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Baby names

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

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Original poster

What is wrong with 'Freya'?

109 replies

craigslittleangel · 05/02/2013 00:28

I'm pregnant with DD 2 and although I had a name for my first, in the end she didn't suit it and her dad named her. I love the name and the reason for its choice (named after a character in mythology and a painting), but discovered after her registration that it was in the top 10 for that year. Not normally a problem, untill she started nursery and there were 3 others there. (Although all spelt differently).

So, with DD2 I am determined to get something not so much 'of its time'.

The other day I heard someone call 'Freya' and thought it was lovely. It's stayed with me and has beaten my other option Elanor. However, it seems its very popular at the moment..... People are even being derisive about it.

So, tell me whats wrong with it? Don't worry, I'm not stuck on it for life or anything like that, I would just like to understand why some people don't like it.

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deleted203 · 05/02/2013 00:43

I quite like it. It makes me think of strapping blonde Viking maidens though . If you have a little dainty dark haired elf it might not fit perhaps?

The best advice I can give you about names is to never, EVER tell anyone the ones you are considering beforehand. Because there will always be people who hoot in derision and shriek, 'For God's Sake! No!' at you. We've all got different tastes.

If, however, you produce your offspring and announce proudly, 'We've named him Montmorency' people will smile weakly and say, 'Goodness. How unusual'. No one dares make rude remarks once you've named the child. And anyway, what's it matter what other folks think? If you and DH like it then go for it!

LittleBlueBox · 05/02/2013 00:58

I love Freya! I do hear a bit of derision about it on mn sometimes but I take it as because Freya seems like a very popular name in the UK at the moment.

We don't tell people what names are on our short list for exactly the reasons sowornout says. People's tastes differ and you're naming your baby, not anyone else's. When people ask me I say, "Oh, we haven't decided yet, but we have a long list of names we're not going to call it. Do you want to help add to that?" Then we all have a great time agreeing that Ch'do-nae Blossom, and Nepshut Aragon are not the best names around.

deleted203 · 05/02/2013 01:03

@ LittleBlue I LOVE Nepshut Aragon now! I feel I was sadly unimaginative with my DCs names!

Shanghaidiva · 05/02/2013 01:07

Agree with sowornout - announce the name once the baby has arrived.
I think Freya is a lovely name.
Also love Eleanor. We would have used it for our dd, but we were living in Austria at the time and it can be difficult to pronounce in German so went with Helena.

amazingmumof6 · 05/02/2013 02:37

Freya's a nice name. go for it

retrocutie · 05/02/2013 03:08

I detest the name Freya (you did ask). I am sure it is a perfectly nice name, but all the Freya's I know have parents who are always banging on about how 'middle-class' they are. It's just one of those names. Sorry. Maybe it's just the people I know.

Sasparillo · 05/02/2013 05:23

Its okay, my other half hates it though. Whenever he hears it he always says 'Freya Tuck!' but he's an idiot though! Lol. I know of 3 Freya's under 4 so fairly popular in my area. Perfectly nice name if you're going to use it xx

Rhubarbgarden · 05/02/2013 07:17

I think it's lovely.

MidnightMasquerader · 05/02/2013 08:45

I'm not a fan. It's just so

And as I said on another thread - very, very of its time and will date. I envisage it as the equivalent of our generation's Lisa or Michelle.

extracrunchy · 05/02/2013 08:47

I love Freya!

worldgonecrazy · 05/02/2013 08:56

I like the name Freya. However, if you read the myth of Freya and how she had sex with lots of dwarves just to get her necklace back, I think it's quite a loaded name to give a child!

saycheeeeeese · 05/02/2013 09:04

Im not a fan if Freya its pretty commonly used here.. what about Freyda? Its much much nicer IMO

Mosman · 05/02/2013 09:07

I have a blonde blue'd Freya who is a delicate little flower, I know another blonde cherub called Freya who is equally gorgeous.

Unfortunately I also know two other dark haired, built like a brick shithouse girls called Freya too.

I'm quite happy for it to be "of the time" it is the time and so along with Poppy, Lily, Lexi it will date

Revive a 60's name like Lisa or Michelle if you want something out there.

whatyoulookinat · 05/02/2013 09:08

Nothing wrong with it. I neither love it or hate it. Just a perfectly good name. Don't let other people put you off, there are far worse names around at the moment.

MonaLotte · 05/02/2013 09:09

I know two Freyas under five and like the name. Both my dcs names are common but I don't mind as I like the names.
We were set on Ethan for ds1 but when he was born he didn't look like one so we named him something else. Ds2 looked like the name we had chosen. I would and see.

LineRunner · 05/02/2013 09:13

Freya is a lovely name.

Eleanor (regular spelling) seems popular on MN although in RL it isn't that common, really.

mummytime · 05/02/2013 09:15

I know quite a few Freyas so its definitely not one to go for rarity value. If you mean to spell Elanor like that, it will be miss-spelt frequently, it is also close to the Ellie group of names which is pretty common.

I also find it weird that I know two very "Christian" families who have a daughter called Freya, a pagan god name seems an odd choice.

60s names are probably good for unusual names.

TenthMuse · 05/02/2013 10:36

There's nothing wrong with Freya per se but I'm not a huge fan, probably because I'm a teacher and have taught so many Freyas recently. I think a lot of people (myself included) tend to get a little jaded about names they hear a lot, especially if they're very 'of their time'. Once you've met your tenth or eleventh Freya (or any other popular name), it becomes over-familiar and you stop seeing its attractive or interesting qualities (like its mythological origins).

That said, if you've decided that Freya is the name for you, don't let anyone persuade you otherwise. I'd second other posters who have suggested keeping your chosen name to yourself - you'll never get unanimous agreement on names, and the people who have the most vehement opinions are often those closest to us (especially mothers!). If you really love it, use it.

badtime · 05/02/2013 10:47

I believe 'Elanor' is the Lord of the Rings spelling. Elinor or Eleanor are more usual. I prefer this name to Freya.

shoobidoo · 05/02/2013 10:57

Personally, I don't like Freya much. I much prefer Eleanor - more elegant, classy and timeless. But thankfully we all have different tastes .

ouryve · 05/02/2013 11:00

I love it. It was one of my choices for DS1's middle name, had he been a girl. It wasn't at all popular a decade ago, though.

Both DS1's and DS2's names became a lot more popular after I chose them.

Narked · 05/02/2013 11:02

Freakonomics. It was popular in the Telegraph birth announcements in the 90s.

Viviennemary · 05/02/2013 11:04

Well I don't like it I'm afraid. It conjures up for me a certain type of person who would call their child that. Well you did ask. I don't mean to insult anyone but it's just the way I feel.

Jasbro · 05/02/2013 11:05

I wouldn't choose it myself as it is one of those names that has already passed through it's unique and trendy stage and has started becoming ubiquitous in middle class areas. I have the feeling it will either fall out of favour again (meaning it will date), or start spreading downwards through the social classes in the next few years and become even more common.

monica77798 · 05/02/2013 11:06

How will Lisa and Michelle date? I would have thought they are fairly timeless names, and I certainly don't think either are dated. Nothing wrong with Freya, go for it if you like it!

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