Scandinavian girl names typically have some distinct characteristics. Here are some common traits of Scandinavian girl names:
- Simplicity: Many Scandinavian girl names are simple and straightforward, with few syllables and a clean, modern feel.
- Nature-inspired: There are a lot of Scandinavian girl names that are inspired by nature, such as Linnea (a type of flower), Fjord (a type of landscape), and Eira (which means “snow”).
- Gender-neutral: There are many Scandinavian girl names that can also be used as boy names, such as Ingrid, Toril, and Siv.
- Mythological or historical references: Many Scandinavian girl names are rooted in Nordic mythology or history. For example, Freya (the Norse goddess of love and fertility), Astrid (meaning “divinely beautiful,” and also the name of a queen in medieval Swedish history), and Saga (which means “story”).
- Strong meanings: Scandinavian girl names often have strong meanings, such as Signe (meaning “victorious”), Solveig (meaning “strong house” or “sun strength”), and Ingeborg (meaning “protected by Ing,” where Ing is an ancient Germanic god).
Overall, Scandinavian girl names tend to be simple yet powerful, and often reflect a connection to nature and history.
Scandinavian Girl Names with Meanings
Here are some Scandinavian girl names along with their meanings:
- Astrid – meaning “divinely beautiful”
- Freya – meaning “lady” or “goddess of love and fertility”
- Greta – meaning “pearl”
- Ingrid – meaning “beautiful” or “fair”
- Karin – meaning “pure”
- Linnea – meaning “lime tree”
- Maren – meaning “of the sea”
- Signe – meaning “new victory”
- Thora – meaning “thunder goddess”
- Vigdis – meaning “battle goddess”
These names have a long history in Scandinavia and continue to be popular choices for parents today.
They are strong and feminine, and they may be a great choice if you want a name that has a connection to Scandinavian culture and heritage.
Scandinavian Girl Names That Start With… (A-Z)
Here are some Scandinavian girl names that start with each letter of the alphabet:
A:
- Astrid: “divinely beautiful”; the name of a queen in medieval Swedish history
- Anja: a diminutive of Anne, meaning “gracious” or “full of grace”
B:
- Bodil: “remedy, penance”
- Berit: “bright”
C:
- Camilla: a Latin name that became popular in Scandinavia in the 19th century
D:
- Dagmar: “day’s glory”
- Dagny: “new day”
E:
- Eira: “snow”
- Elin: “light”
F:
- Freya: the Norse goddess of love, fertility, war, and death
- Frida: “peaceful”
G:
- Greta: a diminutive of Margaret, meaning “pearl”
- Gunhild: “battle maiden”
H:
- Hanne: a diminutive of Johanne, meaning “God is gracious”
- Hedda: “battle” or “strife”
I:
- Ingrid: “beautiful” or “fair”; also the name of several Swedish queens
- Ida: “industrious” or “hardworking”
J:
- Johanna: a variant of John, meaning “God is gracious”
- Josefine: a Scandinavian variant of Josephine, meaning “God will add”
K:
- Karin: a variant of Katherine, meaning “pure”
- Kari: “pure”
L:
- Linnea: a type of flower that grows in Scandinavia
- Lovisa: a variant of Louise, meaning “renowned warrior”
M:
- Marit: “pearl”
- Matilda: a Germanic name meaning “mighty in battle”
N:
- Nanna: the name of a Norse goddess and wife of Balder
- Noomi: a Scandinavian variant of Naomi, meaning “pleasantness”
O:
- Oda: “wealth” or “fortune”
- Olivia: a Latin name that has become popular in Scandinavia in recent years
P:
- Pernilla: a diminutive of Petronilla, meaning “little rock”
- Petra: “rock”
Q:
- Queenie: a name that can be found in Scandinavian countries, often as a nickname for girls named Regina
R:
- Ragnhild: “advice in battle”
- Ronja: a name invented by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren for the protagonist of her novel “Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter”
S:
- Saga: “story”
- Signe: “victorious”
T:
- Tove: “beautiful”
- Thea: a Scandinavian variant of Theodora, meaning “gift of God”
U:
- Ulla: a diminutive of Ursula, meaning “little bear”
- Unn: “loved one”
V:
- Vendela: a name that was invented in the 19th century and became popular in Scandinavia
- Vigdis: “battle goddess”
W:
- Wilhelmina: a Germanic name meaning “resolute protection”
- Wiktoria: a Scandinavian variant of Victoria, meaning “victory”
X:
- Xenia: a Greek name meaning “hospitality”; this name is not common in Scandinavia, but can be found in some families
Y:
- Ylva: “she-wolf”
- Yrsa: the name of a legendary queen in Nordic mythology
Z:
- Zara: a name of Arabic origin that has become popular in Scandinavia in recent years
- Zofia: a Scandinavian variant of Sophia, meaning “wisdom”
Modern Nordic Girl Names
If you’re looking for some modern Nordic girl names, here are some options:
- Ebba – meaning “strength”
- Embla – meaning “elm tree”
- Freja – meaning “goddess of love, fertility, and war”
- Hanne – meaning “gracious”
- Hedda – meaning “battle”
- Ida – meaning “industrious one”
- Liv – meaning “life”
- Nella – meaning “bright one”
- Saga – meaning “tale” or “story”
- Tova – meaning “beautiful Thor” or “good Thor”
These names have a fresh and modern feel while still drawing on Nordic tradition and heritage.
They may be a great choice if you’re looking for something that feels current and trendy.
Female Viking Names For Your Baby
Popular Scandinavian Girl Names
Here are some of the most popular Scandinavian girl names:
- Alma – meaning “soul”
- Emma – meaning “universal” or “entire”
- Hanna – meaning “grace” or “favor”
- Ingrid – meaning “fair” or “beautiful”
- Johanna – meaning “God is gracious”
- Lina – meaning “tender” or “delicate”
- Maja – meaning “pearl”
- Malin – meaning “little strong warrior”
- Sara – meaning “princess” or “lady”
- Sofie – meaning “wisdom”
These names are all very popular in Scandinavia and have a long history in the region. They may be a great choice if you’re looking for a name that is both traditional and modern.
Best Nordic Girl Names
Here are some of the best Nordic girl names that are beautiful and meaningful:
- Freya: The name of the Norse goddess of love, fertility, war, and death. It means “lady” or “mistress.”
- Astrid: This name means “divinely beautiful” or “fair.” It was the name of a queen in medieval Swedish history.
- Ingrid: This name means “beautiful” or “fair.” It was also the name of several Swedish queens.
- Sigrid: This name means “victory, wisdom, and beauty.” It was the name of several Viking-era queens.
- Siv: This name means “bride” or “wife.” It is also the name of a goddess in Norse mythology.
- Gudrun: This name means “god’s secret lore” or “god’s love.” It was the name of several powerful women in Nordic sagas.
- Eira: This name means “snow.” It is a unique and beautiful choice for a Nordic-inspired name.
- Solveig: This name means “strong house” or “sun strength.” It was the name of the heroine in Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt.
- Saga: This name means “story.” It is a beautiful and unusual choice for a Nordic girl name.
- Thora: This name means “thunder” or “goddess of thunder.” It was the name of a powerful queen in Viking-era Norway.
Overall, Nordic girl names are often inspired by nature, mythology, and history, and have powerful meanings.
They are often simple and elegant, and are a great choice for parents looking for a unique and meaningful name for their daughter.
Badass Scandinavian Girl Names
If you’re looking for some badass Scandinavian girl names, here are some options:
- Aila – meaning “strong and resilient”
- Eira – meaning “merciful” or “compassionate”
- Freya – meaning “lady” or “goddess of love and fertility”
- Hilde – meaning “battle”
- Kari – meaning “curly-haired”
- Maren – meaning “of the sea”
- Runa – meaning “secret” or “whisper”
- Sigrid – meaning “victory” and “beautiful”
- Thora – meaning “thunder goddess”
- Valkyrie – in Norse mythology, the Valkyries were female warriors who chose the bravest of fallen warriors to be taken to Valhalla
These names are strong, bold, and pack a punch.
They may be a great choice if you want to give your daughter a name that exudes power and confidence.
Northern European Girl Names
Here are some beautiful Northern European girl names:
- Anja: This name means “grace” and is a diminutive of Anne.
- Astrid: This name means “divinely beautiful” and was the name of a queen in medieval Swedish history.
- Brynhild: This name means “armored battle maiden” and was the name of a legendary warrior woman in Norse mythology.
- Dagmar: This name means “day’s glory” and was the name of a queen in Denmark.
- Eira: This name means “snow” and is of Welsh origin, but is also used in Northern Europe.
- Freya: This name means “lady” or “mistress” and is the name of the Norse goddess of love, fertility, war, and death.
- Greta: This name means “pearl” and is a diminutive of Margaret.
- Ingrid: This name means “beautiful” or “fair” and was the name of several Swedish queens.
- Kari: This name means “pure” and is a popular name in Norway.
- Maren: This name means “sea of bitterness” and is a variation of the name Mary.
- Ragnhild: This name means “advice in battle” and was the name of several powerful women in Norse mythology.
- Selma: This name means “god helmet” and is a popular name in Sweden.
- Solveig: This name means “strong house” or “sun strength” and is a popular name in Norway.
- Thora: This name means “thunder” or “goddess of thunder” and was the name of a powerful queen in Viking-era Norway.
Norwegian Girl Names
Below are some Norwegian girl names with their meanings:
- Astrid – meaning “divinely beautiful”
- Elin – meaning “bright, shining one”
- Hilde – meaning “battle”
- Ingrid – meaning “beautiful” or “fair”
- Kari – meaning “curly-haired”
- Liv – meaning “life”
- Nora – meaning “honor” or “light”
- Solveig – meaning “path of the sun”
- Tove – meaning “beautiful Thor” or “good Thor”
- Vilde – meaning “wild” or “untamed”
These names have a long history in Norway and are still popular choices for parents today.
They are strong and feminine, and many have connections to nature and the outdoors.
Swedish Girl Names
Here are some Swedish girl names along with their meanings:
- Ebba – meaning “strength”
- Elsa – meaning “noble” or “respected”
- Freja – meaning “goddess of love, fertility, and war”
- Greta – meaning “pearl”
- Hedda – meaning “battle”
- Ingrid – meaning “fair” or “beautiful”
- Klara – meaning “bright” or “clear”
- Linnea – meaning “lime tree”
- Maja – meaning “pearl”
- Saga – meaning “tale” or “story”
These names are all very popular in Sweden and have a long history in the region. They are strong and feminine, and many have connections to nature and mythology.
Danish Girl Names
Here are some beautiful Danish girl names:
- Agnes: This name means “pure” or “holy” and is of Greek origin.
- Bodil: This name means “remedy” or “penance” and was the name of a medieval Danish queen.
- Dagmar: This name means “day’s glory” and was the name of a Danish queen.
- Emilie: This name means “rival” or “industrious” and is a variation of the name Emily.
- Freja: This name means “lady” or “mistress” and is the name of the Norse goddess of love, fertility, war, and death.
- Hanne: This name means “grace” and is a diminutive of Johanne.
- Ida: This name means “industrious one” and is a popular name in Denmark.
- Karen: This name means “pure” and is a popular name in Denmark.
- Liv: This name means “life” and is a popular name in Denmark.
- Maja: This name means “great” or “mother” and is a popular name in Denmark.
- Nanna: This name means “daring” or “courageous” and was the name of a Norse goddess.
- Signe: This name means “victory” or “new victory” and is a popular name in Denmark.
- Sofie: This name means “wisdom” and is a variation of the name Sophia.
- Thyra: This name means “Thor’s struggle” and was the name of a queen in Denmark.
Overall, Danish girl names are often simple and elegant, and have strong meanings.
Finnish Girl Names
Here are some Finnish girl names along with their meanings:
- Aino – meaning “the only one” or “unique”
- Eevi – Finnish variation of the name “Eva” meaning “life”
- Hannele – meaning “gracious”
- Iida – meaning “hardworking one”
- Inka – meaning “beloved”
- Kaisa – meaning “pure” or “chaste”
- Leena – meaning “light”
- Maija – meaning “pearl”
- Siiri – meaning “fairytale”
- Taimi – meaning “young sapling”
These names are all unique and have a distinct Finnish feel to them. Many of them have connections to nature or mythology, and all of them have a strong sense of identity and individuality.
Unique Scandinavian Girl Names
Some unique Scandinavian girl names:
- Eira – Snow
- Signe – New victory
- Greta – Pearl
- Saga – Old Norse goddess of poetry and history
- Linnea – Twinflower
- Alva – Elf
- Svea – Swedish for “Swede”
- Vilja – Will, desire
- Embla – First woman in Norse mythology
- Freya – Goddess of love, fertility, war, and death
- Astrid – Divinely beautiful
- Ingrid – Beautiful, fair, and beloved
- Anja – Gracious, merciful
- Marit – Pearl of the sea
- Runa – Secret lore
- Tove – Beautiful Thor’s daughter
- Liv – Life
- Elva – Elf
- Eir – Norse goddess of healing
- Ylva – She-wolf
Ancient Nordic Girl Names
Here are some ancient Nordic girl names along with their meanings:
- Freya – Goddess of love, fertility, war, and death
- Astrid – Divine strength or beautiful goddess
- Ingrid – Beautiful or fair
- Sigrid – Victory or beautiful victory
- Helga – Holy or blessed
- Gudrun – God’s secret or knowledge
- Thora – Thunder or Thor’s fight
- Sigrun – Victory rune or secret victory
- Eira – Merciful or peaceful
- Freydis – Beloved goddess
Note that the spellings and exact meanings of these names can vary depending on the source and region.
Beautiful Scandinavian Girl Names
Below are ten beautiful Scandinavian girl names:
- Maja – pronounced “MY-a,” this name means “pearl” in Swedish.
- Freja – also spelled “Freya,” this name is the Norse goddess of love, fertility, and war.
- Elin – a simple yet lovely name that means “bright, shining one” in Swedish.
- Linnea – this name comes from the Swedish flower known as the twinflower, which symbolizes purity and innocence.
- Ingrid – meaning “beautiful goddess,” Ingrid is a classic and timeless name that has been popular in Scandinavia for centuries.
- Vilma – a Finnish name meaning “determined protector,” Vilma is both strong and feminine.
- Astrid – meaning “divine strength,” Astrid is a name with a long history in Scandinavia, and is known for its association with Astrid Lindgren, the beloved Swedish author of children’s books.
- Agnes – derived from the Greek word “hagnos,” meaning “pure,” Agnes is a popular name throughout Scandinavia.
- Hedda – this name means “battle” in Old Norse, and was a popular name among Viking women.
- Saga – a name with both literary and historical significance, Saga means “story” in Old Norse, and is also the name of a goddess in Norse mythology.
Norse God Girl Names
Some Norse god girl names:
- Freya – Goddess of love, fertility, war, and death
- Idunn – Goddess of youth and rejuvenation
- Sif – Goddess of earth, fertility, and family
- Hel – Goddess of the underworld
- Skadi – Goddess of winter, skiing, and hunting
- Nanna – Goddess of joy and peace
- Gefjon – Goddess of agriculture and fertility
- Eir – Goddess of healing and medicine
- Brynhildr – Legendary valkyrie and shieldmaiden
- Gerd – Goddess of fertility, growth, and rebirth
- Frigg – Goddess of marriage, childbirth, and motherhood
- Hnoss – Daughter of Freya, goddess of beauty and precious things
- Fulla – Handmaid to Frigg, goddess of abundance and prosperity
- Hela – Goddess of death and the underworld
- Ran – Goddess of the sea and drowned sailors
- Syn – Goddess of truth, justice, and oath-making
- Vár – Goddess of oaths and promises
- Vör – Goddess of wisdom and knowledge
- Nidhogg – Mythical dragon who gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree (not technically a goddess, but a powerful and important figure in Norse mythology)
Scandinavian Goddess Names
Some names of goddesses from Scandinavian mythology:
- Freya (also known as Freyja) – goddess of love, fertility, war, and death
- Frigg – goddess of wisdom, fertility, and motherhood, and wife of Odin
- Hel – goddess of the underworld and ruler of the dead
- Idun – goddess of youth and keeper of the golden apples that provide eternal youth to the gods
- Skadi – goddess of winter, hunting, and mountains
- Sif – goddess of fertility, grain, and the harvest, and wife of Thor
- Nott – goddess of night
- Gefjon – goddess of agriculture, fertility, and ploughing
- Ran – goddess of the sea and of drowned sailors
- Eir – goddess of healing and medicine
Note that some of these goddesses, such as Freya and Frigg, have names that are still used as given names in Scandinavia today.
Female Scandinavian Names
Some female Scandinavian names:
- Ingrid – Beautiful, fair, and beloved
- Astrid – Divinely beautiful
- Greta – Pearl
- Linnea – Twinflower
- Freya – Goddess of love, fertility, war, and death
- Signe – New victory
- Alva – Elf
- Elsa – Noble, kind
- Maren – Of the sea
- Anneli – Gracious, merciful
- Elin – Bright, shining
- Sanna – Lily
- Tove – Beautiful Thor’s daughter
- Lovisa – Renowned warrior
- Saga – Old Norse goddess of poetry and history
- Liv – Life
- Hedda – Battle, strife
- Katrine – Pure
- Ronja – Created name from the book “Ronja the Robber’s Daughter” by Astrid Lindgren
- Marit – Pearl of the sea
Female Viking Names
Some female Viking names with their meanings:
- Freyja – meaning “lady” or “mistress,” Freyja was the goddess of love, fertility, and war in Norse mythology.
- Astrid – meaning “godly strength,” Astrid was a popular name among Viking women and was also the name of a character in the popular Viking sagas.
- Ingrid – meaning “fair and beautiful,” Ingrid was a common name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary shieldmaiden.
- Gudrun – meaning “god’s secret lore,” Gudrun was a popular name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary queen in Norse mythology.
- Hilda – meaning “battle,” Hilda was a common name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary shieldmaiden.
- Sigrid – meaning “victory,” Sigrid was a popular name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary queen in Norse mythology.
- Thora – meaning “thunder,” Thora was a common name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary shieldmaiden.
- Brynhild – meaning “armored warrior woman,” Brynhild was a popular name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary shieldmaiden.
- Helga – meaning “holy,” Helga was a common name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary queen in Norse mythology.
- Sigrun – meaning “secret victory,” Sigrun was a popular name among Viking women and was also the name of a legendary shieldmaiden.
FAQs – Scandinavian Girl Names
What are some Norse girl names?
Some popular Norse girl names include:
- Astrid
- Freya
- Sigrid
- Gyda
- Ingeborg
- Signe
- Oddny
- Solveig
- Groa
- Runa
What is a Viking name for a girl?
Some popular Viking girl names include:
- Freydis
- Astrid
- Gudrid
- Sigrun
- Brynhild
- Ingvild
- Helga
- Ragnfrid
- Áslaug and
- Ebba
What are some female Norse names?
Here are some popular female Norse names:
- Freya
- Idun
- Sif
- Frigg
- Astrid
- Helga
- Signy
- Thorunn
Freya was known as the goddess of love and beauty. She was venerated by warriors for her courage and bravery and was seen as a protector of those who went on long journeys.
Idun was the goddess of youth and immortality who held the magical apples that would keep gods from aging.
Sif was the beautiful wife of Thor, god of thunder; her golden hair represented wealth and prosperity in old Norse culture.
Frigg was Odin’s wife and was thought to be the ruler of the skies above Asgard.
Astrid is a name with Old Norse roots meaning ‘divinely beautiful’.
Helga is derived from Old Norse meaning ‘holy’ or ‘blessed’.
Signy is another name with Old Norse roots coming from ‘victory’ or ‘conqueror’.
Finally, Thorunn means ‘daughter of Thor’, one of the most important figures in old Norse mythology.
What Viking name means flower?
The Viking name ‘Blom’ means flower in Old Norse. This name is thought to have originally been derived from the word ‘blorn’, meaning a blossom or bloom.
Conclusion – Scandinavian Girl Names
Scandinavian girl names are incredibly unique, often reflecting nature, strength, and beauty.
These names often have a distinct Norse or Old Norse influence, with many of them being derived from the Vikings and other ancient civilizations.
The most popular Scandinavian girl names include Freya, Signe, Astrid, Sigrun, Maja, Ingrid, and Elsa.
While each name has its own special meaning and origin story, they all share similar characteristics such as being strong yet feminine sounding.
Scandinavian girl names are also highly symbolic in that they often represent important female figures in their cultural history.
These figures range from powerful Viking warrior women to goddesses of love and fertility to inspiring female leaders.
For instance, Freya is the Norse goddess of love and beauty while Sigrun is the Valkyrie from Norse mythology who chooses who will survive in battle.
Similarly, Maja is an Old Norse name that means ‘mother’ and Ingrid is an Old Germanic name meaning ‘heroine’ or ‘protector’.
More modern Scandinavian girl names are still incredibly popular today – for example, Elsa which derives from Elizabeth or Elisabet meaning ‘oath of God’ became mainstream thanks to Disney’s Frozen movie released in 2013.
Other new favorites include Liv meaning ‘life’, Nora meaning ‘honor’, Ella meaning ‘all’ or ‘other’, Ida meaning ‘labor’ or ‘work’, Alma meaning ‘soul’, Isla meaning ‘island’ and Ava which means ‘bird’.
Overall it can be seen that Scandinavian girl names are steeped in history but still carry contemporary relevance when it comes to baby naming trends today.
Whether you choose one of these beautiful traditional ones such as Astrid or opt for something more modern like Ava – these unique monikers can truly bring character and personality to any little bundle of joy!
