What do you think of the name [name_f]Elva[/name_f]? It’s been really growing on me recently, not surprising since it sounds almost exactly the same as one of my other favourites Ylfa. I think it seems super easy to pronounce (and spell?), and also I know it’s used in other countries as well ([name_f]Ireland[/name_f] and a couple of the Scandinavian countries, although two different etymologies), so maybe more familiar.
It can also be spelt Elfa (pronounced exactly the same) but I can see the ‘elf’ in Elfa being problematic… I suppose it might get annoying to be constantly asked whether you’re [name_f]Elva[/name_f] with a v or an f? The same is true for Ylfa, though (Ylva exists as an alternative spelling, but I prefer the ‘softer’ look of Ylfa).
Basically though, do you think it’s a nice name? Better than Ylfa maybe?
I really love [name_f]Elva[/name_f] (spelled this way) - it’s in my signature. To me it’s right on trend with the [name_f]El[/name_f]- and [name_f]Eve[/name_f] names that are becoming so popular but it’s not as commonly used.
While [name_f]Elva[/name_f] and Elfa should technically be pronounced the same, I’d assume that in most English speaking countries they would be pronounced differently. [name_f]Elva[/name_f] ([name_f]El[/name_f]-VAH) and Elfa (Elf-[name_m]AH[/name_m]). I think it’s going to be easier than Ylfa.
BT-Dubs: I’ve been considering [name_f]Elvira[/name_f] nn [name_f]Elva[/name_f] lately.
I’d go with something like [name_f]Elvira[/name_f] or [name_f]Alvira[/name_f] instead. All I see is elves when I pronounce [name_f]Elva[/name_f] out loud, and when I read it, which turns me off to it.
I like [name_f]Elva[/name_f] a lot. It feels close to [name_f]Ebba[/name_f] and [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], which are two names I love, and [name_u]Averil[/name_u], which is a family name. [name_f]Elva[/name_f] would be much easier to spell and pronounce for most people than Ylfa, and perhaps a bit less tease-worthy than Elfa (though, I do think name teasing is morphing into something totally different than it was when I was a child, since so many children have names that are either off the beaten path, or spelled in a kreeaytyvv way, it’s kind of hard to single out the one with the ‘different’ name).
All I see is Elves ([name_f]Elva[/name_f]) and Elf (Elfa). [name_f]Elva[/name_f]/Elfa is way easier to spell/pronounce than Ylfa/Ylva. I really love the suggestion of [name_f]Elvira[/name_f] nn [name_f]Elva[/name_f].
Thanks very much for the feedback, everyone! It’s totally going on my formative list.
I don’t like [name_f]Elvira[/name_f] very much, unfortunately. It weirdly reminds me of virus, and also it’s not an Icelandic or English name so I think it would be an odd choice on an Icelandic-English kid.
P.S. It reminds me of rivers as well I guess there’s a similar word in Danish to the Icelandic elfa / elfur?
[name_f]Elva[/name_f] is my grandmother’s proper first name but she’s always gone by her middle ([name_f]Lorraine[/name_f]). I think there’s better old lady names but that’s just me. [name_f]Elva[/name_f] always makes me think of [name_m]Elvis[/name_m] a bit but it’s way better than [name_u]Presley[/name_u] at least.