There are so many strong, tough, and incredibly beautiful Norwegian girl names to choose from! Did you know that many of the Scandinavian country’s first names were borrowed from German and English? Or how about that the language itself stems from Old Norse, a dialect of Old West Norse?
In Norwegian, female names are often derived from natural objects or creatures. Names like Sylvie and Miriam became popular during the early 1900s, but there are many more to consider! To help you get started on your hunt for a perfect Nordic name for your daughter or granddaughter, we’ve compiled a list of some fantastic choices.
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1. Aldith
Meaning ‘old battle,’ this name was once commonly given to girls born during the Viking era.
2. Alva
Alva means “snowbird” or “snowdrop.” In Norwegian, alv means elf. This name is often regarded as a Latinized version of Alvhild or Olava, both popular Nordic names.
3. Aloisa
This feminine form of Alois is a German and Norwegian name. The name means “famous warrior.”
4. Alvhilde
Alvhilde, a popular Scandinavian name, means “elf battle.” The German form of this name is Olga.
5. Anne
Famous bearers of this Nordic first name include the British Queen Anne and Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII.
6. Annette
Annette is a variant of Ann, meaning “lady,” and originally derived from the Greek name Anna. This female first name was popular in the 17th century and has remained ever since.
7. Aria
This girl name is derived from the Latin word for “air.” It was a very popular choice for girls born during the Viking era, but it quickly fell out of favor as Norwegian girls tended to pick more homely Norwegian names instead.
8. Arvid
This masculine form of “Eirik” is a popular Scandinavian name. The German equivalent is Eber.
9. Bini
This variant of Bjarni means “famous warrior.” In the German, this name is pronounced Bee-nee.
10. Elinor
Granted, this name may sound a tad boring in English, especially if it’s not followed by an overly unique surname like Elinor Dashwood or Elinor Twistleton.
11. Batilde
Batilde, meaning “battle battles,” was popular in the early 1900s.
12. Birgitta
In Norwegian, this name means “birch wood” and is a reference to a sacred tree in Norse mythology. In English, the name means “enthusiastic.” Famous bearers of this Scandinavian first name include Swedish Bishop Birgitta Ståhle and Argentinian writer and activist, who have both written books with the same title.
13. Gudrun
This popular Scandinavian name means “God-run” and was initially a title for the Norse goddess Freyja.
14. Carina
Carina is a variant of Caroline, which is derived from the Latin word “carus,” meaning “dear.” This name is currently ranked as the most popular female first name in Portugal. It’s also one of the top 1000 names in Italy and France. Not bad, right? It would make a great choice for your daughter!
15. Branka
This variant of Brina means “well beloved.”
16. Gunhild
Gunhild was also popular in the early 1900s, but has fallen out of favor as Norwegian girls tend to pick more homely Norwegian girl names instead. This name is derived from the Old Norse word “guð” which means “god” or “goddess.”
17. Ebbe
Ebbe is a variant of Ebbie which means “river.” It’s a popular Scandinavian name, but it has also been adopted in English-speaking countries.
18. Ingrid
Ingrid is a Norwegian name meaning “the one sitting inside the cave.” This name was given to girls born during the Viking era because of its connection to the Lady of the Caves, who was said to live in a cave in Valdres, Norway.
19. Freydis
Freydis is a variant of Freya, one of the most important goddesses in Norse mythology. This name was popular in the early 1900s, but has since fallen out of favor.
20. Guri
This Nordic name means “gold.” A variation of this name is also common in Sweden where it’s pronounced Gu-ruh and means “peaceful.” This girl name was popular in Norway during the beginning of the 1900s, but has since fallen out of favor.
21. Hanna
This name is a variant of Johanna, in a spelling that’s common among Scandinavian people. It’s derived from the Hebrew name Chana which means “grace.” However, it’s also the female form of the Hebrew name Hanan which means “favored.” The German and English equivalents are Johanna and Jane, respectively.
22. Hedda
This Scandinavian name means “the one who makes peace.” It was also one of the most popular names for girls born during the Viking era, but it has since fallen out of favor. English speakers may know this name from the title character in Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play of the same name.
23. Helga
This Scandinavian name means “the one who shines” or “the moon.” This name was once popular for girls born during the Viking era, but it’s fallen out of favor as Norwegian girls tend to pick more homely Norwegian girl names instead.
24. Ida
This feminine form of the Icelandic name Eirikr means “noble warrior.” It was popular in Norway during the 1930s and 1940s and is currently ranked as the second most common female first name in Iceland, after Maria.
25. Hilde
Hilde means “battle” in Norwegian and is a female form of Hildr, which means “battle.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but has since fallen out of favor.
26. Idunna
This name is a variant of Odinna. It means “virgin goddess.” The name was popular in Norway during the first half of the 1900s, but it’s fallen out of favor today. The English equivalent is Ida.
27. Ilse
This girl’s name is a variant of Elisabeth, which means “God is my oath.” This name was popular in Scandinavian countries during the early 1900s, but it has fallen out of favor. The English equivalent is Elsie.
28. Hermine
Hermine was a popular girl’s name during the Viking era and it means “battle.” Norse mythology has an important character named Hermod, who was supposedly a son of Odin and the brother of Thor. He was also the messenger of the gods.
29. Janna
Janna is a variant of Jane which means “God is gracious.” This name was given to girls born during the Viking era, but it has since fallen out of favor as Norwegian girls tend to pick more homely Norwegian girl names instead. The Scottish or Irish equivalent is Jean.
30. Helene (or Ellen)
This Scandinavian name means “Light. This name was popular in Norway during the beginning of the 1900s, but it has since fallen out of favor. The English equivalent is Ellen.
31. Isolde
This Nordic name means “the joyous one,” “the happy one” or “the beloved one.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but is currently ranked as the 24th most common female first name in Norway. It’s also used as a male name in German and Scandinavian countries.
32. Hjalmprimul
Hjalmprimul means “girl of the mountain peak.” This name was popular in Scandinavia during the Viking era, but it’s fallen out of favor. It’s also spelled Hjalmar.
33. Ingeborg
This Scandinavian name means “inebriated from the honey,” “the honey bee” or “the bird inebriated with honey. This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it has since fallen out of favor.
34. Helen
This name is derived from the Greek word “Hêlēnē,” which means “sunbeam.” This name was used to refer to a particularly beautiful Greek woman who was the daughter of Zeus and Leda. It’s also used as the English equivalent for Helena, which means “sunbeam” in Greek.
35. Hunnulv
Hunnulv means “girl of the people.” This name was popular in Scandinavia during the Viking era, but it’s fallen out of favor. Some sources claim that this name is actually derived from the Old Norse word “Hunn” which means “man.”
36. Idunn
Idunn is a variant of Odinna. This name means “virgin goddess.” This name was popular in Norway during the first half of the 1900s, but it’s fallen out of favor today.
37. Labrenda
Labrenda is a modern Scandinavian name meaning “the one who gladdens.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s currently ranked as the 86th most popular female first name in Norway.
38. Heli
This Scandinavian name means “sun” and it’s related to the English word “Helen,” which means “sunbeam” or “daylight.” This name was popular in Scandinavia during the Viking era, but it’s fallen out of favor.
39. Lova
This Scandinavian name means “the goddess of love and fertility.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it has since fallen out of favor.
40. Kari
Kari means “a sieve” or “a basket” in Norwegian and also means “chaste” in Icelandic. This name was used to refer to several important characters including a powerful Norse goddess. It was also the name of several viking queens during the 1800s. The English equivalent is Cary or Kerry.
41. Serilda
Serilda means “the smart one.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s since fallen out of favour.
42. Sigrid
This Scandinavian name means “the one who consecrates” or “the one who protects.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s currently ranked as the 28th most common female first name in Norway. It’s also used as a male name in Scandinavian countries.
43. Urszula
This Scandinavian name means “the great bear.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s since fallen out of favour. The English equivalent is Ursula.
44. Vidar
This Scandinavian name means “mighty” or “strong.” It was popular in Norway during the beginning of the 1900s, but it’s now fallen out of favor and is currently ranked as the 26th most common female first name in Norway. The English equivalent is Widdow/Widda.
45. Valkyrie
This Scandinavian name means “the chooser of the slain.”
46. Valgerd
Valgerd means “the honourable woman.” This name was popular in Scandinavia during the Viking era, but it’s fallen out of favour. The English equivalent is Valgard.
47. Ada
This Scandinavian name means “wealthy woman” or “a great patron.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s fallen out of favor. The English equivalent is Ada.
48. Agnes
Agnes means “chaste” or “pure.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s since fallen out of favour. Agnes is an old Scottish name, but is not used in the US. The English equivalent is Agnes.
49. Astrid
This Scandinavian name comes from the Old Norse word “astr,” which means “star.
50. Brynhild
This Scandinavian name comes from the Old Norse words “brynja heill” which means “armor in bloom.”
51. Amelia
This Scandinavian name means “work-power” or “strength in work.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s since fallen out of favor. Amelia is an old English name, but is not used in the US.
52. Anna
This Scandinavian name means “gracious” or “grace.” The English equivalent is Anna or Anne.
53. Barbara
This Scandinavian name means “the one who comes from Berka,” which is a location in Norway.
54. Bergdis
This Scandinavian name means “rock-strength.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s since fallen out of favor.
55. Berit
This Scandinavian name means “the one who seeks victory.”
56. Birgitta
This Scandinavian name means “the one with a great oath.
57. Brynhild
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is like a helmet in bloom” or “the one who is in bloom with armour.”
58. Dagmar
This Scandinavian name means “the goddess of day, who gives light.”
59. Celine
This Scandinavian name means “the one who protects her land.”
60. Dorothy
This Scandinavian name means “gift of Thor.”
61. Ebba
This Scandinavian name means “a quick-moving stream” or “a wave.” This name was popular in Norway during the early 1900s, but it’s since fallen out of favor. The English equivalent is Ebba.
62. Dina
This Scandinavian name means “an area of flat land” or “a farm on flat landscape.”
63. Erna
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is close to the ear.”
64. Frøya
This Scandinavian name means “the one who loves peace.”
65. Ella
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is eloquent.”
66. Hilda
This Scandinavian name means “gift of the god.”
67. Ida
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is strong and useful.”
68. Emma
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is able to be useful.”
69. Ingrid
This Scandinavian name is an old Germanic variant of the word “Ing,” which means “favored one.”
70. Ingeborg
This Scandinavian name was popularised by Queen Ingeborg of Norway (1895-1952). It’s a variant of the Germanic language “Inge,” which means “the one who is favoured by the gods.
71. Emilie
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is able to achieve greatness for her family.”
72. Gina
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is gentle and kind.”
73. Helga
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is holy” or “the one who has a divine nature.”
74. Hailee
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is from the ocean.”
75. Ingrid
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is strong in character.”
76. Freja
Norse goddess Freja is a popular Norwegian girl’s name. Freja means “noblewoman.” not duplicate “fray-yah”
77. Ida
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is able to be useful.”
78. Hanna
This Scandinavian name means “gracious.”
79. Ingeborg
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is favored by the gods.”
80. Karina
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is beautiful and brilliant.”
81. Nora
This Scandinavian name means “noble.”
82. Sigrid
This Scandinavian name means “the one who protects” or “the one who consecrates.”
83. Tora
This Scandinavian name means “power.”
84. Ottilie
This Scandinavian name means “noble like a person from Norway.”
85. Ragnhild
This Scandinavian name means “peace in battle.”
86. Sophie
This Scandinavian name means “faith.
87. Selma
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is peaceful.”
88. Victoria
This Scandinavian name means “victory-power.”
89. Vigdis
This Scandinavian name means “the one who has great moral character.” The English equivalent is Wigdis.
90. Abellona
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is high-born.” The English equivalent is Abella.
91.Atla
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is noble.”
92. Balena
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is brave.”
93. Blenda
This Scandinavian name means “bloom of battle.”
94. Eir
This Scandinavian name means “the one who brings victory.” The English equivalent is Eir.
95. Erna
This Scandinavian name means “the one who is close to the ear.” The English equivalent is Earna.
96. Hildur
This Scandinavian name means “battle-force” or “victory in battle.” The English equivalent is Hilder.
97. Embla
This Scandinavian name means “vine.” The English equivalent is Elva.
98. Freya
This Scandinavian name means “the one who loves peace” or “the one who loves to fight.” The English equivalent is Freja.
99. Gullveig
This Scandinavian name means “the gold-drink.”
100. Hlödyn
The earliest form of this name was Walden, which meant “forest-strength”.