Anwen
Encyclopedia
Anwen is a Welsh
female name. There are a number of English
translations for the name's meaning, the most common is Very Beautiful, other translations include fair, pure and white.
baby naming books. Many people, however, have confused the name with the name Arwen
from J. R. R. Tolkien
's The Lord of the Rings. The name Arwen means noble maiden in Sindarin
.
Other similar sounding names include:
Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, whose name is given to Dydd Santes Dwynwen
, which is celebrated on 25 January and is the Welsh equivalent to Valentine's Day
.
Note: the g in gwen is dropped in a mutation of the word as the word follows a consonant
.
Gwen, although literally meaning White, is often used as part of a name to denote 'fair' 'holy' or 'pure'.
, have masculine and feminine forms. The masculine version of the name is Anwyn, coming from the word Gwyn = White (m) , but outside of Wales, this is often viewed as a variant spelling of Anwen. Some people have argued that Anwen in itself could be interpreted as a variation on names such as Gwen, due to the shared meaning of white, particularly as "Angwen" (the unmutated form) is sometimes given as a variant.
Anwen is also reputed to have originally come from the longer form "Annwylydwen," meaning" Pure (wen) Beloved one (Annwylyd).
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
female name. There are a number of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translations for the name's meaning, the most common is Very Beautiful, other translations include fair, pure and white.
Similar sounding names
Anwen is not a very common name, though neither is it rare and it can be found in most WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
baby naming books. Many people, however, have confused the name with the name Arwen
Arwen
Arwen Undómiel is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. She appears in his novel, The Lord of the Rings, usually published in three volumes. Arwen is one of the Half-elven who lived during the Third Age.-Literature:...
from J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's The Lord of the Rings. The name Arwen means noble maiden in Sindarin
Sindarin
Sindarin is a fictional language devised by J. R. R. Tolkien, and used in his secondary world, often called Middle-earth.Sindarin is one of the many languages spoken by the immortal Elves, called the Eledhrim or Edhellim in Sindarin....
.
Other similar sounding names include:
- BranwenBranwenBranwen, Daughter of Llŷr is a major character in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, which is sometimes called the Mabinogi of Branwen after her. Branwen is a daughter of Llŷr and Penarddun...
- Bran = Crow & Gwen = White (ƒ) - Tanwen - Tân = Fire & Gwen = White (ƒ)
- BronwenBronwenBronwen may refer to:* Bronwen Astor , English model* Bronwen Hughes , Canadian film director* Bronwen Maher , Irish Green Party politician* Bronwen Mantel , Canadian actress...
- Bron = Breast & Gwen = White (ƒ) - DwynwenDwynwenSaint Dwynwen, also known as Dwyn, Donwen, and Donwenna, is the Welsh patron saint of lovers. She is also the patron saint of sick animals.Dwynwen is believed to have been a daughter of King Brychan Brycheiniog, who lived in the 5th century...
- Dwyn = to steal & Gwen = White (ƒ)
Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, whose name is given to Dydd Santes Dwynwen
Dydd Santes Dwynwen
Dydd Santes Dwynwen, literally meaning 'Day of Saint Dwynwen' in Welsh, is considered to be the Welsh equivalent to Valentine's Day and is celebrated on 25 January every year. It celebrates Dwynwen, the Welsh Saint of love...
, which is celebrated on 25 January and is the Welsh equivalent to Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
.
Note: the g in gwen is dropped in a mutation of the word as the word follows a consonant
Consonant
In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are , pronounced with the lips; , pronounced with the front of the tongue; , pronounced with the back of the tongue; , pronounced in the throat; and ,...
.
Gwen, although literally meaning White, is often used as part of a name to denote 'fair' 'holy' or 'pure'.
Variations
Colour names in the Welsh language, as in may other languages including FrenchFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, have masculine and feminine forms. The masculine version of the name is Anwyn, coming from the word Gwyn = White (m) , but outside of Wales, this is often viewed as a variant spelling of Anwen. Some people have argued that Anwen in itself could be interpreted as a variation on names such as Gwen, due to the shared meaning of white, particularly as "Angwen" (the unmutated form) is sometimes given as a variant.
Anwen is also reputed to have originally come from the longer form "Annwylydwen," meaning" Pure (wen) Beloved one (Annwylyd).