So if we have a boy, Haraldur is on my list (yet to be approved by bf), but one of the strikes against it for me was the nicknaming situation. It’s the sort of name that’s going to get a short version sooner or later, because it’s three syllables and kind of formal-sounding.
I like [name_u]Harri[/name_u], and I’d be happy for English people to basically say [name_m]Harry[/name_m] although I’d say it more like Hah-ri, with a long a (as in car) and a trilled r. What could be an easier name to have in the UK than the most popular boys’ name for the last two years (I think)? And yet he wouldn’t be just another [name_m]Harry[/name_m], he’d be [name_u]Harri[/name_u] short for Haraldur. So far so good.
However, [name_u]Harri[/name_u] would be a ‘minority nickname’ for Haraldur in Iceland. They mostly go by [name_f]Halli[/name_f] (like [name_m]Harold[/name_m] -> [name_m]Hal[/name_m]). I used to hate [name_f]Halli[/name_f], and since I’m not into trying to ‘control’ nicknames, the likelihood of [name_f]Halli[/name_f] happening kind of put me off. But I’ve started to come around, and now I think [name_f]Halli[/name_f] would be actually a pretty cool name. I’m not worried about a “feminine-sounding” name, but do you think that in English [name_f]Halli[/name_f] would be perceived as an out-and-out girls’ name? I’ve only heard of [name_f]Hallie[/name_f] [name_u]Berry[/name_u] with the name (well almost), and of course she’s quite famous, but it’s not a common name either way, right? It’s also pronounced differently, with a long a. But then there’s also [name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] which both sound similar.
What would you think about a male [name_f]Halli[/name_f]?
We don’t really do nicknames in Norway, which I think is sort of sad and sort of awesome at the same time.
Are nicknames common practice in Iceland?
I can’t tell you how well [name_f]Halli[/name_f] would fare in English speaking countries, but I think it would fare better than in Norway. [name_f]Halli[/name_f] is one letter away from the Norwegian word for pimp (hallik). It’s a sort of important letter though…
It reminds me of girls name Helle, a Danish form of [name_f]Helga[/name_f] that has completely eclipsed the original here.
As a rule, I don’t worry about boy names sounding feminine (frilly boys names are my favourite!), unless they sound exactly like a much more common girls name. [name_f]Halli[/name_f] doesn’t, so in my book you’re good to go ^^
@dearest: Yeah, Icelanders are big on nicknames. Not everybody has one, but most people with a longer name do. I know one guy with a four-syllable name who actually doesn’t go by the default nickname, and I think I must know the only Guðmundur in the country who isn’t called Gummi, Mummi, Gvendur, Múndi or something… but in general it’s to be expected. I have no problem with it at all, actually quite like it, even though I find some of them ridiculous - I don’t particularly want a little Sigga or a Frikki or a Begga haha. A lot of Icelanders do move to Norway these days (better wages and all that), but I expect things will have changed in 20 years! We’re certainly not considering it, I think two languages is all my poor brain can handle considering as soon as I started learning Icelandic I promptly forgot all my school [name_m]French[/name_m].
Múndi is awesome!
Gudmund is probably never used in Norway anymore (the statistics only lists names given to 4 babies or more, Gudmund is absent).
I was surprised to find Sveinung and Gjermund on the lists. If Múndi were a possibility, all -mund names would be instantly more likeable in my book
When it comes to names, we Norwegians are a bit too serious… (I think serious is probably one of the most accurate ways to describe Norwegians in general to be honest.)
I agree about Begga and Frikki being unfortunate though!
[name_f]My[/name_f] sister speaks Norwegian, English and Spanish, with more success on the first two than the latter, but her Spanish is still heaps better than my [name_m]German[/name_m]! We all have to learn three languages in school, I wanted [name_m]French[/name_m] but the rest of my class wanted [name_m]German[/name_m] so I had to take [name_m]German[/name_m] as well… I can give directions and read a text with almost correct pronounciation and a vague idea of the meaning but that’s it. I think I could have been really good if only I wanted it. I wanted [name_m]French[/name_m] though. Or Spanish.
Better wages in Norway is true Curiously enough, this little factoid is considered to be to blame for the fact that we only have 5 Starbucks here. The thing they have too many of everywhere else, didn’t exict here until recently. A favourite tourist activity of Norwegians abroad is going to Starbucks, and the ones we do have are always full. So many young ladies line up for their iced caramel lattes and frappuchinos, the door gets clogged. sigh
I would love to visit Iceland though ^^ It always struck me as a place of quiet (sometimes thundering) magic and curious people.
I love Iceland! We went their on our honeymoon. Would love to go back.
As an American, my initial perception of the nickname [name_f]Halli[/name_f] is feminine. But I think it works well! [name_f]My[/name_f] preference is probably [name_u]Harri[/name_u] for a nickname.
We have no Starbucks! So I guess better don’t come here, the holiday will be a disaster I think I remember hearing about how crazy popular the few Norwegian Starbucks were from my friend who sometimes goes to work over there. And he said the beer prices have to be seen to be believed, but I guess when you get paid more you can spend more on beer.
Guðmundur is absurdly popular here. Seems like every other man is named Guðmundur sometimes. I suppose that’s why there are so many short versions. Haraldurs can also be called Haddi, which is sadly another minus unless I come round to that too. Icelanders are nickname geniuses or something.
I like Haraldur. I don’t think the nickname [name_f]Halli[/name_f] (which I quite like actually) would be a problem as it’s probably just the Icelandic people and people familiar with Icelandic culture who will call him that. If he goes abroad to an English speaking country people will probably say [name_m]Harry[/name_m] or use the full name, I think.
I think I remember hearing about how crazy popular the few Norwegian Starbucks were from my friend who sometimes goes to work over there. And he said the beer prices have to be seen to be believed, but I guess when you get paid more you can spend more on beer.