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Baby names

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

Original poster

Freya or Freyja?

33 replies

Mooncake2020 · 19/02/2020 00:45

Hiya, not sure which spelling to go for?

Freya or Freyja?

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AlphaHotelFoxtrot · 20/02/2020 10:29

There's a Freya and a Freja in my daughter's class. Not seen the spelling with both y and j before though. For those saying Freyja is the origin spelling, so is Freja, but Freya is more common (and less likely to be misspelt) in the UK, so take your pick.

MissDollyMix · 20/02/2020 08:25

Freya. It's super popular around here, can't move without meeting one! It's still fairly middle-class as far as I can tell but I also think it's one of the popular names that's currently riding a wave. I really liked it for DD but DH didn't. I'm actually very glad he held out against it now (just because there are so many of them)

mnthrowaway202020 · 20/02/2020 08:23

As someone in their early 20s, you will struggle with younger generations (including hers) pronouncing it correctly. Times have moved on and the background of this spelling isn’t common knowledge. I doubt many people my age are familiar with “Freyja” compared to older generations so she will be constantly correcting people.

MuddyPuddlesAndPrettyBubbles · 20/02/2020 08:22

I know 3 aged 5 and under. All Freya. All from fairly boho middle class families.

OrangePipsAreGo · 20/02/2020 08:18

Don't condemn her to a life of saying "Freyja with a j" ... although it might be amusing to see where people then put said "j" in her name!

TippledPink · 20/02/2020 08:05

My daughter's both have friends called Freya. I have never seen Freyja before and my autocorrect just tried to change it to Freya, I would probably pronounce it wrong if I hadn't read this thread.

BuffaloCauliflower · 20/02/2020 08:02

Very popular - though I don’t personally know any🎨

mathanxiety · 19/02/2020 19:01

I think it has a certain boho or arty air to it.

halcyondays · 19/02/2020 12:33

Freya

Original poster
Mooncake2020 · 19/02/2020 12:26

Thanks everyone! Is the name common as in just very popular now or is it seen as chavy?

OP posts:
ellenpartridge · 19/02/2020 11:09

I prefer Freya but don't dislike Freyja

MikeUniformMike · 19/02/2020 10:55

Freya, but due to overuse I no longer like it.

MummySharn · 19/02/2020 10:46

Freya

MaidenMotherCrone · 19/02/2020 10:45

I have a Freyja, named after the Goddess (of course).

Slightly different as she's a cat but still I like the original spelling. I also like the fact that Goddess Freyja had a chariot pulled by two cats which were a gift from Thor.

Freyja, Freya, Freja, Freyia...... all perfectly correct spellings.

CorianderLord · 19/02/2020 10:29

Pronounced*

CorianderLord · 19/02/2020 10:27

@pip the J spelling is the same way as the Godesses. I think you'd actually have to be quite thick not to realise it's from ounces Freya.

I'd go with the original spelling with the J

TotesGodsWill · 19/02/2020 10:25

Freya

purpleme12 · 19/02/2020 10:23

What about Freija?

IVflytrap · 19/02/2020 10:23

I'd probably go for Freya, for an easier life. If you're in the UK, anyway.

BuffaloCauliflower · 19/02/2020 10:14

Freyja is pronounced exactly the same as Freya and is the original ‘correct’ spelling. But I think Freya is perfectly acceptable now, unlike some other anglicised spellings, and is probably the easier option.

Fairybobbin · 19/02/2020 10:12

Lovely name, but I would pronounce those spellings differently too... Freya and Frey-ja. Depending on how you want it, I would just advise going with the spelling that isn't going to be miss pronounced alot. It's such a pain... We changed the spelling of our daughter's name so her's wouldn't be mispronounced all the time

ofwarren · 19/02/2020 10:00

I would choose the original spelling. It's a beautiful name.

Mamabear88 · 19/02/2020 09:56

Freya

HiyaVera · 19/02/2020 09:53

Mine is Freyja, named after the Norse goddess. I haven’t heard of any issues with pronunciations yet.

Whatsyourflava · 19/02/2020 09:35

Freya

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