Agnes vs Astrid?

[NorseMum]

Hey! 👋

Which girls name is nicest: Agnes or Astrid?

Agnes is a canine name best shouted in a park. Call on Agnes I’d expect to see a slobbery dog

Both terrible, sorry!

Goodness they’re both absolutely awful.

Agnes is a classic name. Agatha is an alternative.

Astrid is one I associate with dolly birds in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Apologies to any Astrids reading this!

I love them both but lean towards Agnes
I think it depends on surname

Depends on whether you are in the UK or Norway. I prefer Agnes, but Astrid works better in the UK.
Both are nice.

Personally, I love Astrid - I think it has a cool, Scandi vibe to it. To me, Agnes is very much an old ladies name.

Agnes is awful. Astrid is slightly less awful but still awful.

I really, really like Agnes - especially if pronounced in the NE Scottish way = Ann-ess. That's closer to French and other European pronounciations, as well.

Astrid - though fine - is rather trendy at the moment perhaps because of Scandi detective TV shows etc etc.

Hate them both.

But to me, Agnes is very much still an old ladies' name.

I like both... I would probably choose Agnes over Astrid, but I think Astrid may work better IRL.

I love Agnes, nicknames Aggie or Nessie.
there aren’t any nicknames I like from Astrid though I suppose kids might shorten it to Ass

I really don’t like either but Astrid is an improvement on the incredibly ugly Agnes.

Agnes is a hideous name.

Astrid ok

Neither. both are awful.

But if yiu are Scandinavian then astrud more suitable

Astrid is better IMO.

Agnes is awful. Sorry but I hate the way it sounds. The words Angst, angry, aggrieved all come to mind and are all negative! I also think of a warty, old witch. Maybe because of Agnes Moorehead in the Bewitched.

I really don’t like either, nor the other suggestion of Agatha. Something about the ag bit sounds horrible to me. Not sure why I don’t like Astrid, maybe cos I just don’t think it sounds feminine.

I do know a couple of Astrids aged 5-10 though, so that’s the more popular one at the moment in my opinion (though still uncommon!) if that’s important to you.

Astrid is lovely. Agnes is okay.

Both sound harsh. Prefer Anya.

I voted for Astrid, but my only worry is it getting shortened to Ass… (kids seem to call each other by one syllable versions of their names in secondary school round here). I still prefer it to Agnes though and I don’t like Aggie.

Why are ppl commenting if they hate both?

Because 'neither' is a valid answer to the question.

1. Why is it a problem for a girl to have a 'harsh-sounding' name? I'd rather have a strong name than a wishy washy name, and it will last well through adult life.
2. Agnes for me is a name I associate with Terry Pratchett, so by definition a good association. Agnes Nutter in Good Omens, Agness Nitt in Discworld.
3. Agatha means good in Greek. Agnes means holy. More good associations.
4. Agatha Christie - world's best-selling author! Best crime writer ever! Another terrific association.
5. Bertie Wooster's Aunt Agatha - the very definition of a strong woman. Aunt Dahlia is better, but nobody messed with Aunt Agatha. So there's another one.

P.S. I know of an Agnes who must be about 30 now. So it's not exclusively an old lady name.

I don’t like either but Agnes is awful.