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Baby names

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

Original poster

Real Challenge - Scandinavian/Scottish girl names?

30 replies

Blumke · 10/06/2009 12:02

Scottish mum married to lovely viking and living here in Scandinavia.

Here you must choose a name from the official
names list- very strict criteria
a) must be traditional name
b) must be spelt correctly
c) must not be too similar to sibling names/previously deceased children
d) must not cause "emotional damage" to the child - ie Teresa Green, Ivor Biggun type names forbidden
e) must not form an inappropriate acronym ie
Helena Emma Lovisa Largren -- H.E.L.L

Trying to find something that fits a girl (boy's name already clear) and that crosses over well. Much as I love this country I could never call my daughter Hedwig or Gun.

So far the possibles from the list are-

Flora
Fiona
Harriet
Helena
Sofia
Lydia
Elisabet (that's the spelling here)

What do you think?
I love Flora but is it too much like margarine?

All ideas very gratefully received!

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persephonesnape · 11/06/2009 21:29

mhairi? proouced 'vah-ri'. my daughters middle name as that was my midwifes name.

I knew a scots norweigan couple (ok,, not quite the same), who called their daughter eira.

wombleprincess · 11/06/2009 20:40

oh.. doh..

a thought. ikea? sorry in a silly mood.

LunarSea · 11/06/2009 09:28

If you haven't already seen it, there are stats for popular names in Sweden over tha least 10 years here. Quite a few which would work in English (or Scottish) as well as Swedish.

weegiemum · 11/06/2009 06:41

My stepmum is Swedish/Scottish and called Elna. I think its lovely!

Original poster
Blumke · 11/06/2009 06:29

Gosh, now I have tons to think about!

Thanks, I hadn't thought of Isla or Kirsty. I've checked and I could have them if I spelt them Aila and Kirsti.

We have a very Scandinavian surname, and the baby will be born here and have national citizenship so it will probably be best if the name is local but works in Scotlnad rather than the other way around.

I like Astrid, Matilda and Inga very much but husband is die-hard republican and has declared "no little princesses here".

OP posts:
mum23monkeys · 10/06/2009 22:07

wombleprincess theresa green = trees are green

niccibabe · 10/06/2009 17:52

Hi, I know a Norwegian/Scottish girl called Louisa - which is lovely - and according to all concerned fits well in both languages.

shootfromthehip · 10/06/2009 15:07

Clara/ Klara or Isla are both lovely too.

Of your list I like Helena or Elisabet

Broodzilla · 10/06/2009 15:03

I was also going to suggest Elsa (Ailsa would be the Scottish version, right?) or Jenna.
Although, I'm not sure how I feel about names that would be pronounced differently in Swedish/English (like Jenna, which would have a soft J in Swedish!) funnily enough, have a similar problem over here. Completely stuck for boys names...

nevergonnapost · 10/06/2009 14:27

isla, heather,iona,

prettybird · 10/06/2009 14:18

Is Elsa on the list? It was my grandmother's name and she was Danish - but not sure if the rules applied back in 1914!

That was one of our choices if ds had been a dd.

wombleprincess · 10/06/2009 14:15

so what happens if she is born in scotland and you give her a non allowed name?

a very long and complicated way of circumnavigating state requirements..... so i like them all apart from lydia. in terms of scottishness i would say fiona strikes me as most scottish..

wombleprincess · 10/06/2009 14:13

probably being completely dumb but what is wrong with theresa green?

barnsleybelle · 10/06/2009 14:12

I have a Freya which is a scandinavian name.

Tinasan · 10/06/2009 14:03

Love Helena. How about Catriona(pronounced Katrina), Mhorag, Kirstie, Seona (pronounced Shona)?

CravingOlives · 10/06/2009 13:29

I like Flora, Harriet and Elisabet from your list, all lovely names.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/06/2009 13:27

Kirsten

hannahsaunt · 10/06/2009 13:13

Erin

usernametaken · 10/06/2009 13:12

Maia
Mia
Olivia
Kirsti/Kirsty
Oona
Kia
Matilda
Hanna(h)
Sofia
Sara(h)
Emma

Ok, not really Scottishy, but a mixture of Scandlish!

arolf · 10/06/2009 12:55

Flora is not such a bad name :-) does lead to some mild teasing at school in the UK (margarine related), but it's an unusual name, and I ALWAYS get complimented on it. Although every other Flora I've ever met (about 7 of them in 27 years) has been Flora Jane, so that's probably a middle name to avoid!
Oh, and it's always been shortened to Flo up in Scotland, which my mother hates.

BlackEyedDogstar · 10/06/2009 12:45

lydia and Harriet for me from your list

I like Astrid - tis on my list

my Scots/Dane pal has a Nina

georgiemum · 10/06/2009 12:41

Elspeth
Kirsty
Morag
Aileen
Ailsa
Eilish

VeryAnnieMary · 10/06/2009 12:40

Lovely poem called The Fionas

TwoSunnyDays · 10/06/2009 12:35

What about Matild/a Astrid or Inga?

TheApprentice · 10/06/2009 12:06

I like all those names! I have a Scottish friend living in England and her little girl is called Fiona which I think is lovely, and not that common these days.

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