Sif [sif] is the peaceful Norse goddess of the harvest, a prophetess, and symbol of summer and fidelity. It’s a name most commonly used in Denmark and Iceland.
What do you think of Sif? What middle name(s) would you suggest?
Thanks!
It’s a cute name. I’m Swedish and we would spell it Siv, swedish pronunciation is Seev. I guess it would be pronounced similar to [name_f]Liv[/name_f] in english speaking countries?
1 Like
I prefer Gersemi to Sif or Siv. And [name_f]Freya[/name_f]. Siv/Sif is too short for me. But it’s OK name, although it may seem like invented to most people. Maybe you would like [name_f]Ellisif[/name_f] nn Sif? It’s Nordic version of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].
1 Like
With the Icelandic pronunciation I don’t think it works at all, because it is pronounced the same as sieve and it just sounds a little silly for English speakers.
With the Danish pronunciation it is pronounced like the cleaning product Cif, so I don’t like that either. Maybe you don’t have that brand where you live, though!
I think it’s fine in its native contexts (usually a middle name in Iceland), but I don’t think it transfers very well to an English-speaking context to be honest.
1 Like
I agree with jackal. It’s a nice middle name option, but I don’t think it works in English-speaking countries.
1 Like
@kjh446: Siv would most likely be pronounced like [name_f]Liv[/name_f] in an English speaking country. I do like it as well, but I prefer Sif.
@sorceress: It is short, but I’m liking that at the moment. I actually do like [name_f]Ellisif[/name_f]. Thanks!
@jackal: I don’t mind the Sif/Siv and ‘sieve’ similarities. I mean if [name_m]Steve[/name_m] can work, why not? Were I to ever actually use the name I would go with the Danish pronunciation—it seems the most intuitive to American English speakers. We don’t have the Cif brand here but it’s good to be aware of it.
@southern.maple: You’re right, the reaction to Sif might be more positive if it were a middle name.
I really don’t think [name_m]Steve[/name_m] is comparable, because it is not a kitchen utensil. That is the point I was trying to make, that to the ear it sounds as stupid as naming a baby Spoon or Spatula. I have some experience with Nordic names (Icelandic specifically) and English speakers, so I personally have quite rigorous standards for names I consider ‘transferable’, haha!
1 Like
@jackal: Good point. It would be kind of ridiculous pronounced “sieve”. Luckily it’s mostly a GP. I love the honesty, thanks!
As a monolingual English speaker I would not know how to pronounce Sif correctly. I would say it so it rhymes with gif, rather than leave.
1 Like