y/, i.e. a German ü or a French u.
BTW, I didn't cast the downvote on your message, I only commented.
BTW, I didn't cast the downvote on your message, I only commented.
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Votes on messages are the very last things that will ever worry me! Please don't be concerned.
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