User-created list
Names I love
Across 4 pages
of 4
Liv
Diminutive of Olivia, English, Norse
"olive tree; life, protection"
Liv combines the succinct charm of a nickname—people might assume it's short for Olivia—with the solidity of being a classic stand-alone Scandinavian name with a life-force meaning. It was brought…
Angus
Anglicized form of Aonghus, Aonghas, Gaelic
"one strength"
Angus is a traditional yet stylish choice in the UK, especially in Scotland. And it's a cool choice for US parents too, particularly those whose roots go back to Glasgow. The ancient Celtic form…
Belle
Short form of Isabelle or French
"beautiful"
Belle has nothing but positive associations, from "belle of the ball" to "Southern belle" to the heroine of Disney's Beauty and the Beast . As if this weren't enough good things, Belle is also one of…
Benja
Benja is a masculine name with multiple cultural connections. It can function as a shortened form of Benjamin, which has Hebrew origins meaning "son of the right hand" or "son of the south." In…
Daan
Scandinavian & Dutch variation of Daniel
"God is my judge"
Dan with a little something extra.
DOUWE
GÉZA
Iwan
Iwan is a masculine name that serves as the Welsh, Polish, and Belarusian variant of John, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' This version maintains the…
Jann
Jann is a masculine name with multiple origins, functioning as a variant of Jan (the Dutch, Polish, and Scandinavian form of John) or as a shortened form of Jannik. Ultimately derived from the Hebrew…
Jesper
Jesper is a masculine name of Scandinavian origin, particularly popular in Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. It developed as a variation of the name Jasper, which derives from Persian meaning…
Justus
Latin
"just"
More unusual than Justin, less word-like than Justice, this New Testament name could make an intriguing choice. After being off the popularity lists from 1904 to 1993, it is now being used in steady…
Kasper
Polish variation of Casper, form of Jasper, Persian
"bringer of treasure"
Jasper and its many international variations, from Kasper to Casper to Gaspard, is finding new popularity.
Lasse
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish form of Laurence, Latin
"from Laurentum; bay laurel"
Well used throughout The Netherlands, Germany, Norway, and Denmark, Lasse is a variation of Laurence, typically used as a nickname for the related Lars. While English speakers may be tempted to say…
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…
MALTHE
MANS
Mats
Scandinavian diminutive of Matthias, Aramaic
"gift of God"
If you're looking for a Euro-chic alternative to Max, Mats is a strong possibility. It's a fading classic in Norway, but is popular in the Netherlands and Belgium, where short names are the height of…
MELLE
Nils
Scandinavian variation of Nicholas
"people of victory"
Like Lars, Sven, Niels, and Nels, an unjustly neglected straightforward Scandinavian name. Surname Nilsson or the anglicized Nelson derives from Nils.
Ole
Ole is a masculine name with strong Scandinavian roots, functioning as the Danish and Norwegian form of Olaf. Derived from the Old Norse name Óláfr, comprised of 'anu' meaning 'ancestor' and 'leifr'…