Dear Swistle,
We are expecting a baby boy in 4-5 weeks and having real difficulty agreeing on a name for him.Our surname rhymes with Suplurch and we have a two year old daughter named Eva. She is named after my great grandmother. Her middle name is Lake and we love how the two sound together. We are very outdoorsy adventurous sporty people so it felt like a good fit.
We have struggled much more with finding a boy’s name this time around. Ever since we spent time in Iceland a few years ago, I’ve loved the name Thor (in fact, I was considering the feminine version Thora for our daughter, but it was an outright veto from my husband). My husband is somewhat reluctantly considering Thor, but he prefers the very conventional name George. He has suggested calling our son George Thor but I prefer Thor George. While I don’t love the name George, it is a family name, so I could live with it (but am really not sure I could do it as a first name).
I really like less conventional names. And my husband likes more conventional names.
I think he could be convinced to go with Thor but he is worried that in the USA, our son will always feel conflated with superhero movie Thor.
My other top name pick is Tristan, but my husband says he hates the name (a surprise to me, because it’s also the name of one of his closest friends).
Do you think Thor is too difficult a name to use in the USA? And if so, can you suggest any other less than conventional names that we might both agree on? I should add that although we live in the US, we are English, so we want a name that can be pronounced in both countries and that isn’t emphatically American.
Thank you for your help!
Best wishes
Julia Suplurch
I do think Thor would be a challenging name for a child/adult to carry in this society. I think the percentage of people who would think “Oh, yes, the Icelandic name Þór!” would be vastly outweighed by the percentage of people who made the immediate association with the superhero/deity. I think the jokes and references would be endless. I think if the child/adult were the skinny intellectual non-athletic type, he might feel the contrast keenly—and that even a bulky athletic guy would get tired of it. Putting it through the “Would I want this name for myself?” test, for me it fails instantly and dramatically. If it were your husband who was rooting for the name Thor, I would suggest he try the Starbucks test: order a coffee and tell the barista his name is Thor, and see how that feels to say.
With a sister named Eva, I’d be reluctant to suddenly go too unconventional—but on the other hand, it’s not uncommon for parents to have different tastes in boy names than in girl names. Still, my favorite would be to repeat what you did the first time: a more conventional name for the first name, ideally an honor name, and then something unconventional for the middle name.
I think the right unconventional middle name can really perk up a more conventional first name, so if I were you I’d first make a little list of unconventional names you love, and then try out each more-conventional first name by combining it with those. Maybe you’re meh about George, but George Blaze or George Ranger or George Sterling is another story. If I were your husband, I’d get reallllllll flexible on middle names as a bargaining chip to get something more to his tastes as the first name. (And if the two of you end up going less-conventional for the first name, then I’d suggest letting your husband have a lot more say on the middle name.)
I think it might also help to see if you can pin down what KIND of unconventional you’re looking for. Do you want an Icelandic name? Then I’d search some lists of Icelandic names and see if you can find something that would work well here: Arni, Jonas, Oskar, Otto, Stefan, Viktor. Do you actually kind of like the superhero/deity thing? Then I would search lists of god/goddess names and/or superhero/comic names and see if you can find something that would work well here; I’ve seen Odin work on a real-life child. Does it just need to be less common? Then I would go to the Social Security database and call up the Top 1000 names, and start looking at the bottom: Decker, Lyle, Ira, Leif, Alistair, Gibson. I’d also highly recommend the Exotic Traditional section of The Baby Name Wizard: Aidric, Barnaby, Dashiell, Felix, Roman.
I would definitely warn against Thor. The first syllable of my last name is “Thor-,” and I’ve gotten “like the superhero” all my life, but especially since the movie.
I knew a Thor when I was in high school. He was on the scrawnier side, wore glasses, etc, as you describe. It was a surprising name, but it was fine. Now that I think of it, I’ve met another Thor also. It must be a more common name than you might think.
However, this was pre-superhero movie, so there was less of a superhero vibe to it then. I think that probably has changed things.
Oh, I just remembered that I know someone who named her baby Thorin. Something like that might also be an option. Other ideas: Thorsten, Thorvald, Thorfinn. I think a slightly longer name with the nickname Thor might be more wearable. .
There’s a Torsten in my daughter’s third grade class, it wears just fine. For me, Thorin moves the name from Asgard to Middle Earth.
Another compromise could be a name like Arthur, where Thor/Thur is a hidden sound.
Yes, I was going to suggest Theodore and then mom’s special nickname for him (which he could use if he wants as he grows) could be Thor.
Eva and Theodore sound nice together as well!
I think this is an awesome way to compromise. Luther! Or even Luthor if that’s not to close to the Superman villain for your tastes. I think Lothar would even work here too.
I also love Tor that keeps the name you love but all but erases the instant association with the Marvel hero. Thor’s brother Tyr also has a pretty great name that could work well for you.
Maybe you will like Asa, Titus, Mercade, Alaric, Rhydian, Talon, Orion, Teague, Morgan, Leatham, Halsten, Preston, or Falco.
I’m all in favour of going with your gut, but to me Eva and Thor is a jarring sibset. And to be honest, Eva and George is in the other direction, George is so Anglo and Eva is much more international and sophisticated.
I can imagine Eva and Sebastian, Eva and Leo, Eva and Thorsten even. Or Casper/Kasper?
I strongly agree with both of these points!
Eva & Thor seem so conflicting, but Eva & George also don’t give off the right fit.
Eva and Leif
Eva and Erik
I totally love Nordic/Scandi names, and there are so many to consider!
What about Theodore called Thor? Your husband gets his classic name and you get an unconventional nickname as well. Theodore is also classic enough that you could jazz it up with your pick of a cool outdoorsy middle name.
Eva and Theodore
Also if you like an offbeat Nordic name, what about Stellan? It follows a 2 syllable, ending in -an pattern which is very popular (think Mason, Aidan, Nolan, Evan etc) but the name itself is slightly offbeat/uncommon and doesn’t carry the baggage of a tough guy/superhero image.
Eva and Stellan
What about Theodore nicknamed Thor? I think Theodore and Eva work nicely together. Your husband can have classic Theodore, you can have the unconventional nickname of Thor, and you can even pick a cool nature name to jazz up classic Theodore.
Theodore Everest (Love this!)
Theodore Snow
Theodore River
Theodore Birch
Theodore Storm (Love this!)
Another suggestion for an offbeat Nordic name sans superhero/tough guy image would be Stellan. It sounds familiar because it follows the popular 2 syllables, ends in -an pattern (Aidan, Mason, Nolan, Evan etc) but it is still relatively uncommon. Stellan George sounds like a wonderful compromise.
I think in much of Scandinavia and Iceland these days, the name Thor is pronounced and possibly spelled Tor, and tor also means a rough and exposed rock formation. I think this might be a great way for you to get a name that is both unusual and less clearly associated with the superhero phenomenon. Plus I think it is nice that Eva and Tor both have three letters and roughly match in style.
Yes–I have an acquaintance whose father is Norwegian-American, and he (my friend) named his son Tor. It wears quite well on a little boy. And while it does make me think generally of Norse mythology, it never evokes the superhero for me.
“Eva and Tor” works for me as a sibling set–short, sweet names of three letters each. Love!
Yes, I came here to suggest Tor. I recently encountered someone with that name and it sounded unique but not at all cartoonish.
There is a student named Odin at my kids’ school and honestly I’m not a fan.
There is a boy named Thor at my kids’ school and I love his name. It’s just who he is and he’s who I think of when I hear the name now. His name doesn’t faze any of the kids, who encountered Thor the boy before Thor the movie. I also knew a kid named Thor when I was growing up, so maybe I’m just used to seeing the name on actual people now. Both of the Thors I know have siblings with more conventional names and again, it’s just who they are. The first time you hear the sibset you go, “Wow, that’s a cool/unexpected mix of names,” and then it becomes completely natural for those names to go together.
Thor can definitely work for a baby/kid on its own, but I also like the idea of giving your son another name and using Thor as a nickname.
Am I the only one who likes what she initially has to offer. George Thor? I think Eva and George sound fine together. Both give off a classic vow to me. Eva being close to Eve seems like a name that’s been around forever to me!
However if you really aren’t wanting to do George… I like some of the other suggestions in the comments. A – doing Tor instead of Thor. My husband has some sort of distant cousin named Tor. I also like the idea of Theodore with the nickname Thor or Tor.
I do think when I hear the name Thor I am tempted to say it in a deep voice and elongate the ooorrrr. Haha
I love the suggestions of Theodore (Theo, Teddy) and Felix! Eva and Felix is just lovely together. Felix George is also lovely.
Eva and Ansel appeals to me as a pairing, if it’s not too out there for your husband. I think being a little more vowel heavy helps an unusual name fit in more with Eva.
Orion is perhaps a more wearable mythic figure, and one I also like with Eva.
If part of what your husband likes about George is the G, how about Gareth, Gavin, or Gwyn?
George Thor reminds me of George Orr, the protagonist of Ursula Leguin’s Lathe of Heaven.
I’m dittoing Tor.
What about Gordon? Or my own son’s name, Fordon? Forrest? Grove?
What about the name Soren? My friend just used this name for her son and it has the same feel as Thor to me without the superhero connection.
Love the name Soren.
And to be super cautious, I am aware that some Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups have appropriated Norse pantheon names as theirs. I would avoid it as a first name for sure, and I would think twice about it as a middle name.
On a much happier and lighter note, I went to school with a kid named “Thorin” pronounced “Torrin.” It was a prettt cool name to have in middle school. How about George Thorin? I also really like the suggestion above of Ansel. Ansel George.
I do know a young Thor (he’s 1.5). He’s actually Thorson but goes by Thor. They’ve really embraced the super hero thing (baby pics with a Thor hammer etc) but it’s def an association that is mentioned frequently.
I actually really like Tor or Torin as an alternative. Or maybe Magnus?
How about a nature name for the first name?
Alder George
Linden George
Jasper George
Stone George
Orion George
Clay George
Heath George
Reed George
Rowan George
Clifford (Cliff) George
I quite like some of these with Eva. I tried to pick ones not TOO unconventional–e.g.I left Ocean off the list. A few with one syllable are a little choppy with George to my ear, but none seems unworkable to me.
I do like some of the other suggestions also, especially Tor. I expect your next name list could go in multiple directions–if you can, please give an update or at least comment.
Growing up, the animal stories by Thornton Burgess were some of my favorite books. Remember those?
Anyway, I think a longer name, like Thornton, will give him more options if just Thor becomes too awkward. Thor is a great nickname, but professionally a longer name might help. And Thornton George sounds lovely.
I also like the Erik suggestion. It is a solid masculine choice and goes perfectly with Eva.
I also think that Theodore or Thornton (like Thornton Wilder) nn Thor would be a perfect solution for you: a classic well-known name that goes well with Eva and a cute nickname that you love.
Or maybe Thoreau (if it isn’t too “out there” for your husband’s taste)?
That would cover the nickname issue and also has a great both nature and literary connotation (Henry David Thoreau and his “Walden”).
I think Tor is a common enough word that it evokes a nature vibe rather than a super hero vibe (especially if you are English). I love Tor.
Right now I think Thor says super hero/Chris Hemsworth. I don’t know how long that association will last. Freya is super popular in both England and Australia and no-one gets upset that the little girl may not look like the goddess of spring nor worry about neo-nazi connotations. I guess an example would be Clarke. Once that would have said ‘superman’ now it just says neat/buttoned down name similar to Dean. You would be rolling the dice about how strong/long the association is in the minds of his peers. I actually think you would probably be safe because pop culture shifts so quickly. (but I prefer Tor stylistically).
George Thor.
If George just isn’t the name for you, then I agree w/ Swistle that going back to the drawing board for a less common, but not jarring, name is the way to go. My suggestion is Magnus.
I like the symmetry of Lake and Leif.
I was patting myself on the back for the ingenius idea of Theodore, non Thor only to find so many like minded posts on Theodore! Definitely a solid option to compromise!!
Thor has been a superhero name in America for decades and it doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. And the new Thor superhero is female which if it continues may be a problem for your son. I know you are not American but if you live here your children will be. I like George, it’s a family name but I realize it’s not for everyone. My suggestion would be for you to use your crystal ball and look into the future. Your cute sweet boy is now a Judge. Judge Thor. or a Dr. Thor, or Professor Thor. A football player named Thor, cool, a musician named Thor, awesome. I would give him a longer name that could be shortened so he has something to fall back on if the name isn’t great for him professionally.
I notice that both the names you like have a similar sound: geORge, and thOR. Could you find other names with the OR sound to them?
Soren
Theodore (as mentioned by many)
Clifford
Coran
Corban
Corgan
Cormac
Cornelius
Ford (or many names ending in Ford: Crawford, Sanford etc.)
Lorcan
Lawrence/Lorenzo
Orin
Thorsten
Torvald
Thoreau
Morrison
North
Gordon
Beorn
Baylor
Orien
Florian
Jordan etc.
I am Nordic so I can provide some context. The name Thor/Tor is incredibly popular here, both as a male and female name Thor/Thora/Tor/Tora) and is frequently used with other names as a smoosh name (Tor+hild= Torhild (f) f.ex). It is also very common as a middle name to add an extra spice to a more soft name like Anders, Soran, Emma etc. Foreigners inevitably love the name and think it is cool. My name has Tor in it (I have a smoosh name) and I love it. But here it is 100% connected to the mythology, not the Marvel creation (which we pretty much all dislike on principle). So I’d suggest naming him Tor. 100% cool name and has a lot of flair. By skipping the h, you can give your child a distinct name, while skipping much of the Marvel association.
Or put Thor in the middle spot. Distinctive and will be a wonderful name story later.
I love this post and all of the comments! We have a son Leif and I have been wondering what to name a possible future brother. I also love the name Thor but have the same concerns as Swistle. I think that Tor is such a great option. I think Leif (pronounced like “Lafe” rhymes with “safe”) might suit you as well? You can pronounce it like “life” or “leaf” too- but I know in Sweden where my Dad is from it is pronounced “Lafe.” My other favourite is Arthur (nickname Thor as above poster stated). Eva and Arthur are a great sibset!
I am very late to the party, but I wanted to point out that Tor is a pretty common Scandinavian name and actually how people in Norway (and maybe Iceland) pronounce Thor – so with a hard T, not the Th sound. Would that feel like an option that was less associated with the movies?