Olwen / Olwyn

Meaning: (White Footprint, In 'Culhwch and Olwen', one of the Welsh stories from the 'Maginogion', Olwen was so beautiful that four white flowers would grow in the heroine's footprints. The Path the Moon Takes on Water.)

Origin: (Welsh, Scottish Gaelic)

Pronunciation: (OW-LWehN, OHL-wen)

Gender: Female

I was looking for Welsh names and I stumbled upon this one. I have used love a lot in these posts but here is another that I truly love. It is beautiful and the meanings and stories behind it are just so wonderfully enchanting. I saw on one name forum that someone said one meaning was The Path the Moon Takes on Water but I couldn’t confirm or deny the truth of that meaning but I find it so gorgeous I had to add it. If you want the authentic then White Footprint is it.

I think it is lovely and feminine but I’ve heard others say it sounds a tad masculine and ugly but I don’t find it so. I think it is very much a Welsh name and they aren’t always so beautiful to English speakers but I think that if given the chance the names can grow on you. This one has me enchanted!

I like the spelling Olwyn better but I know in Welsh Wyn is the masculine and Wen is the feminine but I often do the opposite because to an English speaker Wyn looks feminine and Wen masculine.