Page 4 | Scandi baby names that work in the UK

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Original poster

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:48

Torganer · 04/10/2023 15:45

I don’t think people will pronounce it Asta as Asda. Especially if they see it written down. They would more likely pronounce it as Aster like the flower. I think it’s pretty!

Oh, interesting thought!!! Thank you!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:47

Alstroemeria123 · 04/10/2023 15:41

How is August pronounced? Like the month or differently?

I like Otto, Edgar and Einar best from your boys’ list.

Eira is lovely, but I think similar to a Welsh name that may be pronounced differently?

Other than that I like Ilse and Elfrida.

Yeh, like the month. Thanks for your opinion! Yes, Eira is also a Welsh name, and we live on the Welsh border so for us that isn't a problem. I think it can be pronounced "Eye-ruh" for both English and Welsh. <3 Thanks!

OP posts:

Torganer · 04/10/2023 15:45

I don’t think people will pronounce it Asta as Asda. Especially if they see it written down. They would more likely pronounce it as Aster like the flower. I think it’s pretty!

Alstroemeria123 · 04/10/2023 15:41

How is August pronounced? Like the month or differently?

I like Otto, Edgar and Einar best from your boys’ list.

Eira is lovely, but I think similar to a Welsh name that may be pronounced differently?

Other than that I like Ilse and Elfrida.

Original poster

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:41

Sehenswürdigkeiten · 04/10/2023 15:35

Hello, As someone living in an area of the UK where Scandinavian names are quite popular/traditional, and who also speaks some German, most of those choices would be fine for me, however some of them might create an issue for some folk. Thoughts added after each name.

Sigurd/Sigvard - good, first spelling might work better in UK
Otto - good
Nils - this might be confused with Niles and also pronounced Niils by some or Neels by others.
August - sounds feminine perhaps
Einar - ok
Edgar - ok, in use in the UK.
Ebbe - ok
Ivar - might be confused for Ivan

Girls:
Ilse - good
Asta - pronounced "Asda" - so I am thinking no because of the shop, or would this matter? - would avoid anything that sounds like a supermarket, sorry
Eira - sounds like Eire/Ireland maybe
Estrid - nice, I prefer Astrid but that's maybe more German
Hilma - unusual, ok
Elfrida - ok
Willa - um
Signe - good

Otto and Signe are my favourites.
Not sure if that's any help. 🫣

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Thank you, that's very helpful! I think "Asta" is off the list for sure after what I can gather!

OP posts:

Original poster

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:36

Papillon23 · 04/10/2023 15:24

I think Otto, August and Edgar work but also think Nils is fine.

I think in the girls list Ilse, Eira, Estrid and Willa all work, but I am making assumptions on Ilse and Eira's pronunciation (Ilse a bit like Elsa but with an ih sound at the beginning, and Eira either eye-ruh or era).

Thanks, this is really helpful!!

OP posts:

Sehenswürdigkeiten · 04/10/2023 15:35

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:08

Hello!
I am Swedish living in the UK, and we are discussing baby names that work in both languages. What are your opinion on the following names? Do they work well in English? (they are all well-known Swedish names)

Boys:
Sigurd/Sigvard
Otto
Nils
August
Einar
Edgar
Ebbe
Ivar

Girls:
Ilse
Asta - pronounced "Asda" - so I am thinking no because of the shop, or would this matter?
Eira
Estrid
Hilma
Elfrida
Willa
Signe

Many thanks!

Hello, As someone living in an area of the UK where Scandinavian names are quite popular/traditional, and who also speaks some German, most of those choices would be fine for me, however some of them might create an issue for some folk. Thoughts added after each name.

Sigurd/Sigvard - good, first spelling might work better in UK
Otto - good
Nils - this might be confused with Niles and also pronounced Niils by some or Neels by others.
August - sounds feminine perhaps
Einar - ok
Edgar - ok, in use in the UK.
Ebbe - ok
Ivar - might be confused for Ivan

Girls:
Ilse - good
Asta - pronounced "Asda" - so I am thinking no because of the shop, or would this matter? - would avoid anything that sounds like a supermarket, sorry
Eira - sounds like Eire/Ireland maybe
Estrid - nice, I prefer Astrid but that's maybe more German
Hilma - unusual, ok
Elfrida - ok
Willa - um
Signe - good

Otto and Signe are my favourites.
Not sure if that's any help. 🫣

Original poster

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:35

Overthebow · 04/10/2023 15:31

I wouldn’t go with Asta if it’s pronounced Asda. Waitrose maybe, but not Asda.

haha! yes, that's what I am thinking too... It SHOULD be pronounced "As-Ta", but I think it will be "As-Da" here in the UK unfortunately...

OP posts:

Original poster

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:34

MrsDanversChickenSandwich · 04/10/2023 15:22

Sigurd/Sigvard - not hugely keen on this but it could work.
Otto - pretty trendy in the UK
Nils - well enough known (mostly from Frasier!)
August - has become very fashionable in the UK
Einar - not sure about this one
Edgar - classic and trad name in the UK
Ebbe - The most unusual name on your boys' list
Ivar - Lots of people will assume it's spelt Ivor but that's no big deal. Good name.

Girls:
Ilse - Well enough known. Reminds me of a Nazi war criminal with that name. that might just be me though!
Asta - pronounced "Asda" - so I am thinking no because of the shop, or would this matter? - I love Asta's Book by Barbara Vine. The Asda thing isn't ideal though and does kind of ruin it for a UK baby I'm afraid.
Eira - is it pronounced air-a? People might think it's after Eire (the Irish word for Ireland)
Estrid - Astrid is quite popular and people will misspell Estrid as Astrid
Hilma - Not keen on this one, too close to Hilda for me
Elfrida - makes me picture a big strapping German woman of yore
Willa - pretty popular in the UK I would say
Signe - I'm unfamiliar with this one. Is the G silent? It looks gorgeous though.

"Eira" was a Nordic goddess, but you are right about the "Eire" thing... in English I guess it would be pronounced as "Eye-ruh", in Swedish it's "Ei-ruh". "Signe" is pronounced as "Sing-ne", but I think people might say "Sig-ny"??

OP posts:

Overthebow · 04/10/2023 15:31

I wouldn’t go with Asta if it’s pronounced Asda. Waitrose maybe, but not Asda.

Papillon23 · 04/10/2023 15:24

I think Otto, August and Edgar work but also think Nils is fine.

I think in the girls list Ilse, Eira, Estrid and Willa all work, but I am making assumptions on Ilse and Eira's pronunciation (Ilse a bit like Elsa but with an ih sound at the beginning, and Eira either eye-ruh or era).

Sehenswürdigkeiten · 04/10/2023 15:23

MrsDanversChickenSandwich · 04/10/2023 15:22

Sigurd/Sigvard - not hugely keen on this but it could work.
Otto - pretty trendy in the UK
Nils - well enough known (mostly from Frasier!)
August - has become very fashionable in the UK
Einar - not sure about this one
Edgar - classic and trad name in the UK
Ebbe - The most unusual name on your boys' list
Ivar - Lots of people will assume it's spelt Ivor but that's no big deal. Good name.

Girls:
Ilse - Well enough known. Reminds me of a Nazi war criminal with that name. that might just be me though!
Asta - pronounced "Asda" - so I am thinking no because of the shop, or would this matter? - I love Asta's Book by Barbara Vine. The Asda thing isn't ideal though and does kind of ruin it for a UK baby I'm afraid.
Eira - is it pronounced air-a? People might think it's after Eire (the Irish word for Ireland)
Estrid - Astrid is quite popular and people will misspell Estrid as Astrid
Hilma - Not keen on this one, too close to Hilda for me
Elfrida - makes me picture a big strapping German woman of yore
Willa - pretty popular in the UK I would say
Signe - I'm unfamiliar with this one. Is the G silent? It looks gorgeous though.

Nils is not Niles.
Two different names.

MrsDanversChickenSandwich · 04/10/2023 15:22

Sigurd/Sigvard - not hugely keen on this but it could work.
Otto - pretty trendy in the UK
Nils - well enough known (mostly from Frasier!)
August - has become very fashionable in the UK
Einar - not sure about this one
Edgar - classic and trad name in the UK
Ebbe - The most unusual name on your boys' list
Ivar - Lots of people will assume it's spelt Ivor but that's no big deal. Good name.

Girls:
Ilse - Well enough known. Reminds me of a Nazi war criminal with that name. that might just be me though!
Asta - pronounced "Asda" - so I am thinking no because of the shop, or would this matter? - I love Asta's Book by Barbara Vine. The Asda thing isn't ideal though and does kind of ruin it for a UK baby I'm afraid.
Eira - is it pronounced air-a? People might think it's after Eire (the Irish word for Ireland)
Estrid - Astrid is quite popular and people will misspell Estrid as Astrid
Hilma - Not keen on this one, too close to Hilda for me
Elfrida - makes me picture a big strapping German woman of yore
Willa - pretty popular in the UK I would say
Signe - I'm unfamiliar with this one. Is the G silent? It looks gorgeous though.

Snipples · 04/10/2023 15:20

Hi OP. Congratulations on the little one.

From your list I'd got with Estrid or Willa for a girl. Def avoid anything pronounced Asda.

For a boy, Ivar, Otto and Edgar are the only names I think would work on your list. Otto would be my choice out of those.