What is your opinion on Edelweiss as a name? I can’t really see it as a first name, but think it has potential as an offbeat floral, unexpected middle. Thoughts?
There’s a popular cafe near me named Edelweiss so it’s off-limits for me personally.
I also considered this is a mn for a while… I was eventually talked out of it, but now I can’t remember all of the really good reasons people gave me for not using it. Perhaps I’ll remember soon and get back to you.
Only if you strongly identify with your own german heritage. Or your love for the Sound of [name]Music[/name]. 
I think everyone starts singing that song in their head the second they see the word.
“…evvvvery morning you greeeet meeee…”
i remember singing this at school around christmas time and i thought it was the most beautiful word ever invented! in my head i wanted to name a litte baby girl Edelweiss! Now i’m older i can see its not such a practical choice… the spelling particularly. But i love it, and i think the middle name spot is a great place for putting it in! paired with the right middle name i’ll think you could find yourself something really astonishing! I can see its probably not for everyone but the song is so sweet and i love how the word sounds…
It’s a beautiful word, and a pretty flower with a lot of great symbolism, but I don’t think it works as a name. [name]Even[/name] as a middle name, it’s over the top. But if you’re naming a boat, a car, or a house, by all means, go for it. [name]Just[/name] not a child.
I think it’s pretty, but like others said a bit over the top for a first name. I love it as a middle or you could name her [name]Edel[/name] or some other shortened version of the flower.
I’ve never thought about using Edelweiss as a name before – what a beautiful idea! It has a very pretty sound and flower and musical connections which are all great in my book. I guess the only thing is that it could look clunky in a combo because of the spelling. But then again, people use the name [name]Wilhelmina[/name] because they love the sound and can get over the clunky spelling. So yeah, I think it is a nice idea. 
1 Like
Once I think about it for a second, it’s a lot less over-the-top than it seemed at first…only three syllables really and sweet nickname options ([name]Edie[/name] bringing it a bit back to reality). Yeah the song could get old, but it’s a pretty positive association (unless you had a traumatic experience with the sound of music).
I’m not brave enough to use it, but I think it would be darling in the middle spot and maybe maybe I could see it as a first name for a more daring namer.
Edelweiss…[name]Love[/name] the sound, love the color, love the song soooo much! I think it would be a wonderful name, and a nn would be Weezi. I love it!!!
1 Like
-
Nothing says ‘cool’ to a pack of middle schoolers like the Sound of [name]Music[/name]
-
it ends in VICE
I certainly expected the reviews to be mixed on this name. [name]Even[/name] though it is a bit “out there”, I think if using it for the right reasons ([name]German[/name] heritage, love of the mountains, musical background, etc.) and paired with a more classic name it could work. Thanks for all the input so far!
I love it as a mn!
I mean really, is Edelweiss anymore over-the-top than [name]Magnolia[/name] or [name]Clementine[/name]?
I [name]LOVE[/name] it myself - I grew up adoring The Sound Of [name]Music[/name], I [name]LOVE[/name] the song and its such a beautiful sounding word! I agree it might have too much teasing potential as a fn, but I have seen FAR more outlandish and [name]OTT[/name] middle name suggestions in this forum - I would def use it in the mn spot.
I am a complete nerd for the Sound of [name]Music[/name] and I love the song Edelweiss, but I can’t get behind it as a first name. The “vice” part of it doesn’t sound that great to me.
Can I just point out that Austrian, not [name]German[/name], would be the relevant heritage here?
Also, there are plenty of actual [name]German[/name] names you could use.
I don’t really think there’s any huge harm in this as a middle name with a much more grounded first name. But I would not go bold at all with the first name with this as the middle. [name]Sarah[/name] Edelweiss, [name]Claire[/name] Edelweiss, etc.
[name]Adelheid[/name] is the [name]German[/name] form of [name]Adelaide[/name] from the same root as [name]Edel[/name], “noble”. (Also where we get [name]Alice[/name], and [name]Heidi[/name]).
The flower literally means “noble white”, which to me is also kind of loaded and strange.
Anyway I like [name]Adelheid[/name] far more as a bold middle, but again with the middle I have to be open minded. Use it if you love no other more but please consider some other possibilities.
I should clarify that by [name]German[/name] heritage, I didn’t mean just Germany, but the [name]German[/name] speaking countries which would include [name]Austria[/name], Germany, and Switzerland (also Liechtenstein). But actually the Edelweiss flower is protected in many countries around the world, from Eastern Europe to Mongolia to Iran and [name]India[/name] (according to wikipedia). So, I suppose it wouldn’t have to be a [name]German[/name] heritage choice, I only thought that initially because the actual word “Edelweiss” has [name]German[/name] etymology.
[name]Adelheid[/name] is another great name, also love [name]Alice[/name], thanks for the suggestions! There are plenty of other [name]German[/name] names like you said, but I honestly don’t think there are that many pretty sounding [name]German[/name] names. Most are heavy, like [name]Gertrude[/name], [name]Hedwig[/name], [name]Bertha[/name] (my Great-Grandmother’s name), which is why I’m not surprised that most people in [name]German[/name]-speaking countries actually use more universal names like [name]Marie[/name], [name]Felix[/name], [name]Lena[/name], [name]Lucas[/name], [name]Sophia[/name], etc. (also that [name]German[/name] names fell out of favor post WWII). Thanks again for your post and your thoughts!
I didn’t want to like this name (even as a middle) but I must admit it IS very pretty and romantic. If you love, it, go for it. Especially if you enjoy the song.
[name]Just[/name] curious: would you be pronouncing it with the ‘weiss’ or the ‘vice’ sound?
I would pronounce it like the song, “A-del-vice”. But you could pronounce it with the “weiss” sound if that strikes you to be prettier. 
There was actually a pediatrician who used to work at the office we go to with this as a first name! I was very suprised to see it used, especially in a professional setting (as if she had any say in what name her parents gave to her of course ) . So I like it, not that I would choose it for my children, but, it was cool to see it used irl.