User-created list
Names from the North
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Ida
German
"industrious one"
Many vowel names stylish a century ago are coming back, and Ida seems like a possible, logical successor to Ada and Ava. A century ago, Ida was considered "sweet as apple cider," and was Number 10 on…
Ilse
Dutch variation of Ilsa
"pledged to God"
Pronounced with two syllables, as if spelled Ilsa, Ilse is popular in The Netherlands and may rise here with cousin Elsa.
Inga
Norse
"guarded by Ing"
Ing was a powerful Norse god whose name inspired several modern variations -- though Inga has become a caricatured Scandinavian choice.
Ingela
Ingela is a feminine Swedish name derived from the Old Norse name Ingegerd, which combines elements meaning 'Ing' (the name of a Norse god) and 'guard' or 'protection.' This elegant Scandinavian name…
Ingrid
Norse
"fair; Ing is beautiful"
The luminous Ingrid Bergman's appeal was strong enough to lend universal charisma to this classic Scandinavian name, which has been somewhat neglected in the US. Even today, a child named Ingrid…
Isa
Germanic, Persian, or diminutive of Isabel
"ice; strong-willed; pledged to God"
Isa is a name unto itself as both a Persian name meaning "strong-willed" and as Germanic one derived from the element is meaning "ice". It can also be a short form of Isabel, Isabella, Isadora,…
Ivalo
Greenlandic
"thread, sinew"
This is a Greenlandic girls' name made royal when Prince Frederik and Princess Mary - now King and Queen - named their twin daughter Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda.
Kaja
Scandinavian diminutive of Katarina, Polish variation of Gaia or Estonian
"pure; earth mother; rejoice; echo"
Short, sharp, and pretty, Kaja is an international choice with multiple origins. Favored in Slovenia, Norway, and Poland, the similar Kaia is currently popular more widely. Most often used as a…
Kajsa
Swedish diminutive of Katarina or Katharina
"pure"
A bright and spiky diminutive of Katarina, this short form was in the Swedish Top 100 during the 2000s.
Karen
Danish variation of Katherine, Japanese
"pure; lotus flower"
Karen, a once sweet Danish import, was so popular during the baby boom (Karen was Number 3 in 1960) that it's become a mem in recent years, representing a hostile white woman—one who usually wants to…
Karin
Danish variation of Katherine or Karen
"pure"
Karin was a fairly popular spelling variation of Karen in the US but fell off the Top 1000 in the late 80s, as Karen's popularity wained. Today, the Karen meme interferes with the otherwise appealing…
Karsten
Karsten as a feminine name is a very unusual usage of what is traditionally a masculine name of Germanic and Scandinavian origin. Derived from the name Carsten, itself a variant of Christian, Karsten…
Katrine
Katrine is a feminine name of Scandinavian, German, and French origin, serving as a variant of Katherine or Katharina. The name ultimately derives from the Greek 'Aikaterine' or 'Hekaterine,' whose…
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.
Lilja
Icelandic, Faroese, and Finnish variation of Lily; "lily"
"lily"
Cute and quirky Lily alternative.
Linde
Dutch variation of Linda, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
"pretty"
A popular and stylish choice in The Netherlands where it ranked in the Top 100 in a recent year, Linde has a sleek look and a pretty meaning. Pronounced just like Linda, it may feel dated in the US…
Linnea
Swedish
"twinflower, lime tree"
Linnea is an attractive Scandinavian name that derives from the renowned 18th century Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who developed the Linnean system of classifying plants and animals. Linnea is…
Lise
Diminutive of Elisabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Lise is most often found in the U.S. as the second half of the hybrid name Annalise. Canadian journalist Lyse Doucet bears a pretty alternative spelling, pronounced LEESE.
Liva
Danish
"variant of Lifa"
In old Norse mythology Lifa/Liva is one of only two people that are destined to survive Ragnarok (Nordic armageddon) and will therefore be the parents of a new race of man.
Lova
Diminutive of Lovisa, Swedish
"renowned warrior"
Lova, a Louise relative virtually unknown in the US, is one of the top girl names in Sweden .