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 there are 2 things - Brunhild as a middle name and honouring your Dad.
Brunhild is fine and the meaning is fab BUT I really can't see how it has anything much to do with Bernard. That's also fine if you just want your own nod to your Dad, but no-one else would make that connection. Does that bother you?

If you do want an obvious Bernard middle name then I would just go for Bernie. I've known a few!

I really like brunhild as a middle name

I went to school with a Brunetta just to throw another one in the hat. That said, it's a middle name so name what you want!! I am liking the suggestions of Brune and Bjorna though.

I like Bernardine.

What about Berenice, with the extra 'e' in there?

Brunhild does just make me think large and a bit offputting

I think it's a nice middle name. I don't think it honours your Dad other than in your mind which is fine as the connection is there for you.

Middle names matter not a jot so it is fine. And honouring your dad is special and that is what your hold will think about when she thinks of her middle name.

If you aren't sure then is there something else that reminds you of your dad which you could use? His place of birth or a place you visited together? His mother's name? His surname?

I'd like to remind everyone that the actual word Bear is a genuine name in Swedish ie Björn.

I know a Bjorn, super name. That's one of the few meanings I know, tolkien told us it means bear, well sort of (Beorn)

I'm laughing at the 'Nursey aint my real name' comment up thread. Don't use Bernard alone, OP

Oo, OK then! Will add Björna and Björnhild to Ursula in the tentative list. Maybe Bernie too, as that was the name he went by, but it's too nicknamey for my taste. And Berne.

This has been extremely helpful, thanks everyone!

Congratulations on the new baby OP! Your choice of middle name is not to my taste, however my opinion isn't important & neither are any other opinions but that will teach you for asking!

If Brunhild works for you then you go for it. Whether your child grows to love or hate the name, they'll always know the beautiful sentiment behind it.

I think Berne and Bernie are great MNs, not feeling brunhilde to be honest as I don't think it links to Bernard.

You said his MN was Christopher, so how about Christa? Or Christie?

I LOVE Brunhild, I think it's a fab name, and frankly you can get away with a lot with middle names because they're largely not used.

Disclaimer: I wanted to call my DD Hild after Abbes Hild of Whitby Abbey...

I don't see the link between Bernard and Brunhild. It's all a bit tenuous. What about his surname as her middle name instead, unless of course that will be her own surname.

I think if you love it you should go for it! It's a badass name. Bjorna is gorgeous, as is Ursula.
And fwiw I know one Bernadette in real life (and she's a mumsnetter ) and she's a complete stunner.

I think Brünhilde is a fantastic middle name, Brunhild almost as much. If you like it then go for it! What's the chosen first name?

I like it! But to be honest no one outside of immediate family gives a toss what a person's middle name is

Interesting- getting a few supporters now!

Other reasons I like Brunhild - DD1's mn is a modified version of my Mum's name (which I also wasn't keen on in its original form), so it kind of 'matches'

• it's relatively short, easy to pronounce and spell (like DD1's middle name)
• the baby will likely have FIL's name as a second mn as DD1 has MIL's, so I really want to avoid anything long like Bernadette

First names I've been entertaining are Frida, Rita, Astrid...

The main problem is that the name has to work in English and Dutch. That rules out A LOT of names I love due to pronunciation differences in either language, eg Edith, Margot, Enid, Ivy, Iris, Mabel, Agnes

I think you should use whichever name you like but if the meaning of Bernard is strong brave bear wouldn't Ursula be a good fit?

Sorry, crossed posts. Again up to you but that's quite a constraint. Does that really matter in relation to a middle name?

nOne Astrid is beautiful.
Does it mean star?

Astrid is old Norse and means fair god. Nice solid name, I approve! ;)

I love Berenice and Berengere myself. I don't much care for Brunhild but it is definitely a strong name. If it was me I think I'd consider a name that just began with a B or Be to hint at Bernard: Belle, Beatrice, Bea.

I also love Berengare, and Berengaria too.

Frida, Rita and Astrid are all wonderful names imo, n0ne. You can't go wrong with any of them.

I love the sound of Frida Bernadette [3rd name] or Astrid Ursula [3rd name]. Rita Berenice [3rd name] would be nice too.

I don't think length of middle names per se would put me off - I think the way the syllables flow and issues like vowels running into each other are factors to take into account. I also dislike using a shortening or a nickname as a MN (using Kate as a second or third name for example).

(For instance, I prefer Frida Thomasina Bernadette over Frida Bernadette Thomasina.)

I had a childhood friend with this name, thought it was really sweet!

It's a middle name.

So, no. Imo that's really lovely. Middle names are allowed to be slightly "weird" imo...

I also like Bruna and Bernadette. And Berenice. But Brunhild is actually pretty fabulous imo!

Not sure why, but I think the first name should end with an "a".

Lilja Brunhild. Louisa Brunhild. Clara Brunhild. Anna Brunhild... Idk, something like that would be extremely lovely in my personal opinion.