Jen writes:
We are having our first baby, a girl, and can’t seem to come up with the perfect name. (due date May 5)
With our last name being so popular, we are keen to have something a little interesting, without being too crazy.
I am half Swedish and have seriously considered a Scandinavian name. I have always loved Annika but my cousin’s wife has that name. Damn! :)
We also quite like Astrid and Annelie in the Scandinavian theme.
Other than that we have recently become fond of Ivy but are not sure if Ivy Smith is too short of a name.
The middle name will be Michelle, after my mother.
My husband is fond of Mia, Ella, Molly and Maya but none of these seem quite right to me.
Ideally I am wanting something that gives a nod to my Swedish heritage (which my husband is also keen on) or something a little alternate/bohemian without being too out there. I also have a preference for names that lend themselves to a nick-name.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
If you’ve always loved the name Annika, and if your husband likes it too, I don’t think a cousin’s wife’s name would have to rule it out. She’s not a close relative, and she’s in a different generation. Sometimes parents will choose not to re-use a name already in use (either to avoid confusion or because they know it will bug someone else), but names are multi-use items and the existence of another holder of the name doesn’t automatically take it off the options list. The name Annika meets all your requirements: it’s a little unusual, it’s great with your surname and with Michelle, it has nicknames, it’s the nod to your heritage you’re looking for. If you will allow me this moment of bossiness, I think you ought to consider using it. If it feels awk to say, “Um, but it’s not like we’re naming her after YOU” to your cousin’s wife, you could instead make a point of saying, “Oh, I’ve always loved the name! I think I was 12 [or whatever] when I first heard it, and it’s been on my list ever since!” Subtext: “Um, but it’s not like we’re naming her after YOU.”
If, however, your husband doesn’t like it, I think Ivy Michelle Smith is a great name. It doesn’t have natural nicknames and it lacks the heritage you were hoping for, but it’s great with your surname and it’s unusual.
I had a little trouble making the list of Swedish names I wanted to make. I used the Nordic section of The Baby Name Wizard, and also poked around a little on various baby name sites—but name origins are so iffy. One site says a name is Swedish, another says it’s German, another says it’s Greek. Any site might list a name’s variation/spelling as being from the original name’s country—even if that country has never used that variation/spelling. When we did a post about Scandinavian boy names, commenter Ashley mentioned this site, and I looked there too. So here are some possibilities that MIGHT BE Swedish, or might just be popular in Sweden without being Swedish in origin, or might be respellings of Swedish names, or might be mistakes!
Evelina Michelle Smith
Fredrika Michelle Smith
Jannika Michelle Smith
Liana Michelle Smith
Lina Michelle Smith
Linnea Michelle Smith
Malin Michelle Smith
Maren Michelle Smith
Marika Michelle Smith
Quinby Michelle Smith
Selina Michelle Smith
Stella Michelle Smith
Thora Michelle Smith
Viveka Michelle Smith
I really like Evelina. It’s a beautiful name with lots of nickname possibilities. I also love Malin and Maren. Well, and Liana and Linnea. Well, and most of the list, really.
And now for a list of name possibilities that I intended to be non-Swedish, but it’s VERY POSSIBLE I will have slipped up.
Bethan Michelle Smith
Bianca Michelle Smith
Bronwyn Michelle Smith
Cordelia Michelle Smith
Elodie Michelle Smith
Emerin Michelle Smith
Felicity Michelle Smith
Imogen Michelle Smith
Lorelei Michelle Smith
Mirren Michelle Smith
Sabrina Michelle Smith
Verity Michelle Smith
Willa Michelle Smith
(Phoebe and Petra and Philippa would have made the lists if they didn’t make the initials PMS.)
Out of Swistle’s list I’m loving Linnea. Linnea Michelle Smith has a wonderful ring to it!
Good luck!
Okay, so this isn’t Swedish to my knowledge, but I saw this name recently and thought it was lovely, but that it would require just the right surname, and it might be yours: Leanore(|Leh-noor|). Could also be spelled Lenore, I guess. It didn’t look strange to me, but it is not on SSN as being in the top 1000 names, in either spelling, EVER. So was this name just made up out of thin air? I can’t believe it.
Leanore Michelle Smith.
Possible nicknames include Lea/Leah or Nore/Nora.
Leanor/Leanore is a diminutive form of Eleanore/Eleanor and very lovely :)
I vote for using Annika!
BTW–Leanore/Lenore makes me think of Edgar Allen Poe (“The Raven”) which is not to say I don’t like the name :)
If you love Annika, go for it, it’s a lovely name. (My cousin’s wife would not rule out any name I loved, but that’s just me.) I also love Astrid.
I had Mina on my list, but I just got a brand new niece named Mia, so it’s probably out. I LOVE Mina. Or how about Annette, Beatrix, or Mathilda (nn Tilda, so sweet!)?
Oh! Another nickname for Mathilda is Molly from your husbands list :)
I love Annika! It’s on my short list. Wondering though…do you all pronounce it ANN-ika or AHN-ika?
I love love love Astrid. People tend to be sharply divided on whether it’s “ugly” or not, but I think it’s a beautiful, strong, international-but-accessible-to-American-ears name. And I’ve met a hip, urban little girl with the name, which says to me that it’s not going to be a too-far-out choice (while still remaining very distinctive… I don’t imagine it will ever become hugely popular). And I love Astrid Lindgren. So that’s my vote. Annika is a great name as well, and I agree with Swistle that you should re-think whether the cousin’s wife’s name is really a problem.
Ingrid or Greta (could be Margaret nn Greta) are my thoughts
I love Astrid, too. It’s strong and distinctive and pretty, all at once. I also know a 5-year-old Astrid, and she’s she’s a sweet, funny, smart little charmer.
I love Annika, so if you love it, go for it, a cousin’s wife wouldn’t stop me. That said, my favorite Swedish girl name right now is Saskia. How pretty! and with lots of nickname potential. The only reason I pause with it here is Saskia (or Sassy) Smith is kind of a lot of S’s. But S’s are one of those letters where alliteration really works (and I rememebr growing up with tons of Sarah Smiths and Stephanie Stevens, etc.) so I wanted to throw Saskia in the mix too. Good luck!
I love Annika but here in MN, the land of Swedes, it’s actually pretty common. There are two Annika’s living across the street from each other down our block.
My favorite Swedish name is Kajsa, although the j would probably throw people. The Finnish spelling is Kaisa, which would be easier for people. I went to Swedish camp for 5 summers and always loved the names.
@Sabrina — My middle name is Lenore. I was born in 1972 and my mom named me after her great aunt. I’ve never checked, but I assumed that meant Lenore was a more common name in the late 1800s.
I lived in Denmark for a few years and Linnea is a popular name there. I really like it! I can think of many other names, none of which would be pronounced correctly by North Americans (e.g. Rikke, Dorthe, Birgitte, Ditte, Lone, Mette, Helle, )
There’s a few that people would get right:
Pia
Fia
Katrina
Lisbeth
Maja
I like Astrid better than Annika anyway so I’d vote for that one. Ivy is cute, too and I don’t think it’s too short. Ivy Michelle Smith– it works. From your husband’s list I like Mia best. I know a girl, almost 8, named Gwendolyn Smith. That might work for you.
For some reason I love Jannika for you. And Lina. I also have a coworker named Marejka (Mare-A-ka) which suits her really well, and never seems “out-there.”
Karina.
No idea if it’s sweedish, but it sounds foreign and not common, yet pretty.
i like Annika or Anastasia
Anastasia Smith
Anastasia Michelle Smith
Nicknames: Annie, Ana, Tasha, Stasia, Stacy
I vote Marejka! Although I think Annika is still usable for you, so if you love it, go for it!
I vote for Astrid.
Like a previous commenter, I am also in MN and I agree that Annika is pretty common here- Linnea is fairly popular as well.
Other suggestions:
Anella
Anja (an-cha)
Kajsa (kye-ya)
Malena
Marina
Kiersten (also popular here)
Rika
Sanna
Sonja
I also like Meta (kind of like Greta, but different, tho also from Margaret) but perhaps not with your last name.
My husband is from Sweden and we have talked about a couple Swedish names.. I think Annika is really pretty, but here’s some more ideas:
Birgitta
Freja
Gunilla
Karin
Kerstin
Margareta
Meta
Monika
Signe
Svea
and just for fun… Pippi!
I just thought of one more suggestion. Each day of the calendar in Sweden is assigned a name for Name Day celebrations.
You might check out the Swedish Name Day list for inspiration…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_days_in_Sweden
What about the name Anya? I think it is similar enough to Annika, without being the same name and still unique and I love it with your middle name!
So many MN people! I live in the Twin Cities as well and I only know one Annika – so while it might not be out there, its still definitely unique. Use it!
This may be too obvious but what about Erica/Erika?
Astrid and Annika get my vote. I think you could do Annika nn Anya to help you deal with having 2 Annikas in the family.
Also love Freja (I think in UK it’s often spelled Freya – very popular name there).
I’m a little late here. My 5 week old keeps my up most nights.
I was never sure how I felt about Astrid because I was never sure how it was pronounced.
Is it Ah-stride or Ass-trid?
The potential “Ass” at the beginning has made me feel aprehensive towards the name.
Jen here – I have just had the chance to log on and see all of your wonderful suggestions.
Hmmm has given me much to think about!
Annika is definitely out as eventhough my cousin’s wife may seem a distant connection, our families are very close and I want our baby to have her own identity in the family.
It’s wonderful to see all the positive reactions to Astrid – helps to clear up some doubts.
Thank you so much and I will keep you all updated on our decision.