Nordic/Welsh middle name - help!!

[NorseMum]

Just wanted to ask on here which of these names you find the prettiest. We have Nordic/Welsh heritage and would like to honor it in a middle name. We love meanings, so I have put the different meanings in brackets.

Here is our short list:

Enid (Welsh meaning ”soul” and ”life)

Ilse (used in Denmark/Sweden, meaning ”Oath of God”)

Freja (Norse Godess of love and beauty)

Elfrida (used in Sweden/Norway, meaning ”Elf strength”, also Old English derived from 'ælf' (elf) and 'frīð' (peace).

Ida (Nordic, means "industrious," "hardworking," or "prosperous")

Lucia (Nordic, means ”bearer o flight”, In Sweden, Lucia is a major cultural celebration on December 13th)

Ylva (Nordic, means ”she-wolf”)

Elise (used in Denmark/Sweden/Norway, meaning ”God’s promise”)

Not all names could make it onto the poll, so please comment if your favorite isn't on there 🤗

Not Enid, but the others are all lovely. If you're in the UK I'd pick something that's easy to spell and say correctly in English, but that's less of an issue for a middle name.

I like Ida, which you missed off the poll.

I like Ida, for the name itself and the meaning.

I have an Enid, so I'm biased! I think it's the loveliest name and we get lots of compliments on it.

I also love Ilse, it was on our long list I think.

Posted too soon - I also like Ida and Ylva.

You have a lovely list OP.

Love Enid and I am so glad you used it, of course you must be getting lots of compliments on it 💓 It's hard to choose since there are so many lovely names out there! 😅

Freja and Elise are very pretty - Amalie is nice - it means hard working/industrious -

I am Norwegian and I have never come across the name Elfrida before. If I heard it, I would assume it was someone 100 years old.

As for Lucia, I associate that of course with Santa Lucia which we do celebrate, but the only Lucia’s I know are Italians.

How close is your heritage? Often on these threads with Scandi names, you can tell the posters don’t understands what the names are really like in
Scandinavia. A bit like a Scandinavian person naming their baby Sharon or Tracy to celebrate their English heritage (sorry to all Sharon’s and Tracy’s).

I like Ida in actual answer to your question.

I'd be wary of Enid as most people would pronounce it the English way although I guess it doesn't matter too much for a middle name.
No other welsh names you like?
Are you religious as you say you care about the meanings and a few relate to God.
I like the name Lucia but wouldn't necessarily associate as Nordic.

My favourite Welsh name is Gwendolyn meaning “fair bow” or “blessed ring.

I'm a bit of a history nerd and film nerd so this might not apply to anyone else on earth (although it was the first suggested autofill on Google), but Ilse reminds me instantly of Ilse Koch the war criminal, and the naziploitation film 'Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS.'

Personally, Elise would be my favourite. Joint second to Ida and Lucia.

Not religious just like those names and their meanings 🤗💕Thank you!!

You have a point there, thanks!😅

Enid, but pronounced the Welsh way as ‘Ennid’ not ‘Eenid’.

Liv

@NorseMum , the Welsh pronunciation is lovely, the anglicized version isn't.
It's my favourite on your list, but not if you don't say it the Welsh way.

Enid - makes me think of Enid Blyton, I don't think it is as pretty as Maud
Ilse - I like, wasn't it in Emily of New Moon too
Freja (Norse Godess of love and beauty) - also goddess of agriculture and fertility. I think people in UK can misspell
Elfrida - maybe
Ida - way too common
Lucia - yes I like
Ylva -love how it is a strong name like Ursula
Elise - a bit bland

These are just my personal opinions. So much depends on the first name.
Other suggestions: Adeline, Isolde, Seren, Sara, Mari, Catrin, Efa/ Eva, Elen / Elin

I love Manon

@FoxglovesAndLupins It's Gwendolen in Welsh and the stress is on the middle syllable.

I like the suggestion of Manon. International vibe but familiar in Wales.

I like Elise, but they are all lovely, apart from Enid, which is unbelievably awful.

I like Enid - but pronounced the Welsh way. I know about 10 people called Freja.

Not a Nordic expert, but I am Welsh, so... (and choosing ones that are easy to pronounce):

Alys: Like the English, meaning noble
Arianwen: Silver/bright
Catrin: Pure
Ffion: Foxglove
Mabli: Loveable
Tirion: Kind/gentle

@AgentPidge , the Eenid (mis)pronunciation isn't great, bit the Welsh pronunciation is not Eenid. It's a very old Welsh name.

It's obvious what I would go for... 😁

How about Elin? Exists in both Swedish and Welsh. Equivalent to Ellen in English.

Lucia is the best name ever!