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Scandinavian Names

  1. Signe

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "new victory"

    • Description:

      Signe could make an offbeat, more unusual alternative to Sydney or Sigrid. In Norse mythology, Signe was the twin sister of Sigmund. Can also be spelled Signy.
  2. Viveca

    • Origin:

      Swedish, Nordic

    • Meaning:

      "alive, life; place of refuge"

    • Description:

      This is one of the most vibrant and feminine of the names meaning life, and it's sure to gain more attention as the whole sisterhood of Viv- names rise.
  3. Ronald

    • Origin:

      Scottish, Norse

    • Meaning:

      "ruler's counselor"

    • Description:

      A strong, if slightly dated sounding choice, Ronald made the US Top 10 in the late 1930s through into the mid-1940s, before it became heavily associated with President Reagan, as well as with the McDonald franchise mascot. More recently, it has appeared in the Harry Potter series, borne by Ronald "Ron" Weasley, while others may immediately think of its rhyme, Donald. All of these factors may work against Ronald making a big resurgence, but popular nickname Ronnie might make others reconsider.
  4. Anders

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Andrew

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      Friendly, unusual, but a decidedly Old Country version of Andrew and one of the classic Scandinavian names. It made a brief appearance in the US Top 1000 in 2006 and then reentered in 2010. Its rising popularity could be attributed to the interest in Anderson, which has been gaining steadily over the last fifteen years.

      Trivia tidbits: The patronymic Andersson is the second most popular surname in Sweden, and in Denmark, Donald Duck is called Anders.

  5. Sanna

    • Origin:

      Swedish, Finnish, Inuktitut

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

      If you're ready to move beyond Anna and Hannah, consider this traditional Scandinavian short form of Susanna, historically very popular in its native lands.
  6. Sven

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "youth"

    • Description:

      Especially for parents of Scandinavian descent, Sven is an accessible and attractive name with an appealing mix of strength and swagger. It comes from the ancient Swedish tribe, the Sviars, who gave their name to Svealand, which later morphed into Sweden.
  7. Pippi

    • Origin:

      Norse variation of Philippa

    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"

    • Description:

      Pippi may be cute but isn't very practical. In addition to being forever Pippi Longstocking, there is that variant pee-pee spelling to consider. Try Pippa instead.
  8. Sonia

    • Origin:

      Russian and Scandinavian variation of Sophia

    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"

    • Description:

      Early European import, well known in the 1940s via Norwegian skating movie star Sonja Henie, that has sailed back across the Atlantic, despite the rising popularity of other Russian names.
  9. Ragnar

    • Origin:

      Norse

    • Meaning:

      "powerful army; wise warrior; counsel from the army"

    • Description:

      An fearsome old Norse name with a long history in Scandinavia. It's gotten a boost in the States from popularity of the History Channel drama "Vikings," in which the protagonist is named Ragnar. Ragnar Lodbrok (meaning "shaggy pants") was a legendary warrior whose story was told in the Viking sagas. Ragnar also recalls name of the Norse Judgment Day, Ragnarök.
  10. Halle

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name or diminutive of Harald, English or Norse

    • Meaning:

      "Thor's stone"

    • Description:

      Until the beautiful actress Halle Berry inspired hundreds of parents to emulate her name, it was the diminutive Swedish families used for their sons christened Harald. Now, in a complete turnaround, it couldn't be more feminine. It is worth noting, however, that its popularity has fallen dramatically since 2002 when it reached a high of 316.
  11. Arvid

    • Origin:

      Swedish, Norwegian, Danish

    • Meaning:

      "eagle-tree"

    • Description:

      Arvid, a Scandinavian name that's virtually unknown in the US, is one of the top baby names in Sweden. It might make a handsome, unusual choice for a parent in search of an original yet traditional A name.
  12. Bridgette

    • Description:

      Bridgette is a feminine name representing a French variation of Bridget, ultimately derived from the Celtic name Brighid meaning "exalted one." In Irish mythology, Brighid was a powerful goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom. This spelling with the double-t gives the name a touch of French elegance while maintaining its Celtic roots. Bridgette gained popularity in the mid-20th century, partly inspired by French actress Brigitte Bardot, though this variation uses a more phonetic English spelling. The name balances traditional heritage with accessibility, offering a slightly more elaborate alternative to the simpler Bridget. While never reaching the heights of ultra-popular girls' names, Bridgette has maintained steady usage, appreciated for its classic feel and feminine charm.

  13. Kai

    • Origin:

      Hawaiian

    • Meaning:

      "sea"

    • Description:

      This appealing multi-cultural name, pronounced KYE, is beginning to be used for girls as well as boys. Among its many derivations and meanings: "sea" in Hawaiian, "forgiveness" in Japanese, "willow tree" in Navajo, "food" in Maori, and "earth" in Scandinavian. For girls, it debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2010.
  14. Helga

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "holy, blessed"

    • Description:

      A traditional Nordic name, Helga was extremely popular throughout Scandinavia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Germany, it was a Top 10 pick from 1924 to 1943. And it still ranks in the Icelandic Top 50 today.
  15. Frey

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "lord, exalted one"

    • Description:

      Frey is the handsome Norse fertility god, a worthy namesake. Frey remains rare in the US even as the similar Freya picks up in popularity.
  16. Digby

    • Origin:

      Norse

    • Meaning:

      "town by the ditch"

    • Description:

      Digby is a place-name in Lincolnshire turned surname turned quirky first name that is starting to get some attention.
  17. Valentin

    • Origin:

      French, German, Russian, Czech, Scandinavian variation of Valentine

    • Meaning:

      "strength, health"

    • Description:

      Romantic name used throughout Europe, though sure to lead to pronunciation problems here. Though it's never been too widely used in the US, it's quite popular in Switzerland, France, Austria, and Romania.
  18. Trig

    • Origin:

      English form of Trygve, Norse

    • Meaning:

      "trustworthy"

    • Description:

      While it might sound like a purely mathematical option, Trig is considered an Anglicized form of the Old Norse name, Trygve (pronounced TRUYG-vuh or TREEG-vuh, depending on region), which means "trustworthy" — a quality many parents would value. Also written as Trigg and Tryg, international variants include the Icelandic Tryggvi (TRIK-vee) and the Swedish Tryggve.
  19. Elvis

    • Origin:

      Meaning unknown

    • Description:

      When the King was alive, and for years afterwards, few people (except Declan McManus who became Elvis Costello) dared use his singular name, but now it's very much up for grabs.
  20. Solveig

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "the strong house or daughter of the sun"

    • Description:

      Common in Scandinavia, this name has rarely come to our shores. The name of the heroine in Ibsen's Peer Gynt, Solveig is currently a widely-used name in Norway. Pronounced authentically, with a silent 'g', it becomes much more appealing.