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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alva

85 replies

Leeloo1233 · 05/07/2021 17:19

What do you think of this female name mostly given in Scandinavia?

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FayeFayeFayeFayeFaye · 06/07/2021 17:59

I also thought Vulva as soon as I read it.

Peeteea · 06/07/2021 13:21

I like it and would say do it. If you’re not sure though based on all the vulva comments- the Icelandic and Danish spelling of this name is Elva which is also very nice.

If you like the “A” at the beginning, maybe consider “Ayla” or “Aila”. Aila I believe is Scottish and Finnish meaning “from the strong place”. Ayla is often used as a variant spelling but has meanings in several languages- I have met several Danish people with this name but it is also Turkish I believe and relates to the moon or moonlight when used there.

Alternatively “Ailsa” which is common in Scotland (lovely too). Ailsa may or may not have roots in the same word as Alva- Alva comes from old norse for “Elf”, Ailsa is often attributed to being from Ailsa Craig. Some argue that Ailsa may be derived also from the norse word for “elf” via Gaelic (the belief is that it translates to Fairy Rock in English- with Fairy and Elf being used to mean the same thing here).

Also, Alfira, Elfira, Alvira and Elvira. I met a lovely lady called Elvira from Orkney once and it always makes me think of her. Different source (I think it means something like “true” or “truth” and is of germanic origin? Maybe check that one!)

They are just some alternatives just in case but I like Alva so do it if it feels right :)

wtftodo · 06/07/2021 12:58

*dawn / light not Dawn

wtftodo · 06/07/2021 12:58

Alba is also a Spanish name (meaning Dawn), I've met a few in London / South East.

Lockdownbear · 06/07/2021 12:35

Oh I'd forgotten Alex Salmond decided to call his new party Alba.

I really wouldn't use it as a child's name in the UK. It's like calling a kid Anglise, the French word for England.

MaMelon · 06/07/2021 08:49

Don’t go for Alba Shock - it’s Alex Salmond and the name of every skip hire and taxi company in Scotland.

PattyPan · 06/07/2021 01:27

Reminds me of baby eels (elver). I like Alba though.

episcomama · 06/07/2021 00:55

@MitheringSunday

Can't say I've ever seen them - but going back to Alva, shoehorning a vulva association in there is rather juvenile tbh.
It's not shoehorning. It's an honest answer. When I hear Alva I also think Vulva. Hardly juvenile.
episcomama · 06/07/2021 00:54

Vulva here, too. Sorry.

User1357 · 06/07/2021 00:52

It made me think vulva

Snugglybuggly · 06/07/2021 00:48

@drpet49

I think vulva.
This
Lunde · 06/07/2021 00:44

DD2's best friend from nursery was Alva and I thought it was a lovely name - currently it is number 23 on the list of most popular names in Sweden

a selection of higher up on the list
2 Maja
3 Elsa
4 Wilma
6 Freja
8 Selma
9 Alma
12 Signe
13 Vera
15 Ebba
17 Agnes
19 Saga

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 06/07/2021 00:31

it's not exclusively a girl's name though.

it's a Hebrew boy's name meaning "brightness"

there's a fairly well-known American inventor called Thomas Alva Edison.
A perfect example of "nomen est omen"!🤣

Lockdownbear · 06/07/2021 00:21

Many place names in the Central Belt have Anglicised Gaelic names. But it doesn't change the fact that to many Scots it's the name of a town.

But ask the Beckhams nothing wrong with calling your kid after a place.

MaMelon · 05/07/2021 23:51

Just Googled it - it would actually be Allmhagh Beag. Which it’s not, ‘cos it’s Alva.

Iggi999 · 05/07/2021 23:51

How would you think Tillicoultry should be spelt then? Grin

Iggi999 · 05/07/2021 23:50

Good grief

MaMelon · 05/07/2021 23:47

Well, as it's in Scotland, Ailbhe

It’s in Clackmannanshire - in the Central Belt, where Gaelic isn’t exactly widely spoken 😂 It’s not anglicised, it’s how Alva (the town) has always been spelt Confused

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 05/07/2021 23:42

I think Alva looks and sounds pretty - I wouldn't have considered any Vulva association Confused. It just looks like a fairly typical Scandi girls name to me - I think it's quite popular in Sweden (didn't realise it was Irish too, till I searched).

ThePearlOfDumbarton · 05/07/2021 23:41

@Iggi999

Confused how should the town be spelt?
Well, as it's in Scotland, Ailbhe.

But I guess I'm not that surprised. It's anglicised. I'm over my surprise.

Everydayisawindingroad · 05/07/2021 23:38

A town in Scotland is what first springs to mind

Iggi999 · 05/07/2021 23:36

Confused how should the town be spelt?

ThePearlOfDumbarton · 05/07/2021 23:36

I'm surprised it's not known as a name in Scotland.
And surprised that the town is spelt Alva

ThePearlOfDumbarton · 05/07/2021 23:33

Id never made the connection until this thread! Think because I'm more used to seeing it written as Ailbhe, I'd just never connected it to vulva.

hawkehurstgang · 05/07/2021 23:25

Always annoys me when people post this name and it gets positive feedback, purely because I loved this name, posted on here for opinions, and everyone said it sounde like vulva, and put me right off 😭😂

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