I actually really like this name! I would, however, be a bit afraid to use this name because it's like the word hell; at least in the English language. And people are very sensitive about that stuff. I still love it though! Hel is an immensely powerful and incredible goddess, and people who try to make her out as this evil and terrible deity are foolish and have never looked into Norse mythology.
I feel very sorry for Hel. She apparently was a freak. Half her body and face was gorgeously beautiful, the other half horribly deformed. She could hardly walk after being thrown down to the underworld. She seems to have been so horribly lonely... I'm glad it's just an old story.
It irks me that people are calling this name stupid. Sure, in America people will be shocked, but honestly, it's a mythological name. This website is for all names, not necessarily good names for children.
I must admit that I would feel a bit tempted to name my daughter Hel in America and always tell them that hey, there's nothing wrong with it, as it's a mythological name, but people would still think it was a statement made to piss off the religious right, just spelt with one 'L' instead of two to pretend it's not the same as 'hell'. Kind of like if you named your son Saytan, ha ha. Having said that, I find the name too plain and minimalist, and I wouldn't want people to think I'm some sort of hostile contrarian whose mission in life is to annoy people and rub my gloomy attitude on everyone's face at the expense of my poor child's sanity.
I have always liked this name and cannot understand why so many people dislike it. It's simple and beautiful. Hel sounds very feminine to me. I also love Norse mythology, and Loki, so I just like this name.
― Anonymous User 6/12/2007
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Loki was Hel's father, and her mother was Angurboda, a giantess. Hel was the youngest of their children, and is described as half of her body being of living human flesh, and the other half dead and decaying.