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Baby names

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

Original poster

Espen or Leif? We can't make up our minds!

32 replies

PumpkinStar · 13/02/2017 20:09

Hello,

Our baby boy doesn't have a proper name yet. We have practiced a few.

Our favourites are Espen and Leif.

Which would you go for? :)

Thank you!

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Florrie21 · 14/02/2017 17:06

I remember Leif Garrett! He was made for dancing.

Both very different, not my style, but I do like both.

HairsprayBabe · 14/02/2017 13:31

I really like both, Espen more than Leif if you are going to be UK based.

marmitecheesetoast · 14/02/2017 13:30

I like Leif

Mrsknackered · 14/02/2017 11:45

Leif. I know a Leif in London, as far as I am aware no one mispronounces his name. It's lovely.

ummlilia · 14/02/2017 10:36

Leif makes me think of Leif Garrett, the 70s popstar ( showing my age!) I realise now I have pronounced it wrong all these years.

crapfatbanana · 14/02/2017 10:27

Espen is cool.

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 14/02/2017 07:59

Blush I assumed it was pronounced Leaf.

IllMetByMoonlight · 13/02/2017 21:45

Leif is so lovely. But you would do well to get a quick and simple "Yes, 'Leif', it rhymes with 'safe' and 'waif'!" line up your sleeve, and be prepared to do a lot of spelling.
Grattis!

Original poster
PumpkinStar · 13/02/2017 21:39

Yes, we are now living in Chelsea.

Thanks for all the comments.

OP posts:
tygr · 13/02/2017 21:37

I'm 40 and I knew a Leif when I was in my early teens - he would be a few years younger than me (and that was in the UK). I love it.

Purplebluebird · 13/02/2017 21:34

Sorry for spam, I missed that you're Norwegian Grin.

I'd still go with Espen.

TheOnlyColditz · 13/02/2017 21:34

Leif

Purplebluebird · 13/02/2017 21:33

Also, in Norwegian at least, Leif = "Laihf"

Purplebluebird · 13/02/2017 21:32

I'm Norwegian, and both these names are very common. Leif is common for men in their 60s+, whereas Espen would be men in their early 30s.

Go for Espen, 100%

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 13/02/2017 21:31

Espen, very nice, not heard it before.

TwigTheWonderKid · 13/02/2017 21:29

I have a Norwegian friend called Espen and really wish I'd known him before I named my 2 DSs. It's a great name.

Trollspoopglitter · 13/02/2017 21:00

Holy baby names, batman! ESPN as an actual name?!

PhilODox · 13/02/2017 20:57

Espen. It's the name of my secret, never to be born third DC!

BikeRunSki · 13/02/2017 20:55

Do you live in the U.K.? Anyone with children who have read Roald Dahl's "The Witches" will be familiar with Leif.

Jooni · 13/02/2017 20:54

Like both, but especially Leif. Congrats OP! Flowers

GTS · 13/02/2017 20:52

Espen for sure. Unless you want people spelling your childs name as Leaf for all eternity.
Espen is a lovely name.

Thewolfsjustapuppy · 13/02/2017 20:51

I love the name Leif. I have met a male and female with the name under different spellings recently. And think it works well in the U.K.

StillaChocoholic · 13/02/2017 20:48

I like Leif, it was on my list for this baby but we've gone with something different. Still like Leif though.

SavoyCabbage · 13/02/2017 20:47

Espen is like ESPN, the sports channel. I like Leif much more. And so does my spell checker who changed Espen to especially three times.

liquidrevolution · 13/02/2017 20:44

Leif. Espen is nice but i know a very lovely Leif Grin. I think its more adaptable to the english language both for pronouncing and it is more recognisable.

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