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Baby names

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

Original poster

Edith or Annika

62 replies

Stuckonbabyname · 21/02/2023 09:12

Trying to decide between two baby names; Edith or Annika. We like both.

Often prefer unusual, so that DD can be known by their christian name (rather than requiring surname to specify which person). Annika is much more unique in this way. But perhaps Edith is also ok (85 last year).

A problem with Annika is that there are so many spellings variations that she will always need to spell her first name (Anika, Anneka). To us Annika is the easiest but curious where you agree? Edith would be easier to spell as there is only one variation.

We love the nn Edie for Edith. Annika would probably always be Annika for us but there are options for her to choose too.

We like names early in the alphabet, a friend (Zoe) often had to wait for ages at school while the teachers went through the list to assign work etc. They both are good for this.

Curious on your opinions? Do you like these names? Preference? Alternative suggestions?

Thank you!

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user1492757084 · 28/07/2023 02:12

Annika
Alanna
Erica or Erika
Anneke
Aoife
Alice
Erinna
Elena

VeryQuaintIrene · 28/07/2023 02:04

Love Edith but I know a very cool Edith so I am influenced by that. I do think that there are just too many spellings of Annika, plus like PP it makes me think of challenge and that terrible Japanese Boy song, but obviously I am old to know these so it may not matter!

CountryStore · 28/07/2023 01:32

I like both, but prefer Edith
Anneka does make me think of helicopters and pastel jumpsuits, though! I appreciate I'm showing my age 😌

Daisybuttercup12345 · 28/07/2023 00:23

I dislike Annika.
Edith too old lady.
Eden?
Erica.
Evie
Anita

Lilisae · 28/07/2023 00:20

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SmirnoffIceIsNice · 01/05/2023 18:21

I have an Annika who is now a young adult. Yes she does sometimes have to spell her name but so do a lot of people now as more and more names are unusual. The biggest problem is people pronouncing it A-neeka instead of Ann-i-ka. I still love the name.

GoodVibesHere · 01/05/2023 18:15

Annika is lovely. Edith is a little old lady hunched over a walking stick.

KayEmAy · 01/05/2023 18:08

Annika all day!

As for spelling, I understand the concern, but I think overall Annika is the most intuiteve spelling in US/UK

JobChangeSoonPlease · 27/04/2023 14:24

I have an Anika. Loved it the first time I heard this name 20 years ago. It's remained quite unique and we know no one else with this name. Nickname at home is Niki Smile

user1492757084 · 27/04/2023 14:15

Annika is nicer than Edith to me.
I love it.

Other suggestions:
Claris
Anouk
Alice
Alanna
Ida
Aerin

LighterNights · 25/04/2023 23:45

Edith, I'd use the full name but Edie is a lovely nickname too

Daisybuttercup12345 · 25/04/2023 23:31

What about Eden? Edith is awful.
Anika not a fan.

Loveatortie · 24/04/2023 21:24

I like Edith, we called our dd Meredith. That was 20 years ago. Not keen on Annika but love Annie.

Threebeanburrito · 24/04/2023 21:15

Out of those, Annika.
I also like Anya and Erica.

I do like the old lady name trend and wanted Violet for a girl myself but don't really like Edith. Can't explain why I guess it's just not very pretty to me.

LaVitesse2022 · 24/04/2023 20:23

Definitely Edith. It's a classic and lovely sounding name, the opposite of Annika, which is harsh and really not a nice looking name.

Skybluepinky · 24/04/2023 18:15

At school it was always done surname alphabetical order so assume u don’t live in UK.
Annika - just reminds me of the song Japanese Boy
Edith - terrible old woman smoking with a head scarf type name, love Edie

Cantchoosename · 24/04/2023 16:56

Annika

DuchessOfSausage · 24/04/2023 16:32

Edith will be Edie, and if you add the Ediths ,Edens and Edies , it's quite popular, and it's too close to Evie
Annika is OK, Anneli might be an alternative

SkaneTos · 24/04/2023 14:07

Annika reminds me of Pippi Longstocking's friend.

ThomasinaLivesHere · 22/02/2023 07:43

Edith has grown on me. I don’t normally like names with “th” in them. Edie is cute too as a diminutive. I don’t think you’ll have an issue with lots of Ediths as it’s not that popular. If you’re really worried check popularity by area.

Annika is ok.

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 22/02/2023 07:08

Edith is a beautiful name with a long (Anglo-Saxon) history.

Original poster
Stuckonbabyname · 21/02/2023 23:29

DrMarciaFieldstone · 21/02/2023 09:21

Annika is nice

Erika is similar and also nice

Not a of Edith, sorry

Love Erika too, perhaps more than our choices. But we have a close family member called Eric and it feels like their name. And not something we should copy.

If there are other suggestions, that would be useful. We could easily have gone with Erika, if it were not due to the name being 'taken'.

OP posts:
Hawkins003 · 21/02/2023 23:13

@Stuckonbabyname
I choose Annika due to seven of nine

Luredbyapomegranate · 21/02/2023 23:12

martinisforeveryone · 21/02/2023 21:02

Is it a generational thing?

I would definitely put Edith in the exact same friend group as Enid, Edna, Maud and Gladys. I see the names as ultra old fashioned and not nice enough to bring back.

That said, I am aware there's a granny chic movement who put a different spin on the names I strongly dislike.

The truth is in between, sometimes there's a name you'd never dream of choosing, but the person you know owns it and is just lovely, so the name association changes for you.

My choice would be Annika as sleek and strong but not harsh sounding at all, or Edie as strong and somewhat avant-garde. That's probably influenced by a Scandinavian Annie I know who is kind, funny, beautiful and accomplished. The only Edith I've heard of in real life was my MIL's great aunt, who was apparently decidedly sour, which is very unfortunate.

Show quote history

There are loads of little Ediths around though, to the point of overuse. Not old lady ish anymore. Maude has come back a bit also, although to no where near the same extent.

Luredbyapomegranate · 21/02/2023 23:10

I love Edith but there are a lot of them

so probably Anika.. but she may end up Annie

How about Erica?