By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 16 pages
of 16
Grethe is a feminine Scandinavian name, primarily used in Norway and Denmark, that functions as a variant of Greta or Margaret. Its ultimate origins trace back to the Greek 'margarites' meaning…
Scandinavian, Norse, German, Dutch
"enclosure, stronghold; brave, hardy spear"
Gerda is one of two things: a modern, Latinized form of the Old Norse name Gerd or a feminine form of the masculine German name, also Gerd. Not currently in style, it has a strong, ancient sounding…
English form of Trygve, Norse
"trustworthy"
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…
Norse mythological name
Heidrun, which is occasionally used in modern Europe, was the name of a mythological goat who nibbled from the tree of life, transforming her milk into mead. You might think of Heidrun as a cross…
Literary name and Old Norse
"gravel bank river"
This lovely name is best-known as the surname of eponymous Bronte heroine, Jane Eyre, and would make an appealing and distinctive middle name for the child of fans of that book. While the surname…
Manx, Norse
"fair, beautiful"
Gentle yet tough, rare and intriguing, Fritha is an Anglicized variation as well as a Manx form of the Old Norse Fríða. Ultimately derived from the element fríðr meaning "fair, beautiful", it is…
Norse
"Thor's ruler"
Torvald, not to be confused with Torvill of skating fame, is a Norse name which might be of interest to parents looking for Thor-related options. Torvald is most familiar in the English-speaking…
Scandinavian form of Andrew
"manly, masculine"
Anderson has been on the rise for girls (though more notably for boys) in the US in recent years, but 2024 saw the Scandinavian first name enter the US stats for girls for the first time when it was…
Scandinavian, diminutive of Federica or Erica
Pretty but slight.
Else is a feminine name with Germanic origins, functioning as both a standalone name and a short form of names containing the element 'Elis' such as Elisabeth or Elise. In German and Scandinavian…
Scandinavian
"holy, blessed"
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…
Feminine form of Biǫrn and Björn, variation of Vera, Bereket, or Beracha
"bear; faith; blessing"
Bera is a rare feminine form of Biǫrn (or Björn), used in Scandinavian and Nordic countries, albeit quietly. Derived from Old Norse, it means "bear", either in relation to the animal or to the idea…
Scandinavian, diminutive of Hedvig
Hedda is a card-carrying member of the league of older, slightly bohemian urban names like Nedda, Andra, and Petra; also linked to Ibsen heroine Hedda Gabler, as well as being the basis of cruel joke…
Scandinavian, Germanic
"bear"
Succinct and strong, familiar but rare, Berne maybe interepteted in several ways: firstly, as a surname, from the Germanic element bern , it has been likely given to to descendants of Bernards. More…
Swedish from Latin
"beloved"
Carita may feel like an endearing nickname but it's a name in its own right, used throughout Scandinavia in this form and as Karita, Caritas, and Karitas as a variation on Charity.
Daven as a feminine name represents an interesting gender crossover, as it's more commonly recognized as a masculine name of Celtic and Hebrew origins. For girls, it offers a modern, strong…
Danish and Swedish diminutive of Eberhard, German, or Esben, Danish
"brave boar; god bear"
A Top 30 name in Sweden, derived from Eberhard (brave boar) or Esben (god bear) – either way, a strong meaning.
Spelling variation of Karen, Danish variation of Katherine
"pure"
Modernized spelling not enough to revive Karen.
Caren is a feminine name that serves as a variant spelling of Karen, which originated as a Danish form of Katherine. Katherine ultimately derives from the Greek name Aikaterine, possibly meaning…
