875 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 Nov 12, 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.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Olivia	Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Charlotte	Girl	Free person; Petite
Oliver	Boy	Olive; Olive tree planter; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
Isabella	Girl	God is my oath
Lucas	Boy	Bringer of light; From Lucania; Light
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
Eli	Boy	Ascension; My God; My God is an oath; Torch
Kai	Boy	Sea; Keeper of the keys; Shell; Pier; From the sea
Christian	Boy	A Christian; Follower of Jesus Christ
Jonathan	Boy	Gift of God
Sarah	Girl	Princess; Noblewoman
Iris	Girl	Rainbow; Bringer of Joy; Irish flower; Colored part of the eye

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
Simon	Boy	Hearing; Listening; Flat-nosed
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
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

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
Helena	Girl	Torch; Shining light
Jonas	Boy	Dove; God is gracious
Gunnar	Boy	Bold warrior
Hanna	Girl	Favor; Grace; God has favored me

Johan	Boy	God is gracious
Christina	Girl	Anointed; Follower of Jesus Christ
Rosa	Girl	Rose; Dew
Irene	Girl	Peace
Lliv	Girl	Life; Protection; Shelter; Olive
Roger	Boy	Famous spear
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

Halle	Girl	Rock; Army ruler; Manor; Hall
Aron	Boy	Exalted; High mountain; Teaching; Singing
Tomas	Boy	Twin
Lea	Girl	Delicate; Weary
Jon	Boy	God is gracious
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
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
Lisa	Girl	My God is an oath
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
Agnes	Girl	Chaste; Pure
Emilie	Girl	Rival; Industrious; Hardworking
Isai	Boy	Gift; God is salvation
Aksel	Boy	My father is peace
Kristina	Girl	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Matheo	Boy	Gift of Yahweh
Aleksander	Boy	Defender of mankind
Viktor	Boy	Victor; Conqueror
Katarina	Girl	Pure; Each of the two

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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.