TV’s Michael Scott mangled this one in an unforgettable fashion a few weeks ago.
Thanks to Allison for suggesting Astrid as Name of the Day.
If you follow NBC’s The Office, you probably know all about Michael Scott’s not-baby with his former boss, Jan Levinson. If you don’t, here’s a rough sketch: bumbling boss Michael informed his team a) they needed to throw his ex-girlfriend a baby shower; b) if the baby was a girl, she’d be called Astird.
That’s his typo, not mine, and they even put it on the customized M&Ms.
Not only did The Office drones get the spelling wrong, they also flubbed the meaning. Michael insisted Astird Astrid means Viking princess.
Not so much.
And yet Astrid is undeniably Scandinavian, and with a regal vibe, too.
Astrid evolved from the Old Norse Ástrídr – the first bit means god; the second, beauty, so you’ll usually see the meaning “divine beauty” attached. That’s almost as good as Viking princess. Variant spellings over the years include Æstriðr, Ástríðr, Estrid, Estrith and Astrith.
Royal Astrids include:
- The tenth century Astrid of the Obotrites, Queen consort of Olof Skötkonung, King of Sweden;
- Astrid Svendsdatter was a Danish princess from the same era. Her son went on to become King Sweyn II of Denmark. She later married Robert, Duke of Normandy – making her stepmom to William the Conqueror;
- Astrid of Sweden, born in 1905, became Queen of Belgium when she married monarch Leopold III. She was wildly popular, and her tragic death in a car accident at a young age added to her mystique;
- Princess Astrid of Belgium was Queen Astrid’s granddaughter. Born in 1962, she’s now the Archduchess of Austria-Este;
- Princess Astrid of Norway, born in 1932, spent more than a decade serving as official hostess for her father, the King, after her mother’s passing. But this royal married a commoner, and is better known as Mrs. Ferner.
You’ll notice that there are a few centuries without Astrids. Just like the Victorians revived literary, historical and mythological monikers in the 19th century, Astrid experienced a resurgence in Scandinavia. She remains popular today, ranking in the Top 50 in Denmark and Sweden, and coming in at #63 in Norway as of 2007.
The name is also heard in Belgium, thanks to the royal link, and English. In the US, Astrid has very occasionally ranked in the US Top 1000. Her last appearance was in 2005.
Modern Astrids include:
- Venezuelan telenovela actress Astrid Carolina Herrera Irrazábal;
- Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto. You might not recognize her name, but you know her voice – she’s the haunting voice in “The Girl from Ipanema”;
- Astrid Kirchherr met Stuart Sutcliffe back when the Beatles were an undiscovered bar band playing Hamburg. Her photographs of them remain favorites;
- Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren penned the Pippi Longstocking series. Pippi is the fiercely independent, improbably strong and surprisingly sensible daughter of a sea captain, best known for her red braids. (And she claims that Pippi is a nickname for Pippilotta.)
If you’re looking for a frills-free Scandinavian name that’s nicely underused, Astrid is certainly one to consider.
LOL, Photoquilty – one of the language blogs I follow just wrote a post wishing that we would all learn the International Phonetic Association’s universal alphabet. And I find myself muttering under my breath ALL the time about excessive use of apostrophes. It’s funny what we notice, isn’t it?
But I still haven’t found the right term for Astrid/Astird.
SophieGray, I didn’t realize she was a character in White Oleander. I’ll put it on my list of things to read. Or watch. Or hey, maybe both!
And Allison, I agree – the photographer Astrid was one of my earliest exposures to the name. (I’m sure I heard of Pippi’s author first.) And she did make the name forever cool to me.
Darn that Michael Scott!
When I was about 14 I was watching a Beatles documentary, and I was completely taken when I heard about Astrid Kirchherr, the hipster girl with a cool name. Even then, I thought the name had great potential and still do. I like it so much, the “ass” thing went completely unnoticed. I don’t know if that would be enough to deter me from using it, I’d probably have to ask a bunch of kids and adults what their first reaction is. I love what you said, Lola, that’s a lovely description of the name.
I’ve never actually met an Astrid, though I would love to. Like others, she is bright, airy and ‘tinkly’ (sp?) to me, though still very strong.
I have a really strong association with her as the protagonist in White Oleander; I’ve seen the movie (she’s played by Alison Lohman), but I think it was based on a book, which I haven’t yet read.
She is very, very seldom heard down hear in Australia, and I’d be charmed to meet a little one bearing the name!
Oh wow, I’m so excited someone else actually know what an eggcorn is! 😀
Oh Meg, I’m sorry! If it is any consolation, my husband veto’d Gareth after watching the UK version of The Office. (He’s the original Dwight. Don’t get me wrong, I love Dwight. I’m just not naming any future *children* Dwight!)
Photoquilty, you have sent me on a hunt to figure out what Astird actually is – it’s not a spoonerism, an eggcorn or a malapropism … anyone know?
JNE, you’re right – even without The Office, I can imagine some inventive tweeny bopper figuring out that nasty nickname. Now? It’s all over!
Smisar, I haven’t seen Fringe, but that is a FAR better association for poor Astrid.
And Lola, I do find Astrid light without being at all lightweight – a nice combination!
I love Astrid. Love it.
It would be my #1 choice for a girl except for the fact that my husband has been swayed away from it by the Micheal Scott’s Astird vs Astrid mix up. I’m very sad I won’t be able to use it now.
This name is also being heard in recent pop culture on the show Fringe. Astrid is the lab assistant for the FBI. A much better association, IMO, than the one from the Office.
Ass turd. Unfortunately, Michael Scott’s spoonerism (isn’t that what that’s called?) as left me unable to see this name without realigning the I and the R in my head. I didn’t love it before, but I also didn’t find it laughable. Now it’s a joke forevermore. Even if I don’t “turd” the ending, there’s still an “ass” in front. My husband has a lot of Scandinavian blood, but this name simply doesn’t make the cut. 🙁
I knew an Astrid in High School. She was an student teacher (meaning she was nearing graduation and close to getting her own teaching degree) and was a co-trainer with us in the Color Guard/Pom squad (we flipped between jr. & sr. years). She was a lovely woman, a bit quiet but sweet, polite and just overall nice. So much so that the name has always left me with that impression. An Astrid would be polite, kind, sweet and caring. Weird, no?
But yeah, I do like Astrid. My Swedish GF, Yvonne said if one of her boys had been a girl, she would have named her Astrid, after her mother. And that suprised me, I hadn’t known her lovely mother’s name (she was always Mrs Nork to me)! So there’s another lovely assocation I have.
It reminds me of starlight, bright & delicate. Astrid’s a lovely name with a somewhat unfortunate turn that could be made. I think if you’re the confident sort, it’s a name you could easily use on your daughter because it’s likely she’ll be confident like you. A shy one, having shyer girls, yeah, it might work better in the middle. It would lighten up almost anything it’s paired with! But then there’s those who are confident who have shy kids (or vice versa): the unexpected… Yeah maybe middle material for me. But Astrid definitely gets a :thumbsup: so pretty! 😀
For me, this is one of those names that will always be linked to a particular person. The association is not all bad, but it’s not an overly-positive one either. Trying to put that aside, the name has a great history. When I first heard it, it made me think of outer space (Astroid?) and stars, not royalty (I didn’t know its history when I met the Astrid I know, which was also my first encounter with the name). Beyond that, I’m not altogether in love with the sound; the -id ending is kind of abrupt in my ear. But the name is unique and interesting; it wouldn’t be so bad to meet another Astrid – change up my feelings for the name, perhaps?
But honestly, The Office’s fun at the name’s expense had me laughing until I cried. I’d have some concern that a clever 6th or 7th grader, might just be evil enough to torture an adolescent Astrid with that simple letter inversion. Not obvious enough to completely avoid using the name, but it would have to be a consideration.