I’m watching [name_f]Alaska[/name_f]: The Last Frontier, a reality show on [name_u]Discovery[/name_u], and there are some really interesting names on the show! (Eivin, [name_m]Otto[/name_m], [name_u]August[/name_u], Atz, [name_m]Nikos[/name_m], [name_u]Yule[/name_u], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], Stellavera, [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], Gawan, Rema, Wurtila, [name_u]Arlyn[/name_u], just to name a few!)
I’m loving the name Eivin, but can’t seem to really find much information on it (other than the fact that it is Nordic). Anyone know anything about it? The spelling Eivin or Eivan really appeals to me a lot more than the more familiar [name_m]Ivan[/name_m]. What do you think about it?
I personally don’t want to give my child a name that they would constantly have to spell for people, especially when it’s pronounced the same as a name with a more well-known spelling ([name_m]Ivan[/name_m]). If that doesn’t bother you, though, it is an interesting looking name, though I read it as “[name_m]Elvin[/name_m]” at first.
My first thought on seeing it was [name_m]Eyvind[/name_m] (see Meaning, origin and history of the name Øyvind - Behind the Name), but if it’s pronounced like [name_m]Ivan[/name_m], i wouldn’t know. I like the way it looks and sounds, i think it just ends up being a judgment call about using a somewhat unexpectable spelling.
My first thought was Ejvind/[name_m]Eyvind[/name_m] as well. The way I pronounce Eivin (EYE-vin), is how I would pronounce Ejvind/[name_m]Eyvind[/name_m] in English.
Eh, i’m not Scandinavian at all, i was probably just mispronouncing [name_m]Eyvind[/name_m] in my head all this time. I came across it from the male main character in [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] Marillier’s Wolfskin - who happens to be an awesome guy. Eivin being an Anglicized or modernized spelling of that makes a lot of sense. But again, i’m no expert in this particular set of linguistics.
I must be half asleep because I first read the name as “[name_m]Elvin[/name_m]” then “Elfin”. I am tired. lol All I know is that I’d rather see it spelled as [name_m]Ivan[/name_m].
I’m personally not a fan. I think is an argument to be made for adopting difficult to spell/pronounce foreign names if there is a compelling reason (family history, it’s close enough to English to be recognized, etc.), but I’d think really hard about whether or not you have a really good reason to give your child a possibly “difficult” name.