Scottish or Norwegian with an ethereal vibe

My husband and I really like pretty flowery girl names that I would always describe as ethereal. I have said this before but I always think of girls running through a field of wildflowers barefoot in white flowy dresses.

I have very strong ties with my heritage which is half Scottish and half Norwegian and would love to name my daughter a Nordic or Scots name but one with an airy, ethereal feel to it.

I really love [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] (which is my grams’ middle name) and I also love [name_f]Davina[/name_f] (which is my twin’s middle name) but my husband really dislikes it.

So hit me with your best suggestions!

Some ideas:

[name_f]Sunniva[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Kelda[/name_f]
[name_f]Thora[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]

[name_u]Love[/name_u] the image you described :).

[name_f]Ailsa[/name_f]
[name_u]Alva[/name_u]
[name_u]Blair[/name_u]
[name_f]Eir[/name_f]/[name_f]Eira[/name_f]
Embla
[name_f]Glenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Greer[/name_f]
[name_f]Iona[/name_f]
[name_f]Islay[/name_f]/[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Signy[/name_f]
[name_f]Sunniva[/name_f] (I particularly like this one for you!)
[name_f]Thora[/name_f]/[name_u]Tora[/name_u]
[name_f]Tyra[/name_f]
Ylva

I used Behind the Name for reference

[name_f]Ferelith[/name_f] is a very obscure Scottish name that’s always felt very ethereal to me.

Otherwise;
[name_f]Morven[/name_f]
[name_f]Idony[/name_f]/Idunn
[name_f]Sunniva[/name_f]
[name_f]Solveig[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]

The first I thought of was [name_f]Idonea[/name_f], which has both Scottish and Norse roots.

I second [name_f]Ferelith[/name_f] and Ylva. Also:

[name_f]Piala[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Catriona[/name_f]
Kjiersti
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]
Embla
[name_f]Britta[/name_f]
[name_f]Shona[/name_f]

Irsa
[name_f]Eva[/name_f]
[name_f]Tove[/name_f]

[name_f]Mairi[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_f]Elin[/name_f]/[name_f]Eleni[/name_f]
[name_f]Tova[/name_f]
[name_f]Britta[/name_f]

[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] is such a beautiful name. Here are some other ideas ~

[name_u]Ainsley[/name_u]
[name_f]Anja[/name_f]
[name_f]Frida[/name_f]
[name_u]Finley[/name_u]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] or [name_f]Finola[/name_f]

[name_f]Carina[/name_f]
[name_f]Catriona[/name_f]
[name_f]Britta[/name_f]
[name_f]Hanna[/name_f]
[name_f]Johanna[/name_f]

[name_f]Eilidh[/name_f]
[name_f]Inga[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Isobel[/name_f]
[name_f]Iona[/name_f]

[name_f]Kaja[/name_f]
[name_u]Kari[/name_u]
[name_f]Kirsten[/name_f]
[name_f]Kenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Lena[/name_f]

[name_f]Liv[/name_f]
[name_u]Lindsay[/name_u]
[name_f]Elisabet[/name_f] or [name_f]Lisbet[/name_f]
[name_f]Maja[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]

[name_f]Maren[/name_f] or [name_u]Maret[/name_u]
[name_f]Mari[/name_f] or [name_f]Mairi[/name_f]
[name_f]Maura[/name_f] or [name_f]Moira[/name_f]
[name_f]Rebekka[/name_f]
[name_f]Sigrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Nessa[/name_f]

I hope this helps!

There’s a lot of history between Scandinavia and [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] (and the Celtic British isles generally) which is often reflected in the names and etymology. I know a lot more about Celtic names than I do Scandinavian, although I have been to Norway and definitely have an idea of what you’re after I think.

[name_f]Idonea[/name_f] is a great one. [name_f]Idony[/name_f] is the Anglicised version I think.

[name_f]Yseult[/name_f], [name_f]Isolde[/name_f], [name_f]Isold[/name_f], Izold, [name_f]Izola[/name_f], [name_f]Isolt[/name_f] - from Arthurian legend, they have an ancient pan-Northern European feel and usage.

Some of the Hebrides islands were once viking ruled, and they have some great names; [name_u]Skye[/name_u], [name_f]Islay[/name_f], [name_m]Jura[/name_m], [name_f]Iona[/name_f].

[name_f]Aurora[/name_f], since the Northern lights are visible from [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] and Norway and both countries have an ‘‘edge of the world’’ feel that this really embodies for me. I also know a little Norwegian girl with this name, it seems so perfect with your imagery too.

Something from Old Norse like ; [name_u]Dagny[/name_u], Runa, [name_f]Asta[/name_f], [name_f]Inga[/name_f], [name_f]Thora[/name_f] / [name_u]Tora[/name_u] .

Some more river/water/place names from [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] that would be cute middles;
Ness, [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Gala[/name_f], [name_u]Tay[/name_u], Annan, Clova, [name_f]Ailsa[/name_f], [name_f]Afton[/name_f].

And I guess some more magical Gaelic feeling names can’t hurt. My personal favourites;

[name_f]Alba[/name_f], this is the Gaelic word for [name_f]Scotland[/name_f]
[name_f]Ishbel[/name_f], the Gaelic spelling is [name_f]Iseabail[/name_f] and it’s a form of [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] (the Anglo-Scottish variant of [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] I suppose)
[b][name_f]Ealasaid[/name_f] /b is another old Scottish form of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. The prefix Eala also means ‘‘swan’’ in Gaelic.
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f] has Scottish roots supposedly.
[name_f]Euphemia[/name_f] is ultra-heavily Scottish in usage, I adore her.
[name_f]Eimer[/name_f], (ee-mer) Irish but some spellings are used in [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] - again, the two cultures/peoples are very intertwined in terms of geography and history.
[name_f]Finola[/name_f] / [name_f]Fenella[/name_f] are Anglicised versions of [name_f]Fionnuala[/name_f] which is both Irish and Scottish historically. [name_f]Nuala[/name_f] and [name_f]Nell[/name_f] are diminutives that work with your imagery too, I think.
[name_u]Alva[/name_u]
Mhari / Mhairi - I know a few girls with this name, pronounced VHAR-ee
[name_f]Eilidh[/name_f], sweet [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] (pn is AY-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]) is so special to me! It’s quite common where I live and I’ve seen it spelled a few ways, Aillidh, Eilee, Aylie etc.
[name_f]Una[/name_f]
[name_f]Ailis[/name_f] pn ay-lish is a form of [name_f]Alice[/name_f].
Eilean has been on my list recently, I know a little girl with this name, and it’s said AY-lin.
[name_f]Christabel[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f]/[name_u]Jean[/name_u], [name_f]Mora[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], [name_f]Cora[/name_f] and [name_f]Edie[/name_f] are more that are very Scottish in usage.

Some Scottish surnames (and words) to think about maybe;
[name_f]Blyth/name_f, [name_u]Blair/name_u, [name_f]Bonnie[/name_f], [name_u]Finlay[/name_u], [name_f]Greer[/name_f], [name_u]Tierney[/name_u]

Got very carried away with the Scottish names there, they’re pretty special to me! I really hope you find something you love!

I stand behind everything @oliviasarah said, her thoughts are wonderful and the names she suggests are all absolutely gorgeous. Her grasp of the Scottish side of things is unparalleled, I can only add a couple that she overlooked, [name_f]Lileas[/name_f]/[name_f]Lilias[/name_f], Marsaili and [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f], and I wanted to third [name_f]Ferelith[/name_f] as well, which @islandmoon mentioned.

[name_f]Idony[/name_f]/[name_f]Idonea[/name_f] is tossed around, the original Nordic form is Idunn, pronounced almost like [name_u]Eden[/name_u]. The Nordic form of [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] is believed to be Ishild.

Other Norwegian choices, some more ethereal than others:
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Inga[/name_f] / [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_u]Alva[/name_u] / Alvhild / Alvilde
[name_f]Liv[/name_f]
[name_f]Thora[/name_f] / [name_u]Tora[/name_u]
[name_f]Lovisa[/name_f]
Ellisiv (Old Norse form of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f])
[name_f]Signe[/name_f] / [name_f]Signy[/name_f] / [name_f]Sigrid[/name_f]
Soleie / Soleia (Norwegian for [name_f]Buttercup[/name_f])
Vivendel (Norwegian for Honeysuckle, not in use as a name, but works well)
[name_f]Vilja[/name_f]
[name_f]Solveig[/name_f] / Solhild
Ylva / Yrsa
[name_f]Eir[/name_f] / [name_f]Eira[/name_f] / [name_f]Eirin[/name_f] / Eirunn
[name_f]Una[/name_f] (has Nordic roots as well)
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f]
Audrun
[name_f]Dagne[/name_f] / [name_u]Dagny[/name_u]
Disa
Duva
[name_f]Edda[/name_f]
[name_f]Elida[/name_f] / Ellidi
Elfri (or Elfrid, final D is silent)
Eydis
Eyvor
[name_f]Frida[/name_f]
Hillevi
[name_m]Eldrid[/name_m] / Ildrid (both D’s essentially silent)
[name_f]Lilja[/name_f]
[name_f]Mari[/name_f]
[name_f]Nanna[/name_f]
Olava
Selja / [name_f]Silja[/name_f]
Symra (Norwegian for [name_f]Primula[/name_f])
[name_f]Tilde[/name_f] / [name_f]Tilda[/name_f]
Vivil
Vorin

[name_f]Britta[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecilie[/name_f]
[name_u]Dagny[/name_u]
[name_f]Eira[/name_f]
Embla
[name_f]Laila[/name_f]–lie-luh
[name_f]Liv[/name_f]
[name_f]Mari[/name_f]–mah-ree
Runa
[name_f]Sunniva[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Eilidh[/name_f]
[name_f]Kenna[/name_f]
[name_f]Sorcha[/name_f]

[name_f]Dagney[/name_f] is one I loved.

With so many great suggestions already I only have one addition: [name_f]Mairead[/name_f].

[name_f]Tuva[/name_f]
Maiken
Eiril
Vilde
[name_f]Lilja[/name_f]
[name_f]Elin[/name_f]
Ingvild

My first thought based on that description was [name_f]Linnea[/name_f].

Does anyone know what the OP named her baby? Here is a full list of Scottish baby names for those still interested in the subject: Scottish Names | Nameberry

@pam ~

Yes! Her little girl is stunningly named [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] [name_f]Maxine[/name_f] [name_f]Iris[/name_f] :slight_smile:

It’s in the OP’s sig, and you can also see her announcement here: Nameberry - Welcome to the Nameberry Forums

Also, thank you for the Scottish list!