Recently I posted a thread on nameberry on female hygge name perceptions.
Hygge is, as many know, a Danish concept of the importance of a simple, cozy, outdoor and home-based life. Candles, storms, home-cooked meals shared with loved ones, furry animals, good books, TV mysteries, flower gardens, plump cushions, pleasantness… all are part of the aesthetic and belief.
It has its limits (one can’t live the life of an active, mentally alert citizen with nothing but coziness), but it has its appeals nonetheless.
Wondering now which male (or male-tending) names seem hygge to berries?
The female names folks have contributed have tended to be simple, not especially lengthy names, often although not always nature-themed. A number of Scandinavian names too. Low-drama, pleasant names, probably not persnickety like [name_m]Winthrop[/name_m] or dangerous like [name_m]Wrecker[/name_m] or melodramatic like [name_m]Tiberius[/name_m] or braggy like [name_m]Bravery[/name_m].
What pops into my mind is [name_m]Timothy[/name_m], good sweet [name_m]Timothy[/name_m].
I missed your girls thread on this! I’ll have to go searching. Such a fun concept!
[name_m]Hugh[/name_m]–Super simple, melodic, like a sigh as you drop into the cozy couch.
[name_m]Adam[/name_m]–Besides [name_m]Hugh[/name_m], it’s hard to go more simple than [name_m]Adam[/name_m]. And the ‘ah’ and ‘m’ are cozy sounds.
[name_m]Otto[/name_m]–Part of hygge is the intention and asthetic. [name_m]Otto[/name_m] is visually and orally pleasing name, spells the same forward and back. This one seems a perfect fit.
[name_m]Graham[/name_m]–Again with those ‘ah’ and ‘m’ sounds.
[name_m]Reuben[/name_m]–I can’t say why, it just seems cozy. [name_f]Pleasant[/name_f] flow to the name? No harsh consonants?
My first thought was [name_m]Haden[/name_m]. Not sure why! Maybe the clean cut look (this spelling only!) and simple sounds.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_m]Hadrian[/name_m] or [name_m]Adrian[/name_m]. Very straightforward names, handsome and long, but easy.
[name_u]Kit[/name_u]- short, simple, handsome and cute. Has a subtle nature connection, well also being vintage and cozy
Maybe [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]? Such a pleasant sounding name. It can be solid or soft. Very versatile. And definitely gives me that cozy, fireside feel.
[name_u]Robin[/name_u] or [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] was my other thought. [name_u]Robin[/name_u] is also well recognized, a much loved common bird. And [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] is a good old classic and again very straight forward. Although I guess the book character has drama surrounding him ([name_m]Robinson[/name_m] [name_m]Crusoe[/name_m]), the name [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] sounds late back and homey to me.
[name_m]Haden[/name_m] really fits. I’d been spelling it [name_u]Hayden[/name_u], but your spelling is certainly more clear cut. When I posted the -den name thread, I was unconsciously thinking of hygge. No room seems cozier than a den, whether my husband’s and my separate dens or a wild animal’s den. [name_u]Kit[/name_u], with its fox-aspect, fits into the cozy nature themes.
And [name_u]Robin[/name_u] and [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] are great choices. [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] [name_m]Crusoe[/name_m] had some drama in his life, but his first name doesn’t; it sounds soft, strong, substantial, and quiet.
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u]
PS I keep adding hygge names that sound safe to me: [name_m]Cove[/name_m], [name_u]Harbor[/name_u], [name_u]Haven[/name_u], [name_m]Anchor[/name_m], as well as [name_u]Galen[/name_u], which has the bonus of including a storm word,gale.
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I wonder if it is harder to find male hygge names than female because we place more value in hygge qualities (domesticity, coziness, quietness, intentionality, softness, simplicity, or whatever) for females?
Most of my favorite male names fall into the soft and strong mode (or let’s face it, the grandfatherly), so hygge works. But the harder, supposedly more “manly” names popular today would not. [name_m]Just[/name_m] wondering…
I actually have more guy names on my list than girl names–from my original suggestions, a few further thoughts, plus a few others I’ve agreed with over your two discussion chains–but I think my criteria might be more stringent than yours. For me the name must be 1) warm (often achieved through ‘ah’, ‘m’, or ‘b’ sounds), 2) contained and simple (i.e. not frilly, usually only one consonant and one vowel per syllable), and bonus points for being 3) structurally or visually appealing (i.e. mirrored like [name_m]Otto[/name_m] and [name_f]Ana[/name_f]).
When I look back at the boy names I have listed, they seem well rounded to me–probably all in your “soft and strong” category. I’m curious about what you mean by “more ‘manly’” names though, since these are all definitely masculine to me. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you mean names like [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_m]Wilder[/name_m], and [name_m]Declan[/name_m]? Names that might evoke more of a campfire or a football field? Or [name_u]Murphy[/name_u], [name_m]Seamus[/name_m], and [name_u]Arlo[/name_u], who seem like crusty old fishermen in a pub (I say this with complete fondness for the names!)? Or [name_m]Hank[/name_m], [name_m]Gordon[/name_m], and [name_m]Walt[/name_m], who are the old guys playing chess in the park? Or is this the top 10 favorites like [name_u]Noah[/name_u], [name_m]Liam[/name_m], and [name_u]Mason[/name_u], who are still the new kids on the block? It’s hard to be masculine when you’re still a toddler.
Your criteria are more stringent than mine and more knowledgeable and I appreciate that! I’ve been going with a little knowledge, a lot of interest, and some gut instincts.
I love the concept of warmth in a name that you mention. That’s a whole other thread (maybe been done) of warm vs. cool names. I do think what I am calling strong and soft names for males could also be called warm names.
I definitely find [name_m]Hugh[/name_m] and [name_u]Galen[/name_u] and [name_m]Otto[/name_m] and these other hygge-type names masculine. I consider a ton of male names masculine. What I was trying to allude to was names like [name_m]Craven[/name_m] or [name_m]Wrecker[/name_m] or [name_m]Ace[/name_m] or [name_m]Brick[/name_m] or [name_u]Steel[/name_u] – the names that seem to be overtly and over the top macho.
Thanks for this post - it helped clarify!
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u]
These names sound like they could fit the description of Hygge to me:
[name_m]Carl[/name_m]
[name_u]August[/name_u]
[name_u]Bo[/name_u]/ [name_u]Beau[/name_u]
[name_m]Viggo[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m]
[name_u]Cedar[/name_u]
[name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
[name_m]Moe[/name_m]
[name_m]Harry[/name_m]
[name_m]Chester[/name_m]
[name_u]Leaf[/name_u]
[name_m]Moses[/name_m]
[name_u]Ellis[/name_u]
[name_m]Aleph[/name_m]
[name_m]Tennyson[/name_m]
[name_m]Art[/name_m]
[name_m]Marcus[/name_m]
