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Baby names

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

Original poster

Agnes vs Astrid?

58 replies

NorseMum · 13/06/2025 17:29

Hey! 👋

Which girls name is nicest: Agnes or Astrid?

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Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/06/2025 18:17

Well I don’t have an Astrid or an Agnes but I have an Ines which is derived from Agnes! We call her Nessie 😂

CeraUnaVolta · 25/06/2025 09:05

I like Agnes but Astrid is my favourite ever girls name! The young Astrid I know has Asta as a nickname.

Emanwenym · 25/06/2025 08:38

@Bobshhh , I think I'd prefer awful to gorgeous.

I like the name Astrid. It seems like a name for a confident and attractive girl.

(the 'gorgeous' names are usually frilly with a one syllable filler middle-name e.g, Liliana Pearl Smile or Aurora Rose )

Bobshhh · 25/06/2025 08:18

Always good to see your child’s name described as really awful on mumsnet 😄

I have an Astrid, we have had such lovely unprompted positive reactions to it from people. Her nickname is Sassa.

I do also really like Agnes, but prefer the softer scandi pronunciation which would never happen in the uk.

clevercloggsadventures · 25/06/2025 06:09

Agnes

mumma24 · 25/06/2025 04:42

Agnes

marshmallowfinder · 25/06/2025 04:13

Both really awful I'm afraid.

DevonDonnie · 25/06/2025 02:26

I taught an absolutely delightful Astrid so that’s the win for me! 🤣

Devianinc · 25/06/2025 01:30

I gave my kids names and my mother didn’t like but I didn’t care and named them as they were born. Literally. They were the names I picked, at least to me so you do you and you won’t regret it. Your kids, your names and they kind of do live up to their names.

NameChangedOfc · 24/06/2025 22:33

Both beautiful names. Look up their meanings and origin, so that you have all the information. And then choose the one that resonates more.

SammyScrounge · 24/06/2025 21:59

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 13/06/2025 17:32

Agnes is a classic name. Agatha is an alternative.

Astrid is one I associate with dolly birds in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Apologies to any Astrids reading this!

'Agnes gets shortened to 'Nessie' or 'Aggie'.
Both awful.

comoatoupeira · 24/06/2025 21:18

I don't think posters realise how Agnes sounds in Scandinavian countries, it's much softer and just not the same as what you think, and lots of kids have the name. Secondly, how modern Agnes is starting to sound now to people in their 20s and 30s even in the UK.
Don't worry about what a few people think, OP, who can only hear the old schoolmarm name Agnes. Both names are lovely.

Lavendersong · 16/06/2025 02:56

Agnes has an old lady vibe

Astrid is a lovely name

Devianinc · 16/06/2025 02:47

No to both

Pemba · 16/06/2025 02:29

I dislike Agnes, it's that ''ag' sound, really harsh. But I actually prefer Agatha to Agnes, and that's saying something! I understand the French pronunciation of Agnes is much softer.

I like Astrid, it has a cool Scandi vibe and makes me think of stars. The related name Asta is nice too, but unfortunately problematic in the UK because of the supermarket Asda!

user1492757084 · 15/06/2025 09:19

Do you like..
Mary Agnes
Aster

MaraB77 · 15/06/2025 07:36

I think Agnes is lovely, the traditional nickname in Scotland is Senga. Surprised at the hate for it on here. I know two younger Astrids.

JillyGiraffe · 15/06/2025 06:17

Of the two I prefer Astrid, but I know a little girl called Astrid and don’t think it suits her at all! Plus it makes me think of Asterix AND starts with ‘ass’.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 14/06/2025 22:36

Not keen on either really

aquadog · 14/06/2025 19:47

Agnes is plain unattractive to me, and Astrid always makes me think of custard so I dislike both, sorry!

EmiliaRuusuvuori · 14/06/2025 10:00

Agnes is horrible, it's very blunt and harsh. My name is also like that and I would much rather have had a softer name.
My Nanny was called that, she would be 115 now and she hated it and went by her middle name.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 14/06/2025 09:53

I really like Agnes but Astrid is less marmite and also great.. so I’d go with that.

Or Agatha?

WalkingaroundJardine · 13/06/2025 21:41

I think Agnes is making a come back. I’ve seen that name at our school in younger primary.

hoxtonE1 · 13/06/2025 21:36

Of the two names Agnes and Astrid I would choose Astrid.
Agnes and it's nn Aggie just doesn't do it for me.

Needmorelego · 13/06/2025 21:30

JabbaTheBeachHut · 13/06/2025 21:14

But even if that was true (and due to Americanisms being so popular, especially amongst the young, I don't really think it is), 'ass' still means donkey.

Show quote history

It's pretty rare to hear "ass" for Donkey.
People on these threads do seem to enjoy making really dubious and random links to what a name could possibly be shortened too when in reality it's highly unlikely to actually happen.