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Original poster

Please help us with Scandi girl names!

121 replies

Taggys · 12/03/2024 15:02

Hello,

We are expecting a little one late summer :) We already have a boy name sorted, but need some help with girl names... We are a half Swedish, half English family, living in the UK. We already have two children - a boy and a girl, and they have names that are very common in Scandinavia. Now, we need help with a girl name, that works in both regions.

We want the name to "sound" Scandinavian to fit with our other children's names, but work in the UK.

Our top 3 is (all of them "old lady" names that are well-known in Sweden):
Eira - derives from Norse godess "Eir", godess of health who could heal the sick. also Welsh name, meaning "snow".
Ilse - German/Scandi name meaning "oath of God".
Iris - Greek name meaning "rainbow".

But we also like:
Elfrida (nicknames could be Frida, Ida, Effie/Elfie)
Ida
Astrid (nice but a bit too common in Swe, was No.1 given name to girls 2022)
Hilma
Signe
Selma
Saga
Asta
Thora
Helga
Freja (nice but a bit too common in both Swe and UK)

Please help! Which ones "sound" Scandi? Which ones are pretty? Which ones work in the UK??

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Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:18

Janeb1965 · 12/03/2024 19:44

How about Inga?

Thanks! :) Think I prefer Ingrid but Inga is kind of cool..

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:19

Katela18 · 12/03/2024 19:54

I heard the other day a little girl called 'Svea'.
They pronounced it as 'Zvaya'. (Aya part like May - a) hope that makes sense lol.
I believe the mother was Swedish. I thought it was beautiful.

Svea is actually quite nice yes, thank you! :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:20

DaneMum · 12/03/2024 19:58

What about:

Ingrid, Sif, Nanna, Dagmar, Alva, Alvilda, Vilja, Runa, Vigga...

I like Ingrid and Runa :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:21

MumChp · 12/03/2024 20:00

I have never met Eira in Denmark. 4 girls were named it in 2022.
Ilse is rare too in children. 0 girl were named Ilse in 2022. 45 girls were named Iris.

The numbers are from www.dst.dk

In Denmark the most popularitet names for girls the half of 2023 are here found https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/emner/borgere/navne/navne-til-nyfoedte

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Thanks, but we're from Sweden :)

OP posts:
MumChp · 12/03/2024 21:24

Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:21

Thanks, but we're from Sweden :)

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"Scandi" includes Denmark and Norway. Good luck!

Choconuttolata · 12/03/2024 21:24

I like Eira and Thora

I also like Juni and Thyri/Tyri.

Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:24

QueSyrahSyrah · 12/03/2024 20:19

Similar boat to you OP and we have Astrid with nickname Asta on our list, along with Matilda, nickname Tilde.

Yey!! Also thinking of Astrid, nn Asta. I think it's probably safer to use Asta as the nickname rather than the given name here in the UK, even though I do like it...

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:26

Mitsky · 12/03/2024 20:19

Elin
Moa
Lina (wouldn’t use Line as my Swedish friend was constantly called line)

Although Astrid is my favourite name

Good point about Line - never thought of that until you said:D

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:30

Revealingall · 12/03/2024 20:30

I taught a Swedish Aiste (Ice-tuh) here in the UK, it's originally Lithuanian but popular in some Scandi countries too.
I also taught a Norwegian Elke.

Just to throw some suggestions in.

These days I think anything works in the UK and there is nothing wrong with any of your names. I love Eira but most of the ones I've taught have been Welsh so I associate with Wales rather than Scandi names.

Avoid Saga, it's an old person's insurance company and a "saga" is often used to describe some sort of a family drama.

Helga would be considered unflattering here (like Gertrude..it's a good name for a Cow!).

Freya is extremely popular here so you might want to avoid Freja.

Thora is my favourite from your list.

Thank you! Noted about Saga and Helga :) I know Freya is very popular which kind of puts me off it...

OP posts:
MumChp · 12/03/2024 21:31

Sweden:
Svea, Annika, Malin, Saga, Ingrid, Erika, Alice, Elke, Vera, Hanna, Idun, Helena, Lova, Ronja, Wilma, Lovisa, Ebba.

Our childrens' nana was Swedish. It was more or less her input for our oldest daughter.

UsualChaos · 12/03/2024 21:31

Tove/Tuve

sciencemama · 12/03/2024 21:31

Selma and Thora are the best here.
What about Hebe?

IdaPrentice · 12/03/2024 21:32

What about Elvira (Swedish friend's DD's name)? I love it.

Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:35

PickledScrump · 12/03/2024 20:39

I have an Eira so obviously I love it. Ours is welsh so Ay-ra but it’s also said as eye-ra which is more commonly used in south Wales, I don’t like it said that way. How would is be said in scandi?

I also love Elfrida, it’s pretty but strong and Elfie is a lovely nn

Aaah, lovely!! I've always loved the name Eira! In Swedish it's pronounced Ey-rah. (Ey, as in Hey). I also love Elfrida thanks and I'm surprised it's had so much love on here, maybe it's more usable in the UK than I thought...I was afraid it sounded too old...

OP posts:
SOxon · 12/03/2024 21:36

Karen

Dreamingofthishouse · 12/03/2024 21:36

Ahhh I love as going to suggest linnea but just seen your post re. 90s ! Love that name❤️
love maja, elfrida and astrid and ilse!

Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:39

WhataPithy · 12/03/2024 20:52

I love Eira but it’s definitely a stronger Welsh name rather than Scandinavian. If my now 12 yo DS had been a girl, her name would have been Eira.

Some Finnish names:
Senni
Sini
Ulla
Nelli
Kiia
Elsa
Elsi
Tanja
Saana
Eila
Auli
Linnea

Lovely!! I think Eira is quite common in Finland too! :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:41

PurplePansy05 · 12/03/2024 20:54

I love Astrid. I also think Agnes would be a nice choice.

Thank you! Agnes is actually my daughter's name :D

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:43

Choconuttolata · 12/03/2024 21:24

I like Eira and Thora

I also like Juni and Thyri/Tyri.

Thanks, Juni is lovely!!

OP posts:
TwigletsAndRadishes · 12/03/2024 21:46

Astrid (nice but a bit too common in Swe, was No.1 given name to girls 2022)

But you aren't in Sweden so why does it matter, if you like it? It's not at all common here.

Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:46

MumChp · 12/03/2024 21:31

Sweden:
Svea, Annika, Malin, Saga, Ingrid, Erika, Alice, Elke, Vera, Hanna, Idun, Helena, Lova, Ronja, Wilma, Lovisa, Ebba.

Our childrens' nana was Swedish. It was more or less her input for our oldest daughter.

Thank you! Really like: Svea, Ingrid, Vera, Idun, Lovisa! Great suggestions!

OP posts:
Original poster
Taggys · 12/03/2024 21:47

IdaPrentice · 12/03/2024 21:32

What about Elvira (Swedish friend's DD's name)? I love it.

Elvira is nice, thank you!

OP posts:
Mumofgirls2017 · 12/03/2024 21:47

Iris is my favourite ❤️

also like Ida and thora

WarningOfGails · 12/03/2024 21:48

Greta?

I was a big Astrid Lindgren fan and would like to suggest Mardie, Lisbet or Lotta.

ItsReallyOnlyMe · 12/03/2024 21:49

I like Johanna which I think is used in Scandinavia.