We’re still struggling HARD with a boy’s name. I suppose this is our list:
[name_m]Tyr[/name_m] (weirdly, it’s the only one we’re getting great feedback on)
[name_m]Bjorn[/name_m] (we love it, but no one else does)
Wulfric (again - tons of negative feedback on this name)
Yngve (pronounced Ingvay. We haven’t really test-driven it because I’m worried it’s just too hard to pronounce)
We’d prefer something [name_m]Odin[/name_m]-inspired, but not “[name_m]Odin[/name_m]” directly. This can include names that mean “bear” or “wolf.”
Ultimately, we’re trying for something that’s unique, somewhat pronounceable, and distinctly Scandi. One of my friends recently named her son “Haakan,” which I completely love.
I’d like to avoid anything too obvious, including “[name_m]Sven[/name_m],” “[name_m]Lars[/name_m],” [name_m]Leif[/name_m]," or “[name_m]Erik[/name_m].”
I love Scandi names but don’t know all that many, so I’m keen to see what others suggest!
I really like [name_m]Tyr[/name_m] and Wulfric “[name_m]Wolf[/name_m]” from your list (as well as [name_m]Lars[/name_m], [name_m]Leif[/name_m] and [name_m]Erik[/name_m] from the “too obvious” list). [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m] doesn’t have a very nice sound [name_f]IMO[/name_f] and makes me think of [name_m]ABBA[/name_m], and while I really like the sound of Yngve, it does just look like your cat wandered across the keyboard - sorry!
I love [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m]. Its on our list as a possible middle name. Wulfric “[name_m]Wolf[/name_m]” is cool as well.
Other possibilities include:
[name_m]Arvid[/name_m]: [name_u]Eagle[/name_u] tree
[name_u]Bo[/name_u]: to live
[name_m]Einar[/name_m]: One warrior (though I believe this name sounds a bit dated in country if I understood right)
Geir: Spear
[name_m]Hagen[/name_m]: high son (variation of Haakan)
[name_m]Haldor[/name_m]: [name_m]Thor[/name_m]'s rock
Ingvar: from Ygnve combined with ‘aar’ meaning warrior.
[name_m]Magnus[/name_m]: great
Orvar: [name_m]Arrow[/name_m]
[name_m]Viggo[/name_m]: War
I like [name_m]Tyr[/name_m] from your list. I think you might get pronunciation issues with Yngve and [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m], but I’m only guessing here. Have you considered [name_m]Ulv[/name_m] or Ulvar? It means wolf in Norwegian/Swedish, but it’s not very common here. [name_m]Ulf[/name_m] is perhaps an easier option. If you like Yngve, what about Yngvar/Ingvar or Ingvald (ing-wahl)? I’m really bad at writing down pronunciations, so I recommend you to check forvo to make sure you get the right pronunciation.
Some other suggestions:
Brage (brah-guh) – After the Norse god who was the son of [name_m]Odin[/name_m].
[name_m]Sigurd[/name_m] (SEE-guhr) – As in “[name_m]Sigurd[/name_m] the Dragon slayer”. Another option might be Sigve, which is more similar to Yngve. Very old, traditional name. [name_m]Sigmund[/name_m] is another alternative.
[name_m]Olaf[/name_m]
Ravn/Rafn – Means ‘raven’
Amund
[name_m]Birk[/name_m] – As in the [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] Lindgren story ‘[name_f]Ronia[/name_f] the Robber’s daughter’.
[name_m]Arne[/name_m] (are-nuh) – Means ‘eagle’ (as does Arn). It’s a bit dated here.
[name_m]Rune[/name_m] - Quite dated here, but might sound fresh in the US?
Seconding Lyr {maybe Leir?}, [name_m]Magnus[/name_m], [name_m]Viggo[/name_m], and [name_m]Ragnar[/name_m]. Would like to add:
Søren
[name_m]Gunnar[/name_m]
Othi or [name_m]Otto[/name_m]
Ølve
[name_m]Stian[/name_m]
[name_m]Trygg[/name_m] or Tryggve
Osten
[name_m]Audun[/name_m]
Sverre or Sverrir
I knew a [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m], though he spelled it Beorn, and it worked great for him. For a nickname lots of buddies just called him B. I always really liked it.
Thought I’d throw that out there in case you like the name but are begin swayed by negative feedback.
I also knew a [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m] growing up. The named worked for him, but I don’t think any of us could pronounce it as his Swedish dad could (who always told us we never got it quite right.) Most everyone called him b-yorn (with very clear two syllables) and I think it was supposed to be closer to Byurn (more like one one syllable).
Unfortunately, his friends jokingly called him “BJ”, which is a strike against the name for me.
I think we actually have reached a decision! I believe we’re going with [name_m]Magnus[/name_m]. Its not quite as unusual as some other things I love, but it feels like a fit.
It has some nice symmetry with our last name – G0rdon – without being too matchy. A lot of names I love, like [name_f]Saga[/name_f], just don’t flow well with our last name.
Plus, my husband is from the deep, rural south and it’s one that his family should find easy to pronounce
