Odin? | Mumsnet

daisyrosegem · 2018-10-08T15:30:26+00:00

I love this name!! Not very popular at all on the name list though, only 70 babies named Odin in 2017. What do you think of the name?

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Mrsnjg · 10/10/2018 15:04

I love it! My son is named Icarus and I know its marmite but I love it. If you like it it really, really doesn't matter what anyone thinks and its actually very popular this year x

KateTTC123 · 09/10/2018 14:51

I was thinking of Odin! It's a lovely name :)

LethalWhite · 08/10/2018 23:01

It’s awful.

I’d also laugh/cringe if I saw this on a nursery peg.

It’s really wanky and pretentious

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/10/2018 22:54

What, like Emily, George and Zeus?

Exactly like that! It is strange.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 08/10/2018 18:42

Ye gods! I don't want to be impolite but really can't understand how anyone can call the Norse god Loki 'cheeky'. In the myths, he really is one of the nastiest, most twisted characters you can imagine (even his name probably means 'Loop' or 'Knot') . He's mean, spiteful, treacherous, dishonest, malicious, cruel and delighting in suffering. Many of the stories told about him are pretty nasty - and full of weird semi-sexual references. His duplicity causes an innocent, beautiful god to be killed. And his actions lead to a crisis that bring the world to an end, in terrible violence.

Glad to know I live up to my name 😂😂

LavenderBush · 08/10/2018 18:37

TatianaLarina do you mind? My DCs Holly Bush, Laurel Bush, Rose Bush and Rather Unkempt Full 70s Bush feel only rightful pride as they hang their little coats up every day.

TatianaLarina · 08/10/2018 18:30

I think about Nazi associations are valid but most gods are fairly violent so that aspect is irrelevant. Odin is also associated with poetry, wisdom, shamanism/magic...

TatianaLarina · 08/10/2018 18:23

I would have trouble not laughing out loud if I saw that name on a school coatpeg.

Says a poster called Lavenderbush.

Ohmmmnm · 08/10/2018 18:22

There is an Odin at dds nursery! He’s a great big ball of energy and drama and it suits him perfectly!

CaptSkippy · 08/10/2018 18:17

If you like names from Norse mythology, then perhaps it would be better to pick something obscure. That way the name will have a story, but it won't be associated with comics, movies, scary cults or white nationalism.

Original poster

daisyrosegem · 08/10/2018 18:04

Ok thanks everyone, I get the point. As I said, DH suggested it to me and I liked the name. I asked him where it was from and he said Norse mythology. That's all I knew about it, hence coming on MN to ask for opinions. Well and truly vetoed now. Thanks again!

OP posts:

TigerDrankAllTheWaterInTheTap · 08/10/2018 18:02

I know a Zeus, lovely boy. His siblings have really normal names which is a little odd.

What, like Emily, George and Zeus?

I agree Odin is not a great choice. What about Omar, Otto or Oswald if you want something starting with O that isn't Oliver or Oscar? I'm not a big one for nicknames but if we'd had an Oswald he would have become Ozzie for sure. I rather like that.

florascotia2 · 08/10/2018 17:55

Ye gods! I don't want to be impolite but really can't understand how anyone can call the Norse god Loki 'cheeky'. In the myths, he really is one of the nastiest, most twisted characters you can imagine (even his name probably means 'Loop' or 'Knot') . He's mean, spiteful, treacherous, dishonest, malicious, cruel and delighting in suffering. Many of the stories told about him are pretty nasty - and full of weird semi-sexual references. His duplicity causes an innocent, beautiful god to be killed. And his actions lead to a crisis that bring the world to an end, in terrible violence.

juneau · 08/10/2018 17:46

Yep, I'm with lavender on this one.

Also, a king and a god??? That's a lot for any kid to live up to. Plus, he's Odin is the god of war and death ... not exactly cheery or positive.

LavenderBush · 08/10/2018 17:44

Sorry, but imo Odin is a really wanky and pretentious name. I would have trouble not laughing out loud if I saw that name on a school coatpeg.

florascotia2 · 08/10/2018 17:43

puddock and JeanPagett make good points.

In the Norse/Germanic myths, Odin is pretty sinister - he's associated with madness and savage 'berserk' battle-fury, and with hanging (there are descriptions of Viking human and animal sacrifices, who were hanged). He even sacrifices himself to himself in an ordeal to win the power to read runes... and so on.

He's also associated with the Valkyries, war goddesses who chose which warrior was to live or die. All this may not matter to you, but please read up about Norse/Germanic Odin before making your choice.

osa20 · 08/10/2018 17:36

@daisyrosegem I love Eden for a boy. I don't think it's feminine - it's been on my favourite names list since the start of Celebs Go Dating, the guy on there suits it very well!

Anasnake · 08/10/2018 17:33

Ragnor
Floki
Rollo
Bjorn
Ivor
Not Odin

Original poster

daisyrosegem · 08/10/2018 17:33

@PsychedelicSheep my husband is extremely hair so there is every possibility!! 😂

OP posts:

Original poster

daisyrosegem · 08/10/2018 17:31

@JeanPagett 😱😱 well that's off the table then!!

Gutted! Really liked the name itself. Would Eden be a bit feminine sounding for a boy?

OP posts:

TatianaLarina · 08/10/2018 17:31

Cool, why not.

Many more Thors and Lokis around.

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/10/2018 17:28

However, it is a bit like calling him Zeus - a lot to live up to!

I know a Zeus, lovely boy. His siblings have really normal names which is a little odd.

brillopants · 08/10/2018 17:26

What about Loki?
It's more cheeky and affable than Odin. The trickster god.

JeanPagett · 08/10/2018 17:15

Imagine if he can't grow a beard when he's older...

More importantly I'd worry that people would think you were followers of Odinism, a bastardisation of Norse religion by American right wing nutters. It's v big on "ethnic purity" etc

https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/1998/new-brand-racist-odinist-religion-march

PsychedelicSheep · 08/10/2018 17:07

If he grows up to be a hench, big bearded Viking type then it would be just about ok.

If he grows up for be a speccy nerd working in accounts it would be utterly ridiculous.

It's just not worth the risk.