About the name Bronwyn

If you have read my guestbook, you have seen the different meanings and interpretations of the name Bronwyn.  Here is a brief list of all the ones that I have found, read and been told.  If you have anything to add, let me know!

• "White-breasted" - that is what I have been told is the Welsh meaning.  As one Bronwyn put it, a metaphor for "pure of heart" 
• "She fed from the White Breast" - a variation of the first one, but I had a teacher once who told me that was the Irish meaning.  I will admit that I haven't verified it with an Irish person, but many that I have met seem to know the name!
• Spelled Branwen, she is Welsh Goddess of Love and Beauty. Her symbol is a white cow and sometimes a white owl.
• In Arthurian Mythology, she is the sister of Bran the Blessed and is married to an Irish King who mistreats her. She is later saved by Arthur and Bran.
• In another Arthurian novel (historic fiction) Branwen was the name of Merlin's wet-nurse when he was a baby.
• In the Welsh Mabinogian (The Welsh Myth Cycle and pantheon) the story is similar in regard to Branwen and her brother Bran.  The Mabinogian is very long and cumbersome to read, but it is facinating! 
• A very long time ago, my Mother was once told it meant "little brown one" referring to the hair.  She was also told "brown wren" (the bird). 
• The other spellings I have encountered are "Branwen, Branwin, Bronwin and Branwyn."
• On the web I have seen college professors, fantasy characters, dogs and blueberries named Bronwyn!  It also has been a popular chat handle.

Back  to main page                                                                                                      Back to link page