Scandinavian Names
Across 14 pages
of 14
Jockum
Jockum is a distinctive masculine name with Scandinavian roots, primarily found in Sweden and Finland. It evolved as a variant of Joakim or Joachim, which derives from the Hebrew name Yehoyakim,…
Kennett
Kennett is a masculine name with English origins, derived from the place name Kennett, which refers to a river in England. The river name is believed to come from the Celtic term meaning 'boundary…
Kent
English surname and place-name
"edge"
Kent is a no-nonsense, brief, brisk one-syllable name, almost as curt as Kurt.
Kennet
Kennet is a masculine name with Scandinavian and Scottish origins, representing a variant spelling of Kenneth. Derived from the Gaelic name Coinneach meaning 'handsome' or 'fair,' it also connects to…
Kristoffer
Scandinavian variation of Christopher, Greek and Latin
"bearer of Christ"
This Scandinavian spin on Christopher gives that enduring classic a lighter, more individual twist, though many may see it as simply a kree8iv spelling. Not true: It has authentic roots as a…
Lamont
Scandinavian
"man of law"
Outmoded comic book choice.
Latham
English, Norse
"the barn"
An outdoorsy but smart feeling choice, Latham could be perfect for those looking for undiscovered last names as first names. Similar in style to Graham, Layton, and Linden, it has its origins in the…
Lars
Scandinavian from Latin Laurentius
"crowned with laurel"
Lars is a perfect candidate for a cross-cultural passport: it has been heard often enough here to sound familiar and friendly, yet retains the charisma of a charming foreigner. In this country Lars…
Lothar
German
"famous army"
Lothar is cloddish, till you add a dashing io to the end...
Ludvig
Scandinavian variation of Ludwig, German
"famous warrior"
Unlikely to catch on in the Anglophone world, where parent name Ludwig still conjures up images of Beethoven. But Ludvig actually ranks among the top boy names in Norway and Sweden, while German form…
Sander
Dutch and Scandinavian, diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
Sander is a more conventional form of Zander or Xander, heard frequently on its own in Europe. It is now a Top 20 name in Norway, and is also popular in Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Maurits
Dutch form of Maurice, English and French from Latin
"dark-skinned"
Historically, the name gained significance in the Netherlands through Maurice of Nassau (Maurits van Nassau), a key military leader during the Dutch Revolt against Spain in the 16th-17th centuries.…
Melker
Modern Swedish variation of Melchior
"city of the king; king of light"
Melker, a modern phonetic spelling of ancient Three Wise Men name Melchior, is in the Swedish Top 100 though not used in the US, where it would be heard as "milker." Nickname Mel is not exactly a…
Njal
Njal is a masculine name of Norse origin, particularly associated with Iceland and Norway. The name comes from Old Norse 'Njáll,' and gained historical significance through the medieval Icelandic…
Nyle
Nyle is a masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Nile, referring to the famous Egyptian river, which carries connotations of life-giving properties and ancient…
Niles
Scandinavian
"son of Neil"
Perfect name for TV Frasier's effete brother. In the 2020 film Palm Springs , Andy Samberg plays a character with the updated spelling Nyles.
Nilsson
Scandinavian
"son of Nils"
The son at the end of many Scandinavian names makes them more consistent with modern American name tastes. While Nilsson may be the proper Scandinavian form of the name, many English speakers will…
Njord
Scandinavian
"north"
Pronounced to rhyme with fjord, the Norse god of the sea's name, this would make an unorthodox choice for sea-lovers and fishermen.
Olsen
Scandinavian
"Olaf's son"
An alternative to Oliver, Orson, or Colson, this Scandinavian surname is no longer tied exclusively to the well-publicized twins, Ashley and Mary-Kate. Instead, it fits in with other surname-style…
Osvald
Osvald is a masculine name of Germanic and Scandinavian origin, derived from the elements 'os' meaning 'god' and 'wald' meaning 'power' or 'ruler.' Essentially, the name translates to 'divine power'…
