Talk:Astrid Levinson/@comment-2601:C6:4101:4EB0:FC4D:DFE5:19A0:A167-20200118213240

Dear Officionados!

My name is Astrid. Really. It is. I have lived with this name for 50 years now.

I have no data-substantiated theory to add in terms of The Office's Astrid's biological lineage.

But I have some comments to add, some of which you might find amusing.

First, I have seen many different interpretations of what the name Astrid means. I find them all amusing, given that I am an atheist. These interpretations usually state that the first syllable of Astrid stems from the root Aseir, the name of the Nordic pantheon, so there is some reference to the divine involved. Hence the amusement, to me, the atheist. Interpretations of the second syllable vary widely. I have seen refernces to beauty, strength, and being a messenger.

Second, I grew up in Germany, and the German word for "kick in the ass" is Arschtritt. Looks, and (to those who know how to pronounce German) sound very similar to Astrid. Mean kids used it a lot when I was in elementary school in Germany in the '70s (yes, last century!). It made me stronger! I became known - despite my short stature - as a feroscious ass-kicker to those who deserved it.

Third, now that I have seen the Office episode where Astrid's name is misspelled as Astird, and mispronounced accordingly, I will forward this amusing tidbit to all my English-speaking friends (it just doesn't work in German, because the German equivalent of turd is very different).

Greetings all, and make sure to eat your beets!

Astrid (in real life)