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Baby names

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

Original poster

Saga

169 replies

92andyou · 29/08/2025 09:53

Scandi-British family expecting a girl. Already have a Magnus.

Does Saga work in the UK? Very common across Scandinavia - I’ve never met one in the UK however.

If not - what other good names to go with our sons name that is easy for Brits and Scandis.

Two weeks to go and we are no clearer on a name…! Foolishly I told some suggestions to family and all raised eyebrows / made stupid comments (on both sides of the North Sea).

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DinaofCloud9 · 03/09/2025 16:10

I like it. Saga Noren is one of the best TV characters ever so that may have swayed my decision.

It's a lot nicer than Ingrid which is horrible and harsh.

user1492757084 · 03/09/2025 15:58

Vesna
Vreni
Sigrid
Aster
Benedikte

Survivingnotthriving24 · 03/09/2025 15:34

I love Scandinavian names!

If Saga is a no, then I love Sigrid or Ingrid to still have the G sound. I also like Oda, Elida and Thora.

Survivingnotthriving24 · 03/09/2025 15:34

I love Scandinavian names!

If Saga is a no, then I love Sigrid or Ingrid to still have the G sound. I also like Oda, Elida and Thora.

SkaneTos · 01/09/2025 20:15

You have had many answers already, but I wanted to say that I'm Swedish and I love the name Saga. It means fairy tale. Great name.

Magnus is a great name, too.

C8H10N4O2 · 31/08/2025 11:58

92andyou · 29/08/2025 16:35

I’m not, and haven’t been, annoyed. I very quickly took the feedback on board that the name would get a negative response in the UK and that I would have to think about something else.

It is still a silly comment to say to someone’s name ‘oh like the old people’s insurance company’. If someone said that to your face, and it was your child’s name, you would probably think it was a silly comment too.

I don’t know why you keep saying I’m so annoyed about it all, when I’m not. Creating a mountain out of a molehill.

Show quote history

There is nothing wrong with Saga which is a nice name. I agree with @VivienneDelacroix that name based bullying is uncommon unless you live somewhere exceedingly parochial or have a weird made up name like FrouFrou-Moondance. One of my (young millennial) DC had a Saga in his class and nobody batted an eyelid. If the insurance company still exists when she is 50 she can use rude comments as a filter for people too thick or rude to waste time on.

Any name you choose which is not an approved MN style former monarch and is even slightly foreign will require an A4 page explanation of the pronunciation for adults who will then screw up their face as if they are running a marathon before saying it. Meanwhile, children won’t care, they just get on with it. Silly nicknames arise from approved list names just as readily as the uncommon, if anything more so. Of my four, the DC who had the nicknames was the child with the most MN approved name - every class she joined had several of them, nicknames became differentiators.

BTW I also know a young Linnaea and its never been shortened to Linn so that might be an option if you like it.

purehunners · 31/08/2025 10:38

@92andyouI’m reading over your replies and wondering which country of Britain you’re actually referring to. As others on here have mentioned Shetland has many Scandi names as does a lot of Scotland in general. In my own small town alone there are lots of Scandinavian names right, left and centre. So names like Sigrid etc really wouldn’t be out there whatsoever (Saga unfortunately still would be associated with insurance and over 50s and no that’s not silly it’s just stating the truth). My point is just that depending on which country of the UK you mean, you might find reception is different. Also that labelling everyone as “Brits” is a wee bit of a blanket statement that fails to recognise the varied cultures across the UK.
Anyway, lots of lovely suggestions on the thread now so I’m sure you’ll find a name that works perfectly for baby and your family.

dunkery · 30/08/2025 10:15

How about Zara.

user1492757084 · 30/08/2025 07:18

Magnus and ..
Victoria
Sofia
Anna
Sonja
Erika

Willow12345 · 29/08/2025 22:35

I love the name Saga

chipshopElvis · 29/08/2025 22:20

No, I'd associate it with insurance/holidays for the elderly. Also a long story (or someone wittering on) I don't think it's an attractive name in the UK.

Cazziebo · 29/08/2025 22:03

I Iove the name Sunniva . If I’d thought a bit more deeply I’d have named one of my daughters Sunniva - lovely mix of our Irish/Nordic heritage.

grizzlygrump · 29/08/2025 20:59

I love it and would give my daughter the name (Swede having lived in UK all my life).

Names I like and that I think work well here too: Klara, Alma, Matilda.

RainbowSlimeLab · 29/08/2025 20:43

I immediately thought of Saga Noren. I like the name.

Sixtimesnow · 29/08/2025 20:33

Pernille is a good name but I've no idea which country it originates from.

RuthW · 29/08/2025 20:22

Absolutely not in the UK. Saga holidays for over 50s.

Emanwenym · 29/08/2025 17:04

Norwayway · 29/08/2025 17:01

It’s a lovely name!

anyone under the age of 60 wouldn’t even think of an insurance company

You're wrong there.

Norwayway · 29/08/2025 17:01

It’s a lovely name!

anyone under the age of 60 wouldn’t even think of an insurance company

Calliopespa · 29/08/2025 16:49

92andyou · 29/08/2025 16:35

I’m not, and haven’t been, annoyed. I very quickly took the feedback on board that the name would get a negative response in the UK and that I would have to think about something else.

It is still a silly comment to say to someone’s name ‘oh like the old people’s insurance company’. If someone said that to your face, and it was your child’s name, you would probably think it was a silly comment too.

I don’t know why you keep saying I’m so annoyed about it all, when I’m not. Creating a mountain out of a molehill.

Show quote history

Creating a mountain out of a molehill.

I agree op: it's all becoming a bit of a saga.

(Sorry! Couldn't resist!)

But Sigrid I think is really nice, and works well. No connotations in English and a clear signifier of your DD's background. Its not common here but also people will have heard of it.

Calliopespa · 29/08/2025 16:47

92andyou · 29/08/2025 10:30

I also quite like Malin - but I think the feedback there wis going to move from ‘old people’ to ‘isn’t that a fish’ isn’t it.

@NightPuffins Linnea sadly has been vetoed. I also think they would end up being Linn in the UK which I don’t like.

Sigrid is good but again possibly a bit too out there for the Brits?

Oh no Sigrid is great!

Ddakji · 29/08/2025 16:45

My mum lived in Norway for a bit back in the day and had a friend whos DD was called Siv (pronounced Seev) which is I like. But it might be quite old fashioned by now?

Sigrid is lovely and not in the least out there.

landlordhell · 29/08/2025 16:42

Anya/ Anja
Lotta
Lucia
Clara
Heidi

Isitfridayyetsophie · 29/08/2025 16:39

One of my child’s good friends is called Saga, her parents are Danish. It’s pronounced like Sega/Seyga? When we first heard it our first thought was Sega Megadrive, are Sega even around these days? I wouldn’t associate it with life insurance. It’s a pretty name, when my son came home talking about her I googled where it was from as it struck me as unusual.

YourJoyousDenimExpert · 29/08/2025 16:38

How about ….
Verna
Lydia
Flora
Nina

Love these name threads !

landlordhell · 29/08/2025 16:37

My favourite Swede was a magnificent woman that is no longer with us. Her name was Annelie .

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