User-created list
Names from the North
Across 11 pages
of 11
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…
Lennart
Lennart is a masculine Scandinavian name derived from the Germanic elements 'leon' (lion) and 'hard' (brave, strong), meaning "strong as a lion" or "lion-hearted." Popular primarily in Sweden,…
Mads
Danish variation of Matthew
"gift of God"
Mads is a perennial favorite in Germany, the Nordic countries, and the Netherlands, where it is usually to be found in the Top 50. Just remember the D is not pronounced. Famous bearers include Danish…
Madsen
Danish
"son of Mads"
Would often be confused with Madison.
Melchior
Dutch from Hebrew
"city of the king; king of light"
The least used of the Three Wise Men's names, but a strong option for bold namers to consider. The exact origins of Melchior are unknown, but it is speculated that it derived from either the Hebrew…
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…
Oden
Swedish variation of Óðinn
"god of frenzy; poetic fury"
Oden is the Swedish form of Óðinn — or Odin, if you anglicize it — the highest of the gods in Norse mythology. Ruling over war, wisdom, art, death, law and culture, his name means "inspiration,…
Olen
Variation of Ole and Olena, Scandinavian, Russian, Dutch, "ancestor's relic; eagle; pebbly forest"
"ancestor's relic; eagle; pebbly forest"
Concise and worldly, Olen may be viewed as either an elaboration of Ole or a masculine form of Olena, both of which are Scandinavian names, ultimately derived from the Old Norse Óláfr. Alternatively,…
Osborn
English
"divine bear; divine warrior"
A surname style choice that could get you nicknames Bear and Ozzy, which is pretty cool. It comes from the Old English variant of the Old Norse Ásbjǫrn, which was introduced to England after the…
Rikard
Rikard is a masculine name representing a Scandinavian, German, or Eastern European variant of Richard. Derived from Germanic elements 'ric' meaning 'ruler' or 'powerful' and 'hard' meaning 'brave'…
Sigurd
Norse
"guardian of victory"
This old Norse name is still used in contemporary Scandinavia. An ancient hero's name, Sigurd got a modern boost from a heroic figure in television's The Vikings .
Sigvard
Sigvard is a masculine name of Scandinavian origin, particularly common in Sweden and Norway. It combines the Old Norse elements 'sigr' meaning 'victory' and 'varðr' meaning 'guardian' or 'defender,'…
Sjoerd
Dutch
"victory"
It's not every day you see a name that begins with the letters "SJ"!
Stellan
Swedish, meaning unknown, possibly "calm"
"calm"
Stellan is a strong, attractive, Scandinavian possible up-and-comer, known through actor Stellan Skarsgard, and his namesake, the son of Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany. Its trendy 'an' ending and…
Stieg
Variation of Stig
The late Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo , introduced his Swedish name to the wider world -- not that too many people outside Scandinavia have adopted it.
Stig
Swedish
"wanderer"
Like Stian, a more manageable short form of the unwieldy Srigandr, but with a less euphonic sound. Stig Larsson is a successful Swedish novelist, not to be confused with the even more successful late…
Sven
Scandinavian
"youth"
Especially for parents of Scandinavian descent, Sven is an accessible and attractive name with an appealing mix of strength and swagger. It comes from the ancient Swedish tribe, the Sviars, who gave…
Svend
Svend is a masculine Scandinavian name, particularly common in Denmark and Norway. It derives from the Old Norse name Sveinn, meaning "young man" or "boy." Historically, it was borne by several…
Sverre
Dutch, Norwegian
"wild"
An intriguingly wild alternative to Sven.
Thor
Norse and Scandinavian
"thunder"
Thor, the powerful name of the Norse god of thunder, strength and rain, would make a bold statement. Long a comic book staple, Thor has now invaded the big screen, and could land on birth…