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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Astrid or Marlena?

30 replies

ThereMustAndShallBeTea · 13/01/2015 18:03

Love them both - Astrid seems slightly less out there but has no good nns, whereas I love Marla, Marley and Lena. Astrid would also get around (possibly non-issue) of previous DC already having a name that starts with M. Help please!

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LittleErin · 17/01/2015 11:55

I think they are both very German sounding

Raines100 · 15/01/2015 16:55

I don't mind Astrid. It's kind of cool. Makes me think of Vikings though. Are you pronouncing Marlena 'Marleena' or 'Marlayna'? The first is a bit Only Fools; the second says Marlene Dietrich and 1930s glamour!

burgatroyd · 15/01/2015 11:30

squoosh agree! Astrid and Clara, neck and neck!

squoosh · 15/01/2015 10:23

It definitely seems to be the Mumsnet nom du jour though.

Farewell Persephone!

squoosh · 15/01/2015 10:21

I don't think Astrid sounds at all alternative. I knew three when I was growing up so to me it sounds a bit 70's. Maybe I was caught up in some weird Astrid bubble and in fact they were the only three born in the whole of the 1970's.

VainVulva · 15/01/2015 09:02

Astrid 100% it's quirky, cool and has an alternative vibe without being batshit crazy. I had considered it for my dd and the nn/shortening we were thinking of was Sis, Sissy or Sassy (which are pretty cute imo)

Marlena is just awful imho, a totally polar opposite vibe to Astrid.

If we have another dd we will have Astrid on the list (we went with Aphra for out dd btw, which is another nice option you may like if you like Astrid!)

Jackieharris · 14/01/2015 18:27

Astrid it's such a cool name.

Marlena sounds 1950s to me.

marshmallowpies · 14/01/2015 18:23

Love Astrid - Asta could be a nn but is also a name in its own right. Some friends of mine who have Scandi heritage considered using it (Asta that is) & I was really hoping they would, but they went for something else in the end.

StellaLuna82 · 14/01/2015 17:25

*Astrid! Suppose you'd have to wary of that nn as well!! ??

StellaLuna82 · 14/01/2015 17:24

Astride is on my short list. Little worried it'll be popular in a couple of years though.

Sophronia · 14/01/2015 12:03

Marlena, I love Lena as a nickname.

squoosh · 14/01/2015 11:52

Astrid is awful.

Marlena is so much better. And Marlena Shaw is a great namesake.

glittershoes · 14/01/2015 08:09

I know an Astrid who is nicknamed Addie, by that logic you could have Attie as well I suppose. It is a fab name!

Snog · 14/01/2015 07:45

Azzie as nn for Astrid maybe?

trottietrue · 13/01/2015 23:28

I really like Astrid. Its cool whereas Marlena is a bit boring in comparison to that.

tinymeteor · 13/01/2015 23:12

Love Astrid, would have shortlisted it but it didn't work wih our surname

DramaAlpaca · 13/01/2015 23:11

Astrid

Clawdy · 13/01/2015 23:10

If you choose Marlena,there's a great Four Seasons song "Marlena".....can hear it in my head now!

TheComeToBedEyesOfMrTumble · 13/01/2015 20:35

I love Astrid! but Marlena has Only Fools & etc associations for me too.

manicinsomniac · 13/01/2015 20:12

I love Astrid.

Not keen on Marlena though I do like Marley and Lena

scabbycat · 13/01/2015 19:40

Love the name Astrid! I'm another who heard Boycie's voice saying Marlena, but no young kids would have a clue about that reference, so it shouldn't be a worry. Wink

KatieKaye · 13/01/2015 19:36

Love Astrid.

Asta for a NN?

BlueStarsAtNight · 13/01/2015 19:19

I like Astrid, though I agree I can't think of any nice nn's.
I don't really like Marlena, it just makes me think of Marlene from Only a Fools and Horses!

Snog · 13/01/2015 19:13

Marlena is very cool and more unusual

burgatroyd · 13/01/2015 19:05

Marlena vote here!