Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Swedish baby names have gained global appeal due to their elegance and simplicity. The land is home to some beautiful, sweet, and adorable baby names you'll ever hear. Most popular names in America have Swedish variations, albeit with a Scandinavian flair. In Sweden, the baby is given one or more given names and a surname. Sweden is quite strict when it comes to names. There's a Swedish naming law that approves the names desired by parents. Parents must submit a form with the desired name within three months of the child's birth. The first name will not be approved if it can cause embarrassment to the child in the future or if they are not suitable as first names. This law was passed in 1982 to prevent non-aristocratic families from giving their children names reserved for noble and aristocratic families. The following year, the law was revised to allow men to adopt their wife's or partner's name and women to adopt their husband's name. The Swedish government relaxed its rule in 2016 and will enable people to change their name as often as they wish (1). Various elements inspire Swedish baby names. Norse mythology plays a considerable role while choosing names. Names like Freya and Alvis find favor because of their positive associations with mythology. Moreover, Sweden's world-famous nature is a constant inspiration for baby names. Arvid and Svea describe the country and its beauties. Historical names such as Erik and Isabella always find a place in Swedish society. Swedish literature has also contributed several names, such as Ronja and Smilla, to Swedish parents. In recent years, celebrities have turned the spotlight on Swedish names. Ingrid Bergman, Alicia Vikander, Alexander Skarsgård, and Dolph Lundgren are Swedish actors who have made a mark in Hollywood. Let's look at some of the most famous Swedish names ever. We have arranged the names according to their traditional gender usage and meaning to help you pick the perfect Swedish baby name.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Folke |  |  Boy | People; Humans; A chief |
| Freja | |  Girl | Lady; Goddess of beauty, love, and war |
| Geat | | Boy | One who is from Gautland |
| Gerhard | | Boy | German, Swedish and Dutch form of Gerard; Spear; Brave; Hardy |
| Germund | | Girl | Protector of mankind; Shelter of human being |
| Gottfrid | | Boy | God's peace |
| Guppa | | Boy | To catch or take something from; Purposeful; Clever; Expressive |
| Gustaff | | Boy | Staff of the Gods; Staff of the Goths |
| Gusten | |  Unisex | Concurred a lot of admiration; A result of age, intelligence, or character |
| Haidi | | Girl | Stranger or flight |
| Haifa | | Girl | Well-shaped; Slim; Delicate |
| Haldo | | Boy | Highest in Race; Exalted Son |
| Halen | | Boy | Hall |
| Hannus | | Unisex | God is generous; God is gracious |
| Harald | | Boy | War chief |
| Hariulf | | Boy | Unknown meaning |
| Helmar | | Boy | Famous Protector |
| Helvi | | Girl | Flake |
| Hendrik | | Boy | Rules the home |
| Henke | | Boy | Ruler of the house |
| Heorrenda | | Boy | An army shield |
| Hilmar | | Boy | Notorious; Noble |
| Hugo | | Boy | Mind; Spirit |
| Ikea | | Unisex | Nordic, modern, minimalist |
| Jager | | Boy | To chase; To hunt |
| Jannicke | | Girl | Gracious God |
| Joh | | Boy | God is Gracious,merciful; God has favoured; One who wants to improve the lives of others |
| Johansson | | Unisex | Son of Johan |
| Junis | | Unisex | Born in June |
| Jurdik | | Boy | Law |
| Kerry | | Girl | Christian |
| Kerstina | | Girl | A Christian |
| Kerstine | | Girl | A Christian woman |
| Klas | | Boy | Victory of people |
| Lajla | | Girl | Beauty of the night; Dark haired beauty |
| Lau | | Boy | Nordic name from a place name, Laurentum |
| Laura | | Girl | Laurel; Victory |
| Lennart | | Boy | Lion |
| Leva | | Girl | To live |
| Lexandra | | Girl | Defender of men; A variant of Alexandra |
| Liam | | Boy | Strong-willed warrior |
| Lias | | Boy | A promice made by God |
| Lilly | | Girl | Lily; Pure; Innocence |
| Lindbergh | | Boy | A mountain where the lime trees grow |
| Linn | | Girl | A name of a flower; Commonly known as twin flower |
| Linna | | Girl | A name of the small blue flower |
| Linnae | | Girl | A Girl named after a twinflower |
| Linnaea | | Girl | A small bluish flower type; A twinflower |
| Linnaeus | | Boy | A boy named after a blue flower; A twinflower |
| Linne | | Boy | A person named after the twinflower |
| Linnea | | Girl | Twinflower |
| Linnel | | Boy | He who is like a twinflower |
| Lorens | | Boy | A man from Laurentum; Ancient Italian city |
| Lucas | | Boy | Bringer of light |
| Magna | | Girl | A mighty; Strong woman |
| Magnar | | Boy | A Mighty leader of the army |
| Magne | | Boy | A magnificent fighter and leader |
| Malena | | Girl | High tower |
| Marikka | | Girl | A woman of turbulent personality |
| Marriba | | Girl | A woman considered the star of the sea |
| Marric | | Boy | He is the star of the sea |
| Mats | | Boy | Gift from God |
| Medeleine | | Girl | From Magdala; From the high tower |
| Meja | | Girl | Power; Strength |
| Melker | | Boy | The male sovereign; Ruler of a kingdom |
| Nalle | | Girl | A pet teddy bear |
| Nichlas | | Boy | The person who always holds the winning title |
| Nillan | | Unisex | New arable land |
| Noah | | Unisex | Rest |
| Nobel | | Unisex | Belonging to nobility or of noble character |
| Ohthere | | Boy | A true champion; One who is a champ or ahead of all |
| Olander | | Boy | The one who is having a quick and penetrating intelligence |
| Olaus | | Boy | Son of Prahalada |
| Olin | | Boy | Come to; Take over to; Succeed to |
| Oliver | | Boy | Olive tree planter |
| Olivia | | Girl | Peace; Olive tree |
| Olle | | Boy | One who inherits title or office |
| Ollen | | Boy | Inheritance of a title |
| Olof | | Boy | Remnant, leftover, vestige, or artifact |
| Ongentheow | | Boy | A Swedish king who is mighty and powerful |
| Onlaf | | Boy | A relic or a historical heritage |
| Orpheus | | Boy | The darkness of night |
| Oscar | | Boy | Deer loving one; Friend of deer |
| Oskar | | Boy | God's spear; Deer's friend |
| Peik | | Boy | A troll boy; stone or rock |
| Pelle | | Boy | One which is a variation of Peter |
| Pixie | | Girl | A tiny, green, pointy-eared fairy |
| Povel | | Boy | A small and humble individual |
| Quenby | | Girl | Womanly |
| Ragnar | | Boy | Army; Counsel; Judgement |
| Rambo | | Boy | The reckless one |
| Randulf | | Boy | Edge of the wolf's shield |
| Regitze | | Boy | A mighty and distinguished person |
| Reimond | | Boy | A ruler who has received good advice |
| Reno | | Boy | The one who was reborn |
| Rikke | | Boy | A mighty and rich ruler |
| Rikki | | Boy | One who rules with a firm hand |
| Ronja | | Girl | A daughter of a robber |
| Ronya | | Girl | She who is a daughter of a robber |
| Ros | | Girl | A woman with the qualities of a rose |
Swedish baby names have attained global popularity due to their elegance. It is common to find these names in use in several English-speaking countries. Swedes use Norse mythology, history, and nature as inspirations for choosing baby names. Swedish baby names also may describe positive qualities in a person. Choosing a Swedish baby name for your little one can instantly add a Scandinavian flair to the bearer.
Infographic: Scintillating Swedish Baby Names
Swedish baby names are known for their elegance and simplicity. It is no surprise, therefore, that these names are used in several countries around the world, including several English-speaking countries. If you are looking for charming names for your little one, take a look at this infographic for some amazing Swedish baby names to consider.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the names of princesses in Sweden?
Some names borne by Swedish princesses are Catherine (meaning pure), Anna (favor, grace), Sophia (queen), Elizabeth (God is my oath), and Sigrid (victory).
2. Do Swedish names often have a connection to nature or the environment?
Yes, many Swedish names can be associated with nature and the environment. This can be seen in Swedish last names as well. They can be derived from plants, animals or the Earth’s topography. Some examples are Adam meaning son of the Earth, Affton derived from the river Afton, Ame, which means eagle, and Aron means tall mountains or mountains of strength.
3. Can Swedish names be used by people who are not of Swedish descent?
Yes, people who are not of Swedish descent can use Swedish names. But it is important to remember that while choosing names that belong to a different culture, it is necessary to respect and honor the cultural significance and pronunciations of the name.
4. What are some Swedish names that have a royal connection?
Some Swedish names that have a direct connection to the Swedish monarchy include Olof or Olov, which means ancestor’s legacy, Anund means ancestor’s victor, Halsten means rock, Inge is derived from the Germanic god Ing, and Gustaf, which means staff of the Geats.
References
- Sweden: New Law Regulating Names Adopted.
https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2016-12-15/sweden-new-law-regulating-names-adopted/
