Swedish Names for Girls

Not much to recommend this relative of Wilma; consider Willa or Willow instead.

We once dismissed Bird as "too flighty", but with the rise of avian names from Lark to Robin to, well, Birdie, we don't see why Bird can't be a fine choice, especially as a middle name.

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.

Sybilla and its near-identical twin Sibylla are dainty and demure names with a powerful namesake that also happen to be extremely rare -- no baby girls were given either name in the US last year.

Tindra is a new name in Sweden, used only since the 1980s, that has become enormously popular: It's in the Top 60 there. And while unknown in the US, Tindra certainly has possibilities as a substitute for the flagging Kendra.

Made most familiar by Miah Persson, a famous Swedish opera singer.

This form of Charlotte, long obscure, is sure to grow in popularity along with the explosion of Charlotte. It's pretty and feminine and a nice spin on the more familiar version. In Germany, short form Lotta is popular.

This popular old Swedish name is not one that would appeal to many modern American parents, though shortening it to Nilla helps.

A more upbeat, modern-sounding version of a granny name.

Baby-naming rule #487: it's probably best to avoid names whose only possible nickname is Gun.

Apt to be confused with Raquel.