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Kalle
Swedish diminutive and Finnish, Danish, and Estonian variant of Karl
"free man"
Typically used as a short form in Sweden and as a given name in Finland, Estonia, and Denmark, Kalle is a variation on Karl, in turn, making it to Charlie from Charles. Pronounced KAL-leh in Swedish…
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…
Lore
Lore is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In German tradition, it's a shortened form of Eleanor or Lorelei, while in Spanish it can be a diminutive of Dolores. The name literally means…
Lou
Diminutive of Louis or Lewis, French and German
"renowned warrior"
Lou, all by itself, is become fashionable for girls, which usually makes a name LESS fashionable for boys. But Lou, like Bill or Jim, is rarely used on its own for boys anyway. (You wouldn't name a…
Lieuwe
Nestor
Greek
"traveler, voyager"
A wise ruler of legend--his sage advice helped the Greeks win the Trojan War--whose name is a possibility for the adventurous, though related in sound to the dated Lester-Hester family.
Nino
Italian, diminutive of Giannino and of Antonino
Old-school Italian names that shortens a wide range of longer names, making it feel much more popular than it is on its own.
Nova
Olav
Olav is a masculine Scandinavian name, particularly popular in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It derives from the Old Norse name Óláfr, composed of the elements 'ancestor' and 'heir' or 'descendant,'…
Olle
Swedish diminutive of Olaf, Norse
"ancestor's relic"
Olaf is now heavily tied to the snowman from Frozen , but common nickname Olle has no such associations. Olle is a Top 30 name in Sweden, and is occasionally heard in the Netherlands as well.
Okke
Spip
Sverre
Thorsten
Thorsten is a Germanic masculine name variation of Torsten, derived from the Old Norse name Þórsteinn (Thor's stone). It combines the elements 'Thor' (the Norse god of thunder) and 'stein' (stone),…
Ziv
Hebrew
"brilliance"
Also a synonym for the Hebrew month of Iyar, which usuually falls in May, would work and play well with others like Zev and Lev.
Alvar
German
"elf warrior"
This name woould be hard to picture in a contemporary kindergarten, though it does have some cultural cred via Finnish architect and furniture designer Alvar Aalto. Aalto would actually make a more…
Avalon
Celtic
"island of apples"
Avalon, an island paradise of Celtic myth and Arthurian legend--it was where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds-- and also the colorful capital of the California island of Catalina--…