By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Scandinavian
"sun gift"
Sunniva was an Irish-born saint who fled to Norway, where she hid in an island cave with her followers and eventually died. After miracles were reported on the island, the cave was excavated and…
"beautiful, beloved"
Tove is a modern variation of an Old Norse name for which there are no letters on the twenty-first century keyboard (Þórfríðr, for those interested.) Surviving and thriving in modern Scandinavia in…
English, Danish, Norwegian
"repeated sound, echo"
A modern and edgy choice, Ekko may appeal to fans of Indigo, Arlo, and Arrow. Used as both an alternative spelling to Echo and as the Norwegian and Danish form of the word, it was given to 15 babies…
Scandinavian diminutive of Magdalene
"high tower or woman of Magdela"
The sleek Malin is a contracted form of Magdalene or Madeleine, used in Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. A popular choice back in the 2000s, it has declined in popularity in recent years, but it…
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
"eagle-tree"
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…
Eirik is a masculine name of Old Norse origin and is a traditional Scandinavian variant of Erik or Eric. The name derives from the elements 'ei' (ever, always) and 'ríkr' (ruler, king, mighty), thus…
Scottish form of Gregory
"vigilant, a watchman"
Two prominent literary namesakes make Gregor a somewhat risky choice. On the highbrow side, there's Gregor Samsa, the Kafka character who woke up one day to find himself turned into a cockroach. And…
English diminutive of Leona or Lena; Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian diminutive of Abelone or Magdalone; German diminutive of Apollonia or Ilona; Hawaiian
"lion; destroyer, strength, father's light; from Magdala; shining torch, light, joy"
Truly multicultural choice that feels ripe for revival in this era of Traveling Lite names. In English, Lona is a variation of Leona or Lena. The Scandinavian Lona is a diminutive for names like…
Norwegian
"high land, high farm"
Also spelled as Håland, this Norwegian surname has been made familiar and famous by footballer Erling Haaland. A new way to nickname Hal, or an alternative to Holland or Harlan, could it catch on?…
English variation of Kristin, German and Norwegian
"a Christian"
Christina who decided, at the last minute, she'd rather be Kristen.
Spelling variation of Echo, English, Danish
"repeated sound"
A name with a modern vibe and plenty of energy, as an English name, Ekko may well be a twist on the Greek Echo, both a word referring to a repeated, reverberating sound, and to a mythological nymph,…
Norwegian diminutive of Elisabet, English and Spanish diminutive of names ending in -lita, or Romanian variation of Leta, Latin
"pledged to God; little; glad, joyful"
Vivacious but lightweight.
Short form of Dorotea or Mattea
"gift of God"
As Theo and Thea get more popular, so do Teo and Tea, short forms of the Latinate variations of Theodore and Matthew -- which include Dorotea and Mattea. But like Theo and Thea, Tea can stand…
German, Scandinavian diminutive of Charlotte
"free man"
Lotte is a short form of Charlotte and a name used in its own right in Scandinavia as well as Dutch- and German-speaking countries. It’s unlikely to catch on in the US, where even Lottie hasn’t…
"safe"
Sarah Palin spelled it Trig, as in the nickname for trigonometry, but Trygg is a genuine Norwegian word name for boys.
Norwegian, Danish, Czech, variation of Cecilia, Latin
"blind"
Variant of Cecilia used in several European countries, which could also make for a pretty variant spelling of the medieval English version, Cecily.
Scandinavian variation of Birgit
"exalted one"
Well used in northern Europe, almost unknown in the US, Berit is could make an off-beat alternative to Betty, Beth, or Merritt for those with Scandinavian ancestry.
Galician diminutive of Olalla, or Russian, Ukrainian Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish
"sweetly speaking"
A short form of Alexandra and Alice used everywhere from Russia to Spain. A fresh alternative to Allie.
Donalt is a masculine name that represents an uncommon variant spelling of Donald. The traditional Donald derives from the Scottish Gaelic name Dòmhnall, composed of the elements 'dumno' meaning…
Bendik is a masculine name of Scandinavian origin, particularly popular in Norway. It derives from the Latin name Benedict, meaning 'blessed.' This Nordic variation maintains the meaningful essence…
