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This is the name of one of my doctor's granddaughters. She claims it's Celtic in origin. Would anyone have any clues on what the etymology of this name might be?
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Hmmm. It's not a documented Welsh name. However, it is in use in Wales - on males only - but it seems to be a newly-invented name. There's one born in 1953, a big time gap, and then a few more recent ones including a couple of current rugby players.
Here are its popularity charts for the US: six boys in 1977, a big gap, and then a steady if tiny trickle of it on both sexes.
http://www.ourbabynamer.com/Garyn-name-popularity.html
Not saying it is definitely invented, but this is the sort of pattern I usually see with unusual invented names: someone comes up with it, and then a sort of morphic resonance occurs and others do too.:)
I've got nothing really but here are some theories: choose the one you like best.
1) It's a take on Gavin or Caryn, either accidental or deliberate
2) It's a take on Gawyn (alternate version of Gawain / Gavin)
3) It's a Welshification of Gary (we do that sort of thing)
4) It's a take on Gareth
5) It's a take on a very rare but documented Welsh name, Garanwyn - supposedly a son of Cai / Kay, knight of the Round Table - meaning 'white heron'
6) It's a take on 'garan', heron
7) Something else entirely!
Here are its popularity charts for the US: six boys in 1977, a big gap, and then a steady if tiny trickle of it on both sexes.
http://www.ourbabynamer.com/Garyn-name-popularity.html
Not saying it is definitely invented, but this is the sort of pattern I usually see with unusual invented names: someone comes up with it, and then a sort of morphic resonance occurs and others do too.:)
I've got nothing really but here are some theories: choose the one you like best.
1) It's a take on Gavin or Caryn, either accidental or deliberate
2) It's a take on Gawyn (alternate version of Gawain / Gavin)
3) It's a Welshification of Gary (we do that sort of thing)
4) It's a take on Gareth
5) It's a take on a very rare but documented Welsh name, Garanwyn - supposedly a son of Cai / Kay, knight of the Round Table - meaning 'white heron'
6) It's a take on 'garan', heron
7) Something else entirely!
This message was edited 7/6/2014, 1:23 PM
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