Page 2 | Scandi boy name: Björn vs Nils

NorseMum · 2026-04-25T20:30:10+00:00

Hello, looking for potential future sibling names and want to know which one you think would work best in the UK: Björn or Nils? Really like both (they are family names on my side)

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cheesepasties · 28/04/2026 15:47

What is the correct way to pronounce Bjorn? I have always said it to rhyme with ‘born’ - is this wrong?

HughManity · 28/04/2026 15:45

It's somewhere between Nils and Neels.

I'd bet plenty will even try to pronounce the j as an English j. A colleague has it. Name is something like Sonja and people say Sonja not Sonya.

Some will say Björn as Bjørn.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 28/04/2026 14:50

Nils

dizzydizzydizzy · 28/04/2026 14:41

Puffinshop · 28/04/2026 14:34

Definitely Nils. I think the chances of most people saying Björn correctly is very low, but they should be able to get Nils more or less.

I have Nordic children that I named to be easy enough for people in the UK. I tested a few on friends and family before deciding and you can't really overestimate how wrong people will get things. Not surprising exactly as it's not common for British people to speak any Nordic languages but you must lower your expectations.

Almost everyone in the UK will say Bee-orn. That's if you're lucky - I'd bet plenty will even try to pronounce the j as an English j. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this has happened to my daughter who has a j in her name (it's a very easy name).

Edited

I think Nils will be mispronounced too. I’m assuming it is KNEELS. I think most people will pronounce it like 0s (as in the football score 0-0).

I like both names. (But if you go with Björn and then have a girl, she will obviously have to be called Agnetha 😜)

Puffinshop · 28/04/2026 14:34

Definitely Nils. I think the chances of most people saying Björn correctly is very low, but they should be able to get Nils more or less.

I have Nordic children that I named to be easy enough for people in the UK. I tested a few on friends and family before deciding and you can't really overestimate how wrong people will get things. Not surprising exactly as it's not common for British people to speak any Nordic languages but you must lower your expectations.

Almost everyone in the UK will say Bee-orn. That's if you're lucky - I'd bet plenty will even try to pronounce the j as an English j. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this has happened to my daughter who has a j in her name (it's a very easy name).

Firebird83 · 26/04/2026 21:58

Nils. I prefer Niels though.

CurlewKate · 25/04/2026 21:52

I’d pick the one that isn’t a member of ABBA….

PagesAndTea · 25/04/2026 21:48

I like Nils but prepare for him to be called Neil’s

Fatiguedwithlife · 25/04/2026 21:47

Lars is my cousins name (misses the point)

HipsterHighStreet · 25/04/2026 21:39

Nils, as otherwise he will be called Bjorn to rhyme with Born half the time and will get sick of correcting people. Plus the constant tedious Abba jokes.

ShetlandishMum · 25/04/2026 21:37

I like Bjørn/Björn but the spelling is awful in English. I would go for Niels/Nils.

Ooih · 25/04/2026 21:32

Nils, easier to type