List of names from Astrid Lindgren stories

Astrid Lindgren is a sacred part of every Scandinavian child's upbringing, the majority of us have read several of her stories, and seen the television adaptions of them. Lindgren had an exceptional way of capturing names that were both popular yet also quirky and unique when naming her characters. Several of the names enjoy a big popularity all over Scandinavia today still.
  1. Alfred
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "wise counselor; elf counsel"
    • Description:

      Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in several European countries, especially England and Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
  2. Alma
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "nurturing, soul"
    • Description:

      Alma is a somewhat solemn, soulful name that had a burst of popularity a century ago, then faded into the flowered wallpaper, and is now finding its footing once more.
  3. Alva
    • Origin:

      English form of Irish Ailbhe, Swedish and Norwegian feminine form of Alf
    • Meaning:

      "white; elf"
    • Description:

      While the male Alva or Alvah relates directly to the minor Biblical character, the female version is more likely an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ailbhe, or a feminine form the name Alf (and Alf- beginning names), popular in its native Sweden and Norway. Best known as Thomas Edison's middle name, Alva has true unisex roots.
  4. Anders
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Andrew
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"
    • Description:

      Friendly, unusual, but a decidedly Old Country version of Andrew and one of the classic Scandinavian names. It made a brief appearance in the US Top 1000 in 2006 and then reentered in 2010. Its rising popularity could be attributed to the interest in Anderson, which has been gaining steadily over the last fifteen years.

      Trivia tidbits: The patronymic Andersson is the second most popular surname in Sweden, and in Denmark, Donald Duck is called Anders.

  5. Anna
    • Origin:

      Variation of Hannah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
  6. Annika
    • Origin:

      Swedish diminutive of Anna
    • Meaning:

      "grace"
    • Description:

      Annika is a surprise hit of recent years, inspired by golfer Sorenstam; for Trekkies, it was also the name of a 'Star Trek:Voyager' character. Some people's first memory of it might be as Pippi Longstocking's friend. A nice namesake for an ancestral Ann.
  7. Anton
    • Origin:

      German, Russian, and Scandinavian variation of Anthony
    • Description:

      Cultured and cultivated in an old-style, Old World way. Sometimes associated with the classic writer Anton Chekhov. Al Pacino has a son with this name.
  8. Abbe
    • Agda
      • Birk
        • Britta
          • Origin:

            Scandinavian, variation of Birgit or Britt
          • Meaning:

            "strength or exalted one"
          • Description:

            If you want a pan-Scandinavian name with energy and style that could have been a winner, if not for the sound-alike water filtration company Brita.
        • Borka
          • Bosse
            • Emil
              • Origin:

                Latin
              • Meaning:

                "rival"
              • Description:

                Derived from the Latin word aemulus, Emil is a name with international appeal. Concise and sturdy but with the gentle Em sound, Emil is popular across Europe, from Azerbaijan to Finland, from Germany to Norway, and Denmark. Alternative spelling Emile also ranks highly in Belgium and Canada.
            • Erik
              • Origin:

                Spelling variation of Eric, Old Norse
              • Meaning:

                "eternal ruler"
              • Description:

                While substituting a C for a K is a modern trend, Erik is in fact the traditional spelling of the name, derived from the Old Norse Eiríkr and introduced to the English speaking world in the Anglo-Saxon period. Now, Erik is popular in Scandinavia and throughout much of Central and Eastern Europe, where it ranks in the Top 100 in Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, and more.
            • Fjosok
              • Greta
                • Origin:

                  German, diminutive of Margarethe
                • Meaning:

                  "pearl"
                • Description:

                  Greta is an Old World name long tied to the iconic Garbo, but now synonymous with environmental activism.
              • Hubert
                • Origin:

                  German
                • Meaning:

                  "bright, shining intellect"
                • Description:

                  A name that sounds so old-fashioned some parents out there might conceivably find it quirky enough for a comeback, along with other one-time fuddie-duddies like Oscar and Homer.
              • Ida
                • Origin:

                  German
                • Meaning:

                  "industrious one"
                • Description:

                  Many vowel names stylish a century ago are coming back, and Ida seems like a possible, logical successor to Ada and Ava.
              • Joen