First, some background. I’m an American but I live in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u] and have a Swedish partner and we plan on staying in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u] for the duration of child-raising. However, we will of course visit the US often to see family and friends. I want names that can be said in both languages without too much trouble or sounding awful. I have a pretty big list of girl names I love, but the boy list is quite short. Any suggestions for other boy names is GREATLY appreciated, and if any girl names strike you as fitting in with my current faves, I’d love to hear those, too!
Now to give as much info as possible for reasonings in order to help with suggestions!
I like the SOUND of all these names, but there’s added bonuses to each. [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is a family name, and I tend to love -a names. [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] would honor my beloved granddad. [name_f]Klara[/name_f] is because of my love for [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] and it’s the name of the main character from The Nutcracker. If I had [name_f]Clara[/name_f] tomorrow I’d name her [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Frostine[/name_f] Vinterljus Swedish surname. Vinterljus means winter light in Swedish, and you say it like veenteryoos. [name_f]Edda[/name_f] and [name_f]Thora[/name_f] are both because of their traditional Scandinavian roots and also I have a degree in Scandinavian studies!
As for the boys, [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] was the only name on my boy list for a very, very long time. [name_f]Adore[/name_f] it. Recently I heard [name_m]Ingram[/name_m] and it really struck me hard as a great name for a boy. It also means Ing/[name_m]Frey[/name_m]'s raven, which I love. Eskil I also really like but not sure if it fits my rule of being able to be said in both languages without making a weird face. It means vessel of the (Norse) gods though, and that’s a huge plus.
Ok everyone, thanks so much in advance! Can’t wait to hear the names!
For girls what about: [name_f]Elisa[/name_f], [name_f]Hanna[/name_f], [name_f]Greta[/name_f], or [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]. For boys what about: [name_m]Felix[/name_m], [name_m]Colin[/name_m], or [name_u]Ellis[/name_u]?
[name_m]Felix[/name_m] is extremely common here, and not bad, but doesn’t really grab me. [name_f]Hanna[/name_f] is also pretty common. [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] isn’t terribly my style, but [name_f]Greta[/name_f] and [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] would certainly sound nice in both languages. [name_m]Colin[/name_m] and [name_u]Ellis[/name_u] would sound very very weird being said by a Swedish speaker, unfortunately. Thanks for your suggestions!
Hej Hej I’m a swede leaving in [name_u]London[/name_u]. I like the names on you’re list but feel that they would seem way cooler in the States than in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u]. My favourites are by far [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] and Eskil and I think that they would work well in both languages.
My suggestions of a Swedish name that works well in both countries:
[name_f]Ebba[/name_f] - Prefer this to [name_f]Edda[/name_f]. Feels a little bit more classic Swedish to me.
[name_f]Lovisa[/name_f]- Swedish variation of [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_u]Alva[/name_u]
[name_f]Asta[/name_f]
[name_f]Elvira[/name_f]
[name_f]Freja[/name_f]
[name_f]Saga[/name_f]
[name_f]Juni[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
Embla
[name_f]Liv[/name_f]
Willhelm- I also like the spelling [name_m]Willem[/name_m]
[name_m]Alfred[/name_m]- Same feel as [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] but a lot more popular in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u] atm
[name_m]Arvid[/name_m]
[name_m]Frey[/name_m]
[name_m]Leif[/name_m]
[name_m]Folke[/name_m]
[name_m]Oden[/name_m]
[name_m]Viggo[/name_m]
[name_m]Edvin[/name_m]
[name_m]Alvin[/name_m]
Oh and sorry forgot to mention; I would use the more well known Swedish name [name_m]Ingmar[/name_m] instead of [name_m]Ingram[/name_m]. [name_m]Ingmar[/name_m] is also the name of a super famous and ‘‘loved by all’’ Swedish skier
My favourites from your list, taking into account names that can be said just fine in both languages, are [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] (love!!!), [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and [name_m]Magnus[/name_m].
Suggestions:
[name_f]Maja[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_f]Freja[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Elina[/name_f]
[name_f]Signe[/name_f]
[name_f]Liv[/name_f]
[name_f]Sofia[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Majken[/name_f] (I do love this, while it’s most likely going to be hard for Americans to pronounce on the first try, it would only take one explanation)
[name_f]Elinor[/name_f]
I know five million Ebbas, and while I do think it’s a nice name that should totally catch on in the US as an alternative to [name_f]Emma[/name_f], it’s not for me. I prefer [name_f]Edda[/name_f] Same for [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], I prefer it to the classic Swedish [name_f]Lovisa[/name_f]. Out of the rest of the girl names you suggested, the one I like best is [name_f]Freja[/name_f]. I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not that should be on my list, and I think I’ll stick it there from now on. Embla is so lovely, but I worry that English speakers would bumble around it too much, and [name_f]Liv[/name_f] would be ok I suppose if it was said like the nickname for [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] in English. I’ll have to consider that one for a while.
As for the boy names you suggested, [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] is far too popular and plain for me. The rest of the names are unfortunately not my style or wouldn’t work for English speakers. And I’m so surprised you think Eskil would work for English speakers! I’ve tried it out with a few friends and they think it’s super weird.
Thank you so much for all your suggestions, I really appreciate it!
You know I had never heard [name_f]Elina[/name_f] in all my years living here, and then today I’ve seen it about three separate times! Funny how that works!
[name_f]Majken[/name_f] does seem cool, especially since my father’s name is [name_u]Michael[/name_u] and that could be considered an honor name…
I like [name_m]Ingram[/name_m], [name_m]Magnus[/name_m], [name_f]Klara[/name_f], [name_f]Thora[/name_f], [name_f]Edda[/name_f], and [name_f]Freja[/name_f]. As an American, I would pronounce Eskil “ESS-kill,” not sure if that is how you would like it.
For a boy what about [name_m]Aalto[/name_m]? It’s pronounced just like [name_u]Alto[/name_u] the musical term so it shouldn’t be too hard for your family. [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] maybe too? Or Matteo.
I love [name_f]Clara[/name_f] and the full name you came up with, [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Frostine[/name_f] Vinterljus, I think it’s lovely. I also really like the suggestion of [name_f]Greta[/name_f]. As for the boys, I also think [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] is super cute and agree with the previous poster that I prefer [name_m]Ingmar[/name_m] to [name_m]Ingram[/name_m], though I like both!
I am not Swedish and I live in [name_u]America[/name_u], but I spent some time in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u] in college and have many Swedish friends and relatives. We named our son [name_m]Arvid[/name_m]. It is extremely old fashioned, but there are many people of Scandinavian descent so it is not unheard of where we live. Is it considered old fashioned in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u] currently or is it making a comeback? We love the name [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] and plan on naming a third son [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] (if we have a third!).
Oooh I quite like [name_m]Rasmus[/name_m] and [name_f]Marit[/name_f]! I wonder how they’d go over with the English-speaking side? One thing I’m afraid of is that if my side of the family can’t pronounce it, they’ll give some terrible nickname that I have no control over.
And you got it pretty darn close for Eskil, which is making me think it’s not so bad after all for the English speakers.
I also REALLY like [name_m]Thorin[/name_m], but is it too LOTR? Hmmm…Is that even a bad thing?
It’s not unheard of, but also I think Swedish culture has a much smaller name pool. You will find a five year old [name_f]Pernilla[/name_f], a 30 year old [name_f]Pernilla[/name_f], an 85 year old [name_f]Pernilla[/name_f] and it all works. Same for the boys, there’s a [name_m]Gunnar[/name_m] of every age. It’s harder for names to sound old fashioned here. No one would blink at a baby or teen or young professional [name_m]Arvid[/name_m] here.
I’m a swede leaving in [name_u]London[/name_u]. I like the names on you’re list but feel that they would seem way cooler in the States than in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u]. My favourites are by far [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] and Eskil and I think that they would work well in both languages.
Same for [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], I prefer it to the classic Swedish [name_f]Lovisa[/name_f]. Out of the rest of the girl names you suggested, the one I like best is [name_f]Freja[/name_f]. I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not that should be on my list, and I think I’ll stick it there from now on. Embla is so lovely, but I worry that English speakers would bumble around it too much, and [name_f]Liv[/name_f] would be ok I suppose if it was said like the nickname for [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] in English. I’ll have to consider that one for a while.