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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names that work in Danish and English

82 replies

BikeGeek · 29/12/2015 10:17

I've got a long time to decide but struggling on finding names that work in both languages

Criteria :
Pronunciation easy for both Brits and Danes
If a Danish name not too similar to any English name that it could be mistaken for.
No non-English letters

Not finding out sex so need girls and boys names

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SwedishEdith · 29/12/2015 13:08

Tor
Linus
Patrick
Andreas

Lina
Nina
Pia

Actually, these are all non-Danish Scandinavians I know so am making a huge assumption that these a pronounced similarly in Danish.

Original poster
BikeGeek · 29/12/2015 13:03

I think I'd be ok with different pronunciation if I liked both versions, however I often find I like the sound in one language and not the other.

I'm not convinced we'll manage to bring up bilingual kids, English primary care giver, in England, with parents who only speak English to each other is a bit of a losing battle I think

OP posts:
MashaMisha · 29/12/2015 12:50

I think you can get too hung up on pronouncing names differently in different languages. It doesn't really matter at all, in my experience, especially if your child will actually be bilingual and speaking both languages anyway.

My DC are bilingual, and their names are pronounced differently in each language - very differently in DC1's case, and slightly differently in DC2's, but it isn't an issue, and as far as I know, it's the same for their bilingual friends too - total non issue.

If you start talking to DD in English and ask her name, she will respond with the English pronunciation; if you start talking to her in her other language and ask her name, she will use the other pronunciation.
In the same way, the DC will call DH "Papa" or "Daddy" depending on which language they are speaking in, and he will call them whichever pronunciation of their name fits the language they are currently speaking.

It is weird at first, but now both versions feel equally like my DC's names.

DPotter · 29/12/2015 12:25

Martin - again another Bridge fan.

stealthbanana · 29/12/2015 12:23

Lars?
Sandra?

VocationalGoat · 29/12/2015 12:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pipistrella · 29/12/2015 12:19

yy Freddie a bit 'Frully' I suppose

Thomas?

Original poster
BikeGeek · 29/12/2015 12:17

Danish MIL can't say th correctly, but the same on pronunciation applies in reverse. They would pronounce anything like Caroline, Laura etc. the Danish way. I want something that sounds more or less the same in both.

OP posts:
DingleberryFinn · 29/12/2015 12:05

Trina

Sum314 · 29/12/2015 12:01

Just go for an English name. What sounds in our language can't they say?

I like Frederick but I think it sounds nicer in English. Fred in Danish sounds more like frul. Bitten is a name in Danish! as in bitten off more than you can chew. For a girl. Obviously.

lol at Saga!

Pipistrella · 29/12/2015 11:56

plus the Danes say it like Sega...

Original poster
BikeGeek · 29/12/2015 11:55

I find that instead of being a source of inspiration the Danish TV shows just give me a whole new list of names to avoid!

OP posts:
Pipistrella · 29/12/2015 11:54

LOL Grin

Saga is pretty unusual

Knottyknitter · 29/12/2015 11:48

Saga
Lillian
Hannah
Janine
Sophia

Kim
Hans
Freddie
Mark/c
Rasmus
Jon

Guess I've been watching too much "the bridge" recently!

PennyHasNoSurname · 29/12/2015 11:40

Elin

bittapitta · 29/12/2015 11:37

Xmas lots of that list doesn't work! Assume you don't speak Danish.

Adam for example is pronounced Ay-dam in Danish. Caroline is more like Caroleena.

I agree with choosing a Danish/Scandinavian name eg Kirsten, Anna, Freya.

Pipistrella · 29/12/2015 11:36

Heidi

Freddie

Sara

Peter

thelaundryfairy · 29/12/2015 11:36

My Danish friends are called Christian, Daniel, Christina and Alex (3 different families).

BigGreenOlives · 29/12/2015 11:35

Peter
Nina
Nils
Lina

YeOldeTrout · 29/12/2015 11:35

Charlotte sounds exactly the same to me in both languages except for the last e, but fair enough, I can't sing in tune either.

PennyHasNoSurname · 29/12/2015 11:33

Anouk
Stella
Freya

Finn
Phillip
Sid

ChippyMinton · 29/12/2015 11:31

Camilla

Original poster
BikeGeek · 29/12/2015 11:28

Charlotte is another where UK and Danish pronunciation is totally different, not just the last syllable.

Kasper is too friendly ghost :-)

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 29/12/2015 11:26

Espen (boy)
Astrid (girl)

Original poster
BikeGeek · 29/12/2015 11:19

I like Elias but not convinced that it wouldn't be constantly mispronounced in the UK

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