A strong, powerful choice, ancestor of the modern Superboy Names. Knut is the name of the patron saint of Denmark; Knute Rockne was a legendary Notre Dame football coach. Knute is the middle name of Jessica Simpson's son Ace, in honor of his paternal great-grandfather. Note that pronunciation is two syllables, with the K sounded.

This old Norse name is still used in contemporary Scandinavia. An ancient hero's name, Sigurd got a modern boost from a heroic figure in television's The Vikings.

If you want a pan-Scandinavian name with energy and style that could have been a winner, if not for the sound-alike water filtration company Brita.

The name of the mother of Aethelred the Unready was once common among the Anglo-Saxon nobility, and was briefly revived during the 19th century, only to be lost once again to history.

One of the most popular names in Scandinavia, Freja--or Freyja--was a major deity of Norse paganism. Beautiful, blonde and blue-eyed, she was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. In the US, the name is most likely spelled Freya.

Loki is the shape-shifting, gender-bending god of mischief in Norse mythology. Taking several animal forms, from a salmon to a seal to a fly, Loki is alternately friend and foe of the gods.

Signy — also spelled Signe — would make another distinctively offbeat alternative to Sydney. Signy appears in Norse mythology as the twin sister of Sigmund.

The ancient German name Adelheidis gave rise to both Adelaide and Adelheid. While Adelaide is more popular and better known internationally, Adelheid is still used occasionally in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. The German pronunciation is not that different from Adelaide, with a soft h and a long I sound instead of a long A in the last syllable.

An interesting and attractive bicultural choice--the Hebrew version is used for babies born in spring, when turtledoves arrive--especially as a middle.

An ancient German saint's name – and most famously the name of Harry Potter's snowy owl – but the combination of "head" plus "wig" feels a little too literal in English.

Ing was a powerful Norse god whose name inspired several modern variations -- though Inga has become a caricatured Scandinavian choice.

The connection to Freud is a strong one, but this German name has a strong and interesting sound and great nickname potential: Ziggy, Iggy, Sim, Sid...

Shades of Thurston Howell, the effete millionaire castaway on Gilligan's Island.

A common Scandinavian name, but hard to imagine being used elsewhere.

Also spelled Torill, Torril and Torrill, this refined variation is derived from the Old Norse name Þórhildr and its more modern Norwegian form, Torhild. Stylish in Norway in the 50s and 60s, this name could now make a strong, distinctive, and appealing choice to those outside its native country, especially to those interested in Norse Mythology.

Wears long blonde braids, carries a spear, and sings duets with Brunhild. But variations Ottilie, Ottiline, or Ottoline are both unusual and chic.

An ancient name belonging to "the most beautiful of all women" in Germanic mythology, whose tragic story features in many northern European legends. The daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun, her jealous husband had her murdered after she was accused of infidelity, and was then himself killed by Swanhild's brothers.

Not to be confused with the Hungarian and German Brigitta, Birgitta is often considered the classic Scandinavian form of the Irish Bridget, used in Iceland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Finland. In this case, the name would mean "strength" or "exalted one", lending it a solid feel to match its sounds.

Sassa is a short, feminine name with multiple potential origins. In Swedish, it functions as a diminutive of Sara or Saskia, conveying playfulness and affection. The name may also have Italian or Germanic roots, where it can relate to meanings of 'defender' or 'helper.' With its simple two-syllable pronunciation (SAH-sah) and repeated consonant pattern, Sassa has a distinctly cheerful, rhythmic quality. While uncommon in most English-speaking countries, the name offers international appeal and the contemporary trend toward shorter names. Sassa balances uniqueness with simplicity, making it easy to pronounce and spell while still standing out as distinctive and memorable.

Also spelled Sigfrid, this hefty German name has an appropriately majestic meaning: "victorious peace". Fittingly, a famous bearer was the English World War I poet and pacifist Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon was named after the hero of a Wagner opera, which in turn was based on a tragic hero from German legend.