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Embla

embla


Embla and Ask were the first humans created by Odin, Vili, and Ve, three gods in the Old Norse pantheon. Embla was carved from an alder tree and Ask was carved from an ash tree. Their story is found in the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. Embla (EM-bluh) sounds a bit like the word emblem, giving it a shiny nobility sort of feel. Contrary to popular belief, there is no "blah" sound in it. The last three lettters are like you're going to say "blush." It is used in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland (where it last ranked #7 in 2015). However, there are no U.S. statistics. Most believe her meaning is "elm tree," from Old Norse almr, but no one is quite certain. Another suggested meaning is "vine," and with that meaning the name has been connected to the Persian version of the Adam and Eve story, who were also made from trees. It is very possible that because this mythology is so old, something got lost in translation or throughout the years.

Mabel and Melba are anagrams of Embla. Due to the fact that Embla is rather similar to modern U.S. favorites such as Emma, Ember, Emily and Ella, and that it is pronounced basically the same in English and its home country, this name shouldn't have a tough time being seriously considered by the right parents. This is helped by the fact that Embla can rely on the same nicknames, Emmy or Ellie, plus Ebby.
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  1. AnonymousMarch 1, 2018 at 4:28 PM

    Adam was made from dust, and Eve from his rib. They weren't made from trees.

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