Brunhild - now bear with me!

[n0ne]

I'm expecting baby no 2 and really want to honour my dear departed Dad Bernard with the middle name. If it's a boy, we're golden. If it's a girl... eeeek! I hate Bernadette, Bernadine and Bernice. I've wracked my brains for a usable feminine form, but these were all I came up with. And it suddenly hit me - what about Brunhild? I know it won't be to everyone's taste, but I personally like Germanic/Scandi names and I think they're starting to make a comeback. I would never use it as a first name, but for a mn, I think it's pretty cool, actually. She was a Valkyrie and shield maiden according to Norse mythology. Also, kid will be half Dutch and live in the Netherlands so opportunities for British kids to take the piss will be few and far between.

Am I insane?

I think you should use it. You clearly like it - seems to me that your response to all the people saying that you shouldn't use it demonstrates that (ie you still want to use it anyway!)

I immediately think of Wagner - Brunhild is a rocking character in the ring cycle - and I love a strong name for a girl! Only thing holding me back would be the very indirect nazi connection (via Wagner - don't know if the Hitler's mum thing is true), but lots of people have no problem driving vw Beatles, etc.

Go for it!

It means armoured battle maiden, actually.

I live in the Netherlands. I seriously don't think it sounds that bad to Dutch ears. There are similar names used here.

And I think Brunhild does sound like Bernard, even if they look different on paper.

Ah well, thanks for all your comments.

Probably not helping, but I once met a very nice Scandinavian woman called 'Berit'; it's a version of Brigit/Brigit (which is based on a word meaning 'help' or 'rescue'), though it has the same 'ber' beginning as Bernard.

Or, since Bernard means 'brave bear', what about a female name connected to bears, such as Ursula or Calisto?

You seem really disheartened- please don't be. Nobody else's opinion matters. I'd be proud to have a middle name like Brunhild.

I think her middle name should just be Brave. I think that's an awesome middle name for a girl.

Ooo but I also like floras suggestion of Ursula. I'd have used that for my daughter if dh had agreed. It's not really saying 'Bernard' to me though.

I love it

Didn't mean to suggest that I don't think Brunhild would be OK as a middle name, especially since it has a special family meaning for OP and she feels that it would be acceptable in the country where she lives.

Nicknames are not relevant to middle names, but I've come across a Hidlegarde nicknamed 'Hildi', which I rather liked, and the same nn would work for Brunhild.

I did consider Ursula before. It also got short shrift on MN - lots of mentions of the witch in the Little Mermaid (which meant nothing to me, not being a Disney fan). It's definitely also an option. I just think Brunhild is kind of badass. To be honest, the negative comments aren't putting me off, so I must really like it!

Just about acceptable as a well hidden middle name. Bit of a leap from Bernard to Brunhild though.

It's tenuous but what about:
Narda
A girl who's pretty, smart, and nice to everyone. She's an awesome friend who will listen to you when you need it. She's also creative and can be a spazz.
That girl is so awesome, she's such a Narda.

C&p from urban dictionary

Ooh, just noticed an offensive word above, sorry c&p fail

Terrible!!!

It's really awful, sorry OP.

I'd just use Bernard. It's only a middle name. It doesn't matter that it's masculine. A lot of people have a surname or maiden name as their middle name, which is masculine. This is no different.

I like it. Why not? It's not her first name, she doesn't have to use it. Maybe she'll love it so much she chooses to use it over her first name. My middle name is Jane. I'd swap it for Brunhild, I reckon. At least it's interesting.

How about Berengaria?
Berengaria is a girls' name of Old English origin, and the meaning of Berengaria is "maiden of the bear-spear". The wife of English King Richard the Lion-Heart.
Or use Berne or Bernard.
Or use your Dad's middle name, nickname or surname.

Ponyo springs to mind, before any myths and legends, for Brunhild Though it's obviously a warrior-type name with the 'hild' part.

I don't think it's too bad, but it's not very similar to Bernard at all.

I like Bernadette, though it feels a bit dated as I know two my own age, but would also be fine for a middle name. Suggestion of Berenice is ok too.

frankly anything that you could legally put on a T shirt is OK as a middle name.

^^ This.

But I do like it. Clearly I'm in the minority here, but I think it'd be nice as a first name too. It's a good strong name. I like it a lot more than I like Ursula.

I love both Brünnhilde/Brunhild and Bernadette. I think they're all badass. I would use either one as a first name, though Bernadette is the only only actually related to Bernard.

Though Ursula would be very nice too.

I'm Swedish so feel qualified to comment on Germanic and Scandinavian names ;) Here Brunhilda would still be considered suuuuuper odd BUT I think the old names are due a comeback soon, so I'm waiting for hordes of little Ragnhilds, Borghilds and Gunhilds any year now. Anyway, it's a middle name so pick what you like I say, but the link between Brunhild and Bernard is a little tenuous to me, personally. I'd go for Ursula. I think it's sweet and would have picked it for my kids if it wasn't so tricky in English and Swedish. It sounds nice in Polish (my husband is Polish) pronounced [urshula] sort of, stress on penultimate syllable. However if you're feeling international with your bear theme I'd like to remind everyone that the actual word Bear is a genuine name in Swedish ie Björn. I had to google now because I was sure that Björna was a bona fide female version but it didn't pop up except as a slang for doing a poo 😮 So you could also go for Björnhild if you're feeling the Nordic love like.

banivani yeah, I've been down that route before. I would totally use a feminine version of Björn but there doesn't seem to be one

I am not just using Bernard! I really hate this new trend of giving male names to girls, sorry. And his middle name was Christopher but I don't feel any connection to it the way I do to his first name. If I went with something like Christine that's as far removed from his name as bloody Brunhild! Argh, this is impossible

I am not just using Bernard! I really hate this new trend of giving male names to girls, sorry.

It's been common for eons that females get masculine middle names. Most of the time it's a surname. It's not a "trend".

I really like Bernetta suggested upthread, or even Bea, as a tribute/initial option.

Bernice??

The whole Bernard thing reminds me of Blackadder, mind you! "Nursey ain't my real name!"

How about:-

Brenda (using almost all the letters of Bernard)?
Or Brendra (using all the letters of Bernard)?

But there is, Björnhild! And apparently Björna, which is actually more popular. Thank the swedish bureau of statistics - 2 women have björnhild as a first or middle name and 9 have Björna. ;)