336 Norwegian Baby Names From The Land Of Fjords

From the mighty goddess to warriors, classic names from the Scandinavian island.

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Last Updated on Jul 24, 2024

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Norwegian baby names have historical associations and beautiful meanings, making them a perfect naming option. Norwegian first names were generally unisex and influenced by ancient Norse names such as Olef, Haakon, Idona, and Erik. They are inspired by nature, mythological gods and goddesses, social status, and ancient virtues associated with rulers or warriors. These names were traditionally followed until they were introduced to Christianity and names inspired by Biblical characters. This led to the introduction of gender specificity in Norwegian names. Additionally, this religious integration also impacted their traditional naming traditions. The Norwegian baby-naming patterns have changed significantly throughout the centuries. Initially, a child could be given just one given name and no surname. A patronymic naming pattern existed, with names ending in suffixes such as –sson and -ssen for sons and -sdatter and -sdotter for daughters. Later, the double ‘s’ was dropped from male surname suffixes and the single ‘s’ was dropped from the female surname suffixes. Around a hundred years ago, there was a custom of using combination names. Parents gave their children as many as five names, including parents, grandparents, relatives, and even ancestors. When the Norwegians immigrated to America, they did not consistently use surnames. So in 1923, a law was ordered in which each family could have a single family name handed down through the generations. In addition, names based on paternal names, place of residence, and those acquired through marriage were also considered (1). While most families adopted a patronymic name, some even adopted occupational surnames, place surnames, or characteristic surnames. However, despite all these adaptations, Norwegian people continue to stick to their distinct cultural roots and mythologically inspired virtues. Thus, the following list brings you an exhaustive collection of baby names with meanings from the world of Norwegia.

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Olivia	Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Emma	Girl	Whole; Universal
Oliver	Boy	Olive tree planter
William	Boy	Will; Protector
Ella	Girl	Beautiful light; Goddess
Jacob	Boy	May God protect; Holder of the heel; Supplanter
Sarah	Girl	Princess; Noblewoman
Norah	Girl	Honor; Respect; Shining light; Sunrays
Erick	Boy	Ruler of the people
Erik	Boy	Ruler of the world

Phillip	Boy	Horse lover
Soren	Boy	Stern; Severe
Bjorn	Boy	Bear
Leif	Boy	A descendant; Dearly beloved
Ingrid	Girl	Goddess of fertility
Erika	Girl	Eternal ruler
Emilie	Girl	Someone who is extremely laborious and hard working
Emil	Boy	Rival
Oskar	Boy	God's spear; Deer's friend
Finnigan	Boy	Descendants of the fair ones

Ericka	Girl	A feminized form of the name Erick meaning ruler of people
Torben	Boy	The bear of the thunder god
Erickson	Boy	Son of Erik; Son of ruler
Solveig	Girl	Woman of the house; Strength of the sun
Arkyn	Boy	Eternal king's son.
Haakon	Boy	High son; Descendant
Erich	Boy	Ruler of the people
Erling	Boy	Heir of clanchief
Inga	Girl	The hero's daughter
Ericson	Boy	Son of a ruler named Erik

Eryk	Boy	Someone who is a ruler for eternity
Nils	Boy	Accomplishment or feat of the people
Fenris	Boy	Name of a mythical monster
Esten	Boy	Eastern town or island
Thorsen	Boy	Son of Thor
Tove	Girl	Good
Everton	Boy	A Norwegian word meaning wild boar
Nikolina	Girl	One who achieves victory for people
Aesir	Boy	Of the Gods
Nore	Unisex	A small river in Ireland

Eryka	Girl	Someone who rules for eternity
Trygve	Boy	A person who overcomes as a winner by his braveness
Erikson	Boy	Son or Erik; Ruler of the people
Floki	Boy	A heroic viking.
Erikka	Girl	A ruler
Roen	Unisex	Peaceful; Calm
Erico	Boy	Someone who rules the people of a land
Jannie	Girl	God is gracious
Kjell	Boy	Cettle
Tone	Girl	A new thunder; Storm

Trygg	Boy	Protection; Shelter; Shield
Rebekka	Girl	A girl who traps and baits
Armod	Boy	Name of Geirleif's blood brother
Errika	Girl	One who rules eternally
Aarvik	Boy	Strong; Courageous
Hela	Girl	Goddess of the underworld
Freyr	Boy	Norse God of weather
Erix	Boy	Island ruler; Eternal ruler
Iselin	Unisex	Noble; Exalted leader
Holter	Unisex	From the wooded hill

Kreston	Boy	Follower of Christ
Rissa	Unisex	Little laughter; Joyful one
Astryd	Girl	Divine strength
Beret	Girl	A glorious and bright individual
Rurik	Boy	A notable, legendary ruler
Sutherland	Boy	The Southern land
Halla	Girl	An unexpected gift; Half protected
Solie	Unisex	Dignified
Rebekkah	Girl	She who traps and baits people
Kjersti	Girl	A variant of Christina; The Christian one

Ronya	Girl	She who is a daughter of a robber
Kjerstin	Girl	She is the follower of Christ
Ronja	Girl	A daughter of a robber
Silje	Girl	A diminutive of Cecilia; A blind woman
Reka	Girl	A mighty, distinguished person
Elias	Boy	One who believes Yahweh is the Lord
Ansfrid	Boy	Protected by God
Arild	Boy	War chief; Battle commander
Arwed	Boy	Eagle of the woods; Clear minded and has good judgement
Asgrim	Boy	Name of a thief; leadership ability

Aud	Girl	Deserted or isolated
Audny	Girl	New prosperity
Beorhtel	Boy	He who shines with a bright light
Berdon	Boy	Norwegian variant of Berton, Bergtor
Berrant	Boy	One who is like a strong bear
Bork	Boy	One who is killed by a gunnar
Borre	Boy	He who is a great help
Bragi	Boy	First and foremost; Poetry; Name of Norse God of poetry
Brander	Boy	Fiery sword
Bugga	Boy	A man of power

Bugge	Boy	A powerful man
Eiel	Boy	one who is born to inspire fright
Eivind	Boy	Happy warrior; one who brings peace
Erec	Boy	Always mighty
Erkenbaud	Boy	An ancient king of Northumberland
Erkengota	Girl	An ancient character of mythology
Ernaline	Girl	Capable; Serious; Battle to the death
Erneburga	Girl	A historical figure in Yorkshire
Eskil	Boy	God; Divinity
Estrith	Girl	A royal person of Norway

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Norwegian baby names continue to reflect the nation's history, culture, and values. With their ties to nature, lineage, religion, and social ideals, these names glimpse the deep-rooted historical connections Norwegians maintain while embracing the future. Whether inspired by ancient legends or Christian trends, the above-given Norwegian names carry a piece of the country's heart and soul. This beautifully blends heritage and progress into a harmonious union.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What restrictions exist on the names that can be given to babies in Norway?

The Norwegian Names Act of 2022 regulates the names given to children. Any person can change their family name to a common family name. Norway's strict naming laws are aimed at protecting children from strange-looking names. You can even end up in jail if you give a name banned in Norway, such as swear names or names of medicines and diseases. Some examples of acceptable names are Raabi, Gesher, Glisur, and Dits (2).

2. How do Norwegian baby names reflect the country's culture and history?

Norwegian names reflect the Old Norse Mythology. Some examples of such names are Oskar, meaning spear of Gods, and Thor or the God of strength. Astrid and Kaia are Scandinavian roots. The former means divinely beautiful, while the latter means pure or the sea. Ellinor means the other Aenor. One of the first females named Eleanor was the 12th-century queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Hanna, meaning Yahweh is gracious, is another Norwegian name with Greek roots that reflect the country's culture.

3. What does the Norwegian baby name Maren, Olav, and Astrid mean?

Maren is a Latin feminine name that means 'star of the sea.' Olav is a Dutch, Polish, Scandinavian, and German name. It means ancestor's relic or heirloom. Astrid is a modern form of Ástríðr and means 'divinely beautiful.'

4. Which Norwegian baby names are also popular in other countries?

Many Norwegian baby names have become popular across Europe today. Many of them are inspired by Norse mythology, and some are Viking warrior names. Some examples include Anders, meaning brave, Ingrid, meaning beautiful, Karl, meaning free man, Ella, meaning fairy maiden, and Karolina, meaning warrior.

Infographic: Mesmerizing Norwegian Baby Names With Meanings

From nature-inspired to heroic names, Norwegian naming practices intertwine tradition and history with societal values. With evolution and modernization, these names continue to hold on to their Nordic roots and mythological tales. Delve into the mesmerizing blend of history, culture, and tradition hidden within modern-sounding names with the following infographic.

marvelous norwegian names for your baby (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.

Norway Personal Names.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Norway_Personal_Names#:~:text=1923%20Law%20on%20Personal%20Names%5B,a%20woman%20receives%20her%20husband%27s%20surname
These 11 countries are banning certain baby names because you can't be trusted.
https://theworld.org/stories/2014-04-01/these-11-countries-are-banning-certain-baby-names-because-you-cant-be-trusted

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.