Norwegian Names for Girls

Tea

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…

Kristin

German and Norwegian variation of Christina

"a Christian"

A crystalline name that retains its loveliness far past its prime. Its biggest downside: Eternal confusion over spelling and pronunciation. Kristen? Kirsten? It can be so confusing that many parents…

Terese

Terese is a feminine given name that serves as a variation of Teresa or Theresa. These names derive from the Greek 'therizein' meaning 'to harvest,' or possibly 'therizo' meaning 'summer harvest.'…

Thelma

English, Literary, meaning unknown

Though modern parents seeking to honor an ancestor named Thelma might opt for the airier Thea instead, Thelma is starting to make its way back onto adventurous vintage name lovers' radars. It is…

Sonja

Russian, Slavic, and Scandinavian form of Sophia, Greek

"wisdom"

Popular throughout Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries like Sweden, Norway, Russia, and Germany, Sonja has a rich cultural heritage. The name gained international recognition…

Kirsten

Scandinavian variation of Christine

Lovely, authentic name -- but any Kirsten will be condemned to a lifetime of hearing "Did you say Kristen?" They're both genuine Scandinavian names but too interchangeable.

Dortea

Dortea is a feminine name representing a variation of Dorothy, which derives from the Greek name Dorothea meaning 'gift of God.' This particular spelling variation appears to have regional roots,…

Helge

Scandinavian

"holy"

Form of Helga

Janne

Danish and Norwegian diminutive of Johanna

"God is gracious"

This common name for both boys and girls in Scandinavia would definitely work better as a feminine name in the U.S.

Juni

Scandinavian

"June"

Juni is the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish form of the month name June. While Juni feels cute and fresh, most Americans would assume it was a nickname or a Joni variation. We prefer Juna or…

Kirsti

Kirsti is a feminine name with Scandinavian origins, primarily used in Finland and Norway. It's a Nordic variant of Christina, ultimately derived from the Greek word 'christos' meaning 'anointed…

Kjersti

Kjersti is a feminine Scandinavian name, primarily used in Norway, representing a variation of Kirsten or Kirsti. These names are Nordic forms of Christina, ultimately derived from the Greek word…

Lovise

Lovise is a feminine name with Scandinavian roots, functioning as a Nordic variant of Louise, ultimately derived from the Germanic name Ludwig meaning 'famous warrior.' Common in Norway, Denmark, and…

Malin

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…

Rane

Rane is a gender-neutral name that leans feminine in this context. It has multiple possible origins: it may be derived from Scandinavian roots meaning 'mighty' or 'strong,' connect to the Old English…

Tove

Scandinavian

"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…

Vigdis

Norwegian

"war goddess"

This strong Norwegian name war goddess name, commonly heard in both midcentury Norway and Iceland, has never ventured far beyond its native culture.

Jolante

Jolante is a feminine name with medieval European origins, representing a variant of Yolande or Iolanthe. The name derives from the Greek 'iolanthe,' meaning 'violet flower,' symbolizing modesty and…

Fjord

Norse word name

The Old Norse and modern Norwegian word name Fjord, which refers to a passage in the sea, could work for children of both genders.

Tuva

Swedish and Norwegian variation of Tove

"beautiful"

Tove is a modern variation of an Old Norse name, related to Thor. Tuva is a form of the name popular in modern Scandinavia.