671 Sweet Danish Baby Names For Your Precious Child

Discover the charm of Denmark through unique names that you did not know before.

Written by Kavita Kankani, MBA, BEd

Edited by Akshay Nair, MA

Fact-checked by N Pravenchandra Singh, MA

Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

If you’re expecting a bundle of joy and are thinking of giving him a Danish baby name, you have landed at the right place. Denmark, a country that embraces rules and regulations with huge enthusiasm, is very strict about the naming rules. A baby's first and last names are governed by law and must be approved by the Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs. The laws are designed to protect children who are burdened with silly and preposterous names by their parents. So you must choose names from the 7000 Western European and English names pre-approved by the government (1). But if you like a name that’s not mentioned in the list, you have to get it approved by the government by applying.

There are certain parts of Denmark where only one given name is used, while in other parts of the country, more than one name can also be used. Danish names with hyphens also rose to popularity in the 1900s; for instance, names like ‘Anna-Lisa’ were quite popular.

Around the 19th century, a common naming practice was followed in Denmark and across Europe. The first-born daughter would be named after her maternal grandmother, and the second-born daughter after her paternal grandmother. Similarly, the first-born son would be named after his paternal grandfather, and the second-born son after his maternal grandfather.

Danish names may keep coming in and going out of style, but one thing is sure, you can never write them off. Some names, such as Eva, Karen, and Cristofer, have been popular for generations. So from the birthplace of the Little Mermaid, Danish cheese, and Norse mythology, we have got you an equally magnificent collection of Danish baby names with meanings. Check them out below.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Olivia	Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Emma	Girl	Whole; Universal
Charlotte	Girl	Free person; Petite
Oliver	Boy	Olive; Olive tree planter; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
Benjamin	Boy	Son of the right hand; Son of the south
Isabella	Girl	God is my oath
Lucas	Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
Jack	Boy	God is gracious; Healthy; Supplanter
Alexander	Boy	Defender of mankind
Michael	Boy	Who is like God?

Sofia	Girl	Wisdom
Sebastian	Boy	From Sebaste; Venerable; Exalted
John	Boy	God is gracious
Nora	Girl	Light; Bright; Honor; Dignity; Victorious
Leo	Boy	Lion
Natalie	Girl	Birthday; Birthday of the God; Christmas; Festival of the nativity
Adrian	Boy	Man from Hadria
Kai	Boy	Sea; Keeper of the keys; Shell; Pier; From the sea
Christian	Boy	A Christian; Follower of Jesus Christ
Axel	Boy	Father is peace

Jonathan	Boy	Gift of God
Silas	Boy	Of the forest; Of the woods; Asked for; Prayed for
Sarah	Girl	Princess; Noblewoman
Iris	Girl	Rainbow; Bringer of Joy; Irish flower; Colored part of the eye
Vincent	Boy	Conquering
Lucia	Girl	Light
Arthur	Boy	Bear king; Bear
Alexandra	Girl	Defender or helper of the people
Kevin	Boy	Handsome by birth; Gentle; Lovable; Fair; Peace
August	Boy	Respected; Esteemed; Venerable; Exalted

Felix	Boy	Blessed with good fortune; Succesful
Sara	Girl	Lady; Princess; Noblewoman
Beckett	Boy	Beehive; Stream
Patrick	Boy	Nobleman
Peter	Boy	Rock; Stone
Richard	Boy	Brave ruler; Mighty king; Firm ruler
Lilly	Girl	Lily; Pure; Innocence; My God is an oath
Oscar	Boy	God's spear; Friend of deer
Lukas	Boy	Illumination; Light
Marcus	Boy	Warlike; Dedicated to Mars

Vera	Girl	Faith; Summer; Valor; Foreign
Elise	Girl	God is my oath
Mark	Boy	Mars; God of war; Male; Warlike; Hammer; Defender
Kenneth	Boy	Handsome; Comely; Respect
Walter	Boy	Army ruler; Power of the army
Tobias	Boy	Yahweh is good
Lena	Girl	Torch; Bright shining light; Of Magdala; Tower
Martin	Boy	The god of war; Mars; Dedicated to Mars; Warlike; Male
Camilla	Girl	Religious attendant; Priest's helper
Nina	Girl	Fire; Fish; Ancient city of Nineveh; Little girl; God is gracious; Strong

Heidi	Girl	Noble birth; Nobility
Hugo	Boy	Mind; Spirit; Thought
Astrid	Girl	Godly strength; Divine beauty
Maren	Girl	Of the sea; Star of the sea; True love; Ocean loving
Helen	Girl	Warm; Moon; To shine; Light; Sun
Mathias	Boy	God's gift
Frank	Boy	Free person; Open-hearted; Germanic tribe
Matthias	Boy	God's gift
Philip	Boy	Horse lover
Ruben	Boy	Behold, a son

Sylvia	Girl	A lady of the woods or forest
Edith	Girl	Prosperous in war; Fortunate battle
Emanuel	Boy	God is with us
Jonas	Boy	Dove; God is gracious
Analia	Girl	Gracious; Merciful; Favor
Gunnar	Boy	Bold warrior
Hanna	Girl	Favor; Grace; God has favored me
Mina	Girl	Precious blue stone; Love; A place near Makkah; Goddess of sun, moon, and stars; Fierce protector
Chris	Boy	Follower of Christ; Bearer of Christ
Johan	Boy	God is gracious

Rosa	Girl	Rose; Dew
Irene	Girl	Peace
Lliv	Girl	Life; Protection; Shelter; Olive
Monica	Girl	Advisor; Truth; Single; One; Counsel
Karla	Girl	Strong; Womanly; Free woman; Peasant; Little and strong
Johanna	Girl	God is gracious
Magnus	Boy	Large; Great
Aron	Boy	Exalted; High mountain; Teaching; Singing
Lea	Girl	Delicate; Weary
Jon	Boy	God is gracious

Axl	Boy	Father is peace
Jakob	Boy	Holder of the heel; Supplanter; May God protect
Linda	Girl	Beautiful; Soft; Flexible; Linden tree; to wait
Henrik	Boy	Lord of the house; Estate ruler 80
Anders	Boy	Manly; Male; Virility; Brave
Alfred	Boy	Elf counsel
Kristian	Boy	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Carl	Boy	Free man; Army
Iliana	Girl	From Ilium or Troy; God is Yahweh
Judith	Girl	Woman from Judea; Jewish woman; Praised

Frida	Girl	Peace; Beautiful; Beloved
Ingrid	Girl	Beautiful goddess of fertility; Godlike beauty
Elisabeth	Girl	My God is an oath; God's promise
Mattias	Boy	God's gift
Ida	Girl	Hardworking; Industrious person; Battle
Nathalie	Girl	Christmas day; Born on Christmas day
Markus	Boy	Mars; The god of war; Warlike; Male
Christine	Girl	Follower of Jesus Christ; Anointed
Viola	Unisex	Violet; A flowering plant
Agnes	Girl	Chaste; Pure

…

Danish baby names hold more than just labels. They can honor family ties and ancestors and mark important milestones. As Denmark has evolved, so have its naming trends, reflecting shifts in social norms and cultural influences. Today's Danish names mix old tradition with innovation, showing a balance between tradition and new ideas. These names tie people to their Danish heritage and show the culture's values, beliefs, and dreams.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do Danish naming traditions differ from naming traditions in other cultures?

The people of Danish culture followed a specific naming pattern until the 1850s. According to this pattern, the first boy was named after the father’s father, and the first girl was named after the mother’s mother. Similarly, the second boy was named after the mother’s father, and the second girl was named after the father’s mother. They also followed a patronymic surname system.

2. What are some unique Danish baby boy names that are not commonly used?

Some of the unique Danish boy names include Absalonis (reward from the Gods), Christoffer (bearer of Christ), Halvor (the chosen son), Frederik (the ruler of peace), and Bertil (intelligent). Though Chistopher is used, the old variation Christoffer is not common in the modern days.

3. What are some popular Danish baby girl names that have Nordic origins?

Annegrete (meaning God has answered the prayers), Bodil (meaning battle maiden), Gudrun (meaning God’s secret), and Jensine (meaning God is gracious) are a few of the many examples of Danish feminine names with Nordic origins.

4. Are there any famous or notable Danish men whose names are commonly used for baby boys?

The list of famous Danish men who are an inspiration includes Hans Christian Anderson (famous poet and author), Niels Bohr (physicist who received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922), and Viggo Mortensen (actor, musician, and poet best known for his roles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as Aragorn). Many Danish parents choose their names for their little ones.

Infographic: Insightful Danish Baby Names For Your Child

Danish baby names have much cultural significance, connecting individuals to their heritage and identity. They reflect traditional and modern elements and are often passed down through generations. These names also convey parents' aspirations for their children. Check out our hand-picked compilation of Danish names in this infographic to find one that fits your baby perfectly. You can even save it for later use.

thoughtful danish baby names with meanings (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

What’s in a Name?: In Denmark It’s More Complicated Than You Think.
https://www.msuilr.org/msuilr-legalforum-blogs/2018/9/11/whats-in-a-name-in-denmark-its-more-complicated-than-you-think

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Author Editor Fact Checker

Kavita KankaniMBA, BEd

Kavita has a diverse background in finance, human resources, and teaching. She did her MBA in Finance and HR at Solapur University, and bachelor in Education at Pune University. After working for three years in the banking industry, Kavita took up teaching before moving to writing.

Read full bio of Kavita Kankani

Akshay NairMA

Akshay is an associate editor and former journalist with more than four years of experience. A post graduate in Mass Communication and Journalism, he has strong professional and academic background in the field of content writing and editing.

Read full bio of Akshay Nair

N Pravenchandra SinghMA

Praven is an English literature expert. He did his bachelors in English from Delhi University and masters in English from Manipur University. Besides, he holds a certificate in multimedia design and content creation from NIELIT Imphal and presented papers at various national and international conferences.

Read full bio of N Pravenchandra Singh