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Baby names

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

Original poster

Scandi baby names that work in the UK

89 replies

Taggys · 04/10/2023 15:08

Hello!
I am Swedish living in the UK, and we are discussing baby names that work in both languages. What are your opinion on the following names? Do they work well in English? (they are all well-known Swedish names)

Boys:
Sigurd/Sigvard
Otto
Nils
August
Einar
Edgar
Ebbe
Ivar

Girls:
Ilse
Asta - pronounced "Asda" - so I am thinking no because of the shop, or would this matter?
Eira
Estrid
Hilma
Elfrida
Willa
Signe

Many thanks!

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theduchessofspork · 05/10/2023 15:51

I like the rest !

orchardsquare · 05/10/2023 15:55

Out of your boys names, Nils, August, Edgar and Ivar would all work. Otto is also used but it is seen as a posh name, so not sure whether you would want to go for that aesthetic or not.

All your girls names are nice, but I'd avoid Asta if pronounced Asda as you will be forever asked to spell it.

Original poster
Taggys · 10/10/2023 09:06

orchardsquare · 05/10/2023 15:55

Out of your boys names, Nils, August, Edgar and Ivar would all work. Otto is also used but it is seen as a posh name, so not sure whether you would want to go for that aesthetic or not.

All your girls names are nice, but I'd avoid Asta if pronounced Asda as you will be forever asked to spell it.

Thank you!! <3 I had no idea Otto is seen as a posh name 😝Not sure if that's the vibe we're going for... thank you so much for pointing that out!

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 10/10/2023 09:10

thislittlebird · 05/10/2023 14:20

Hi OP, lots of these would work fine, I particularly like Edgar, Otto, Iris, Elfrida. We're considering Ivor (the British version) and it would be worth noting people might not pronounce Ivar as EE-var, assuming that's how you hear it, as Brits would usually say EYE-ver (roughly). You might already know or not care, but I know the pronunciations differ so thought it worth mentioning.

Edited

Thank you so much for your thoughts! Ivor is also very nice!! <3 Yes, "Ivar" would be "EE-var", your'e absolutely right - and that might be mistaken probably until people learn how it's pronounced.

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 10/10/2023 09:14

theduchessofspork · 05/10/2023 15:50

Don’t think I’d use Beata just because it sounds like beat as in beaten up

Maybe Beatrice/Beatrix nn Beata and she can use Beatrice or Bea if she doesn’t like it ?

Iris is lovely but mega popular if that bothers you. Ines might be an alternative.

Yes haha!! :D My partner isn't too sure about "Beata" either for that reason. I quite like Beatrice, nn Beata or Bea!! I have heard a few Irises in the playground...Ines is a beautiful alternative!

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 10/10/2023 09:20

Beata is Bey-ah-ta not Bee-ta.
The y isn't really there, but I don't know how to write the e sound. It's not eh or ee.

Twiglets1 · 10/10/2023 09:23

What about Saga for a girl or Martin for a boy?

From The Bridge of course - those 2 characters are legends

Ivebeentogeorgia · 10/10/2023 09:25

eira is lovely. It is also welsh for snow and a popular name in wales. Don’t do Asta

Twiglets1 · 10/10/2023 09:25

Henrik was a legend too - can you tell I’m a massive fan of The Bridge?

Geneticsbunny · 10/10/2023 09:50

How about Aster instead of Asta? It is the name of a flower and a name, although unusual in the UK.

LulooLemon · 10/10/2023 20:04

Sigurd/Sigvard - no
Otto - great name, love it
Nils - maybe
August - yes
Einar - ok
Edgar - ok
Ebbe - yes
Ivar - yes

Ilse - love this name
Asta - I like it and I don't hear Asda
Eira - maybe
Estrid - nice. I prefer Astrid though.
Hilma - yes
Elfrida - yes
Willa - yes
Signe - maybe

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 10/10/2023 22:03

Oskar

Original poster
Taggys · 12/10/2023 10:33

Twiglets1 · 10/10/2023 09:23

What about Saga for a girl or Martin for a boy?

From The Bridge of course - those 2 characters are legends

We have two Saga's in the family in Sweden, otherwise it's a lovely name!! Martin isn't from the same era, but a nice name that works well in English for sure! Thanks for the suggestions... I am also a big Bridge fan, I used to commute over it every day to go to work in CPH! :D

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/10/2023 10:48

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 10/10/2023 22:03

Oskar

Oskar is nice!!! Thanks <3

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/10/2023 10:49

Geneticsbunny · 10/10/2023 09:50

How about Aster instead of Asta? It is the name of a flower and a name, although unusual in the UK.

It's lovely, but unheard of in Sweden...

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/10/2023 10:56

LulooLemon · 10/10/2023 20:04

Sigurd/Sigvard - no
Otto - great name, love it
Nils - maybe
August - yes
Einar - ok
Edgar - ok
Ebbe - yes
Ivar - yes

Ilse - love this name
Asta - I like it and I don't hear Asda
Eira - maybe
Estrid - nice. I prefer Astrid though.
Hilma - yes
Elfrida - yes
Willa - yes
Signe - maybe

Thank you!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/10/2023 10:57

We are down to:
Boys: Otto, Nils
Girls: Ilse, Elfrida, Agnes (new!)

Thanks everyone for all the feedback!! <3

OP posts:
NeunundneunzigHorseBallonz · 12/10/2023 11:06

I love Asta for a girl, but what about
Lina/Lena
Greta
Signe is lovely (means swan), but I doubt the average English person would pronounce it correctly.
Otto & Edgar are cool for a boy, as is Ivar, Einar and Nils. I really like Chrisoffer, Christian and Magnus too.
(Very glad you’re not going with Loki or Thor. Every second husky has these names.)

NeunundneunzigHorseBallonz · 12/10/2023 11:06

I also like Magne for a boy as well as Magnus.

RiaOverTheRainbow · 12/10/2023 11:14

Is the S in Asta pronounced sss or zzz? If sss it doesn't sound like Asda (azda) and would be fine, I like it a lot!

thislittlebird · 12/10/2023 11:28

@Taggys nice short list! Otto and Agnes are cute!

brassbells · 12/10/2023 11:30

Princess Eugenie & Jack named their first son August, not sure if that has made it a very popular/common name or not.

He was named after a grandfather I think it was Smile Smile Smile

He is 2 years old so are there lots of toddlers named August?

Does it make any difference if your baby is born in August or not?

I think it shouldn't matter what month the birth happens but don't know about general opinion

No idea because April & May & June have been girls names for years so don't know the answer just putting out the question to MN

Alstroemeria123 · 12/10/2023 11:34

How would you pronounce Agnes? I think the standard British pronunciation is quite harsh, but if you used more of a Swedish “gn” sound, you’d be constantly correcting it.

HippeePrincess · 12/10/2023 11:37

Probably going to be outing but I know an Einar in the UK. It’s a lovely name, no one struggles to pronounce it, and as long as you love it and it can be pronounced in both languages and isn’t similar to anything rude then you should go for it.
so many non standard English names are used now I don’t think they’d stick out.
I do love Otto though.

KirstenBlest · 12/10/2023 11:40

@Alstroemeria123 , Is the Swedish pronunciation more like An-es or An-yes?