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Baby names

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Original poster

Ingrid or Eira for a baby girl in the UK?

30 replies

Taggys · 02/09/2026 11:35

Ingrid or Eira?

I am thinking of girls names that work in the UK, and wondering which name is best out of these two?

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PoachedDregs · 02/09/2026 11:40

I wouldn't know how to pronounce Eira. Eee-ra? Ira? Ayra?

On that basis - Ingrid would be less problematic!

APinkPosey · 02/09/2026 11:44

I like Ingrid though I thought it was a bit old fashioned, though perhaps it's so old fashioned it's now cool?

The problem with Eira is it is a Welsh name and a Swedish(?) name and even the Welsh can't agree how it is pronounced throughout Wales which I believe can also be different to the Scandinavian (not sure if that is the right word) pronunciation. I also only know ladies about 80+ with this name in Wales though perhaps it has also become so old it is fashionable again? It does get mentioned on here a lot.

I do actually like both but would go Ingrid for ease.

Mami2Cymraeg · 02/09/2026 11:45

I'm Welsh, so know how to pronounce it. Are you Welsh? Living in Wales? It's a lovely name, but she would need to tell people how to pronounce it.

RedFatball · 02/09/2026 11:48

I know two Eira's living in England. One is 19 and the other is 5. Neither seem to have an issue telling people how to say it - one has Welsh parents, the other has no Welsh connection.

HudALledrith · 02/09/2026 13:09

From a quick search, OP is in the UK but spends time in Sweden and says it as Ey-rah. I'd pick Ingrid because I like it and I think it's a lot easier.

The problem with Eira is it is a Welsh name and a Swedish(?) name and even the Welsh can't agree how it is pronounced throughout Wales
Welsh is phonetic and there is a standard Welsh pronunciation - it's a regular word meaning snow.

The non-agreement is because in a certain area the local pronunciation differs, plus the name is not easy to say if you don't speak Welsh.
Basically Eira is either pronounced like the Welsh word for snow, (roughly but not quite Eyra), or Eye-ra, which is the anglicised version or a very specific regional pronunciation.

Gotothelakesandlive · 02/09/2026 13:15

I’d guess Ay-ra for Eira, which is probably wrong 🤔
Will people sometimes getting Eira wrong matter to you OP?
Of course, the likelihood of people getting it wrong also depends on where in the UK you live.

JoyousWriter · 02/09/2026 16:24

Will it be a winter baby for Eira?

SkaneTos · 02/09/2026 22:53

They are both good names.

LivingTheDreamish · 03/09/2026 00:44

I voted for Ingrid - lovely name you don’t hear often.

HudALledrith · 03/09/2026 06:47

LivingTheDreamish · 03/09/2026 00:44

I voted for Ingrid - lovely name you don’t hear often.

Same here. It's pretty, not too unusual and not overused. Sounds nicer in Swedish but not overly different.

TheSandgroper · 03/09/2026 09:02

I really like them both.

Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 17:38

Thanks all!🤗 Would Annie work as a middle name for Eira?
Eira Annie ?

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PrincessOfPreschool · 03/09/2026 17:46

I would pronounce it Air-uh (like an airer you dry your clothes on!). I would say ROIreland (Eire) the same way! I'm English. Now I'm wondering if it's Eye-ruh.

I wouldn't put it with Annie. Far too many vowels. How about Annie as the first name?

LittleGreenDuck · 03/09/2026 18:57

I really like Ingrid. Have you considered Astrid? Lovely name.

7238SM · 03/09/2026 19:09

I do love Ingrid and its goes ok as Ingrid Annie. Not a great combo but could work. I'm not sure why, but it just doesn't flow. Maybe Ingrid Anne?

I'm not born British, but lived here 25yrs and 1st language is English. I would have pronounced Eira as Eye-Ra. How would you pronounced it OP? It also doesn't flow as Eira Annie because they both end in A, but maybe I'm pronouncing it wrong? Also, its rare you'll actually use them together as its normally Eira surname.

HudALledrith · 03/09/2026 19:31

@LittleGreenDuck , OP ruled out Astrid for DC1, I think.

NuffSaidSam · 03/09/2026 19:33

I'd go for Ingrid. It's easy to say and spell. It's a name almost everyone has heard, but isn't common at all. I like Inga as a shortening too.

Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 22:01

Mami2Cymraeg · 02/09/2026 11:45

I'm Welsh, so know how to pronounce it. Are you Welsh? Living in Wales? It's a lovely name, but she would need to tell people how to pronounce it.

Not Welsh, but live near the Powys border so go to Wales a lot. I am Swedish, where this is also a used name, as well as common in Norway and Finland 🤗

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Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 22:03

RedFatball · 02/09/2026 11:48

I know two Eira's living in England. One is 19 and the other is 5. Neither seem to have an issue telling people how to say it - one has Welsh parents, the other has no Welsh connection.

This is lovely to hear! 😊

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Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 22:06

Gotothelakesandlive · 02/09/2026 13:15

I’d guess Ay-ra for Eira, which is probably wrong 🤔
Will people sometimes getting Eira wrong matter to you OP?
Of course, the likelihood of people getting it wrong also depends on where in the UK you live.

No, you are right!😍👍it would not bother me that much even if people got it wrong...they would hopefully learn if you corrected them.

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Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 22:08

TheSandgroper · 03/09/2026 09:02

I really like them both.

So hard....🤪

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Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 22:10

PrincessOfPreschool · 03/09/2026 17:46

I would pronounce it Air-uh (like an airer you dry your clothes on!). I would say ROIreland (Eire) the same way! I'm English. Now I'm wondering if it's Eye-ruh.

I wouldn't put it with Annie. Far too many vowels. How about Annie as the first name?

It's Ayra or Eye-ra.

Yes, Annie would be nice as a first name actually 🙏 Or what about Vera??

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TheSandgroper · 03/09/2026 22:11

I don’t like Annie for a middle name. Anne yes but not Annie. Anne is a proper grown up name.

Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 22:12

LittleGreenDuck · 03/09/2026 18:57

I really like Ingrid. Have you considered Astrid? Lovely name.

I like Astrid but it's so so common where I'm from 😆

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Original poster
Taggys · 03/09/2026 22:17

7238SM · 03/09/2026 19:09

I do love Ingrid and its goes ok as Ingrid Annie. Not a great combo but could work. I'm not sure why, but it just doesn't flow. Maybe Ingrid Anne?

I'm not born British, but lived here 25yrs and 1st language is English. I would have pronounced Eira as Eye-Ra. How would you pronounced it OP? It also doesn't flow as Eira Annie because they both end in A, but maybe I'm pronouncing it wrong? Also, its rare you'll actually use them together as its normally Eira surname.

Thanks for your thoughts 💕 I'd say it Ay-ra or Eye-ra.

Ingrid Anne sounds classy, but maybe a little boring?? It is lovely though. Almost regal 😜 I feel like Eira is more spunky and fresh somehow even though this is also an old ladies name in both Wales and Scandinavia

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