Malin, not scandi

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

What do you think of using names from a culture you have no connection to? Just musing on a Saturday afternoon, and looooove the name Malin but don't think I could get away with it. Me and DH are as English as possible, my great grandmother was Irish but that's as exotic as it gets

Just using Malin as an example, there are tons of other names I would use if I 'could' - cornish/welsh/scandi/greek mainly. But people would always follow it up with, 'oh, are you from xxx?', wouldn't they? But then other greek names, eg Zoe, I don't have the same feeling about, I guess cos they're so common here.

I did meet an Indian couple on a flight who called their kid Rhys, just cos they liked it, and I think that's great - I guess I worry too much about what people think of us, ha.

I know a Malin! She is in America but I think maybe has Scandi roots given her lovely blonde hair!

My only comment on the name (which is lovely) is that I was calling her "Mallin" for ages and ages until Iheard her refer to herself as "Mar-liin" (not quite Marlene with an e, more of a long i sound)

So there will be that to deal with all the time.

Malin is definitely Scandinavian, I know of several by that name (in Scandinavia, that is.)

I know fifty, did you read my post? :)

FWIW DH doesn't see the problem and says we should call our kids whatever the heck we want if we manage to find a name we both like (names we both agree on are rare!!)

Malin Head is a place name in Ireland, if your great granny was from Donegal that's your connection.

I think it's fine. Hoping others will say the same as we are considering a Welsh name but have no Welsh connections! If you love a name then use it

I like the name. My paternal grandmother is from Sweden and I think a distant cousin may be married to a Malin?

I like the name and I personally would feel flattered if somebody were to use a name from 'my culture' (I'm Swiss and I always get kind of nostalgic when I meet a Heidi.. ) but I obviously don't speak for others. I don't think somebody asking you if you're Swedish is bad, is it? Or am I missing something...?

Is it pronounced may Lin? Pretty I like it!!

I know a Malin as she is Swedish however I love Scottish and Irish names and I'm English...

My dd has a name from another culture. I'm sometimes asked if we're from that country, I say no, say I liked it and that's the end of it. So many popular girls names in particular in the UK derive from elsewhere, Maya, Lola, Zoe, Phoebe, Amelie, Isabella, Eva, Ava, Chloe, . I actually used Zoe as an example to the one person who criticised me (her dds name) and they got a bit stuck and shut up.