390 Norwegian Girl Names Rooted In Tradition

Unique names signifying the brave Viking spirit from the land of the fabled Valhalla.

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Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024

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Just as the Scandinavian mountains in the Kingdom of Norway stand tall and majestic, these Norwegian baby girl names will let your child reach new heights. Norway is located in Northern Europe, specifically in the northernmost part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Kingdom of Norway was formed in 872 after the unification of numerous petty kingdoms. Norway has a unique culture that is rooted in farming and exists to this day. The people of Norway had to resort to agriculture due to the scarcity of resources resulting from the harsh climate and unfair property laws. This struggle brought about a romantic nationalistic movement in the 19th century, and its traces are still noticeable in the Norwegian language and media. Norwegian names are tied to the country’s history, culture, folklore, and literature. Some names have connections to Christianity, as children, to this day, are named after biblical characters and famous saints. Many names are also based on mythological characters. A distinct quality of Norwegian names is that people rarely use hereditary surnames. However, this is an exception for the upper class and a few families that had members serving as civil servants. The Norwegian people followed a three-part naming system consisting of the first name (given name), a patronymic name (father’s first name), and a farm name, which indicates where they were born or where they resided. The farm name usually changes whenever a person relocates (1). Certain suffixes are attached to the patronymic name as an indication that he or she is the son or daughter of so and so. The suffixes are -ønn, -son, and -sen for sons and -datter or -dotter for females. Another unique feature of Norwegian names is that a person may have multiple names, but it will be considered a single personal name. Below, we have compiled a list of some of the best-known Norwegian baby girl names, so scroll on!

Name	Gender	Meaning
Olivia	Girl	Peace; Olive tree
Charlotte	Girl	Free person; Petite
Isabella	Girl	God is my oath
Sofia	Girl	Wisdom
Nora	Girl	Light; Bright; Honor; Dignity; Victorious
Natalie	Girl	Birthday; Birthday of the God; Christmas; Festival of the nativity
Sarah	Girl	Princess; Noblewoman
Lucia	Girl	Light
Alexandra	Girl	Defender or helper of the people
Sara	Girl	Lady; Princess; Noblewoman

Lilly	Girl	Lily; Pure; Innocence; My God is an oath
Vera	Girl	Faith; Summer; Valor; Foreign
Elise	Girl	God is my oath
Lena	Girl	Torch; Bright shining light; Of Magdala; Tower
Nina	Girl	Fire; Fish; Ancient city of Nineveh; Little girl; God is gracious; Strong
Heidi	Girl	Noble birth; Nobility
Astrid	Girl	Godly strength; Divine beauty
Helen	Girl	Warm; Moon; To shine; Light; Sun
Sylvia	Girl	A lady of the woods or forest
Edith	Girl	Prosperous in war; Fortunate battle

Helena	Girl	Torch; Shining light
Hanna	Girl	Favor; Grace; God has favored me
Christina	Girl	Anointed; Follower of Jesus Christ
Rosa	Girl	Rose; Dew
Irene	Girl	Peace
Monica	Girl	Advisor; Truth; Single; One; Counsel
Karla	Girl	Strong; Womanly; Free woman; Peasant; Little and strong
Johanna	Girl	God is gracious
Lea	Girl	Delicate; Weary
Linda	Girl	Beautiful; Soft; Flexible; Linden tree; to wait

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
Christine	Girl	Follower of Jesus Christ; Anointed
Agnes	Girl	Chaste; Pure

Emilie	Girl	Rival; Industrious; Hardworking
Kristina	Girl	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Katarina	Girl	Pure; Each of the two
Ester	Girl	Star; Evening star
Sofie	Girl	Wisdom; Holy wisdom
Elin	Girl	Bright; Shining; Sunbeam
Kristen	Girl	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Linnea	Girl	Twinflower
Karis	Girl	Grace; Love; Kindness
Eila	Girl	Blessed; Holy

Karolina	Girl	Free woman; Army; Freeholder; Song of joy; Strong; Beautiful
Klara	Girl	Clear; Bright; Famous
Gina	Girl	Queen; Maiden; Famous in battle; Farmer; Well-born
Mona	Girl	Wish; Noble one; Who lasts forever; Solitary
Caia	Girl	Pure; To rejoice; Each of the two; Far off
Asma	Girl	High status; Supreme; Beautiful; Beloved; Desired
Runa	Girl	Rune; Secret lore; Moon
Selma	Girl	God's protection; God's helmet; Safe; Beautiful vew; Peace
Eira	Girl	Snow; Mercy
Viktoria	Girl	Victory

Mai	Girl	Water; Love; Dance; Beloved
Olga	Girl	Holy; Blessed; Invioilable
Sunni	Girl	She was the gift of the Sun
Mailen	Unisex	Month of May; Good mother; Dame; Foster mother; Torch; Corposant
Kirsten	Girl	A Christian
Kristine	Girl	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Maja	Girl	Splendid; Mother; Great
Pauline	Girl	Small; Humble
Lisbeth	Girl	My God is an oath
Madelin	Girl	A woman from Magdala

Maylen	Unisex	Sea of bitterness; Wished for child; Beloved; Good mother; Dame; Of Magdala; Tower; Torch
Kristin	Girl	Christian; Follower of the Christ; Anointed
Kay	Girl	To rejoice; Rock; Cliff; Fiery
Evy	Girl	Life; Breathe; Hazelnut
Britta	Girl	Exalted one; Mighty; Help; Strong
Fia	Girl	Weaver; Wisdom; Deer; Wood
Amalie	Girl	Hardworking; Industrious; Laborious; Brave
Dagny	Girl	New day
Solveig	Girl	Woman of the house; Strength of the sun
Elida	Girl	Fast sailing ship; Nobility

Juni	Girl	Born in June; Young; Lovable
Minka	Girl	A strong person; Strong-willed; Will helmet; Desire to protect; Power; Strength
Arna	Girl	Eagle; Power
Eilah	Girl	Terebinth tree; Oak; Blessed; Holy
Elenore	Girl	One who is filled with light and bright
Emeli	Girl	Rival
Fraya	Girl	Noble lady; Norse goddess of love, beauty, fertility
Malin	Girl	One from Magdala; Tower
Sigrid	Girl	Beautiful victory; Beloved victory
Mayleen	Girl	Good mother; Beloved; Love; Torch; Moon

Helene	Girl	Solar deity; Torch; Corposant; Warm; Moon
Josefine	Girl	God will add
Olena	Girl	Torch; Corposant; Moon; Ancestor's descendant
Eline	Girl	One who shares light and brightness
Inga	Girl	Ancestor; Ing is beautiful
Siri	Unisex	Beautiful victory; Beloved victory
Ajla	Girl	Halo; Circle of light; Moonlight; Holy; Blessed
Katharina	Girl	Pure; Clean; Clear
Sunniva	Girl	Sun gift
Hilde	Girl	Battle

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Norwegian baby girl names are deeply connected with the nation's history, folklore, literature, and culture, especially its farming culture. A unique feature of Norwegian names is that they do not use hereditary surnames. Instead, they include suffixes to the patronymic names and, sometimes, even farm names that change depending on the location of the individual. The list we compiled will help you explore these names from Norway so you can decide on a perfect one for your daughter.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do the most popular Norwegian girl names mean?

Emma is a famous Norwegian name for girls that means ‘great.’ Maja is another name that has become popular5 and means ‘good mother.’

2. How do I choose an authentic Norwegian name for my baby girl?

Choosing an authentic Norwegian name for your baby girl can be a wonderful way to celebrate your heritage or simply appreciate the beauty of Norwegian culture. A popular database like Nordic Names is invaluable as they provide extensive lists of authentic Norwegian names, often including their meanings and pronunciations. This helps in understanding Norwegian literature and folklore and the significance of given names, family names, and any cultural or historical influences that might shape Norwegian names.

3. Can I combine a Norwegian name with a name from another culture?

Yes, you can combine a Norwegian name with a name from another culture. This practice is widespread in multicultural societies or when parents have diverse backgrounds. When combining names from different cultures, it's essential to consider pronunciation, meaning, and cultural significance to ensure the name remains respectful and appropriate.

4. What are some unique Norwegian names that are not commonly used?

Unique and extraordinary Norwegian names like Ingrid, meaning ‘Ing is beautiful,’ Oda, meaning ‘fortune,’ and Freya meaning ‘lady,’ surely make your little sunshine stand out.

5. What are some Norwegian names that have historical or cultural significance?

Freya is one such name in Norse mythology that means ‘lady’ and is associated with the Goddess of love, beauty, war, and death. Another important name is Gudrun, which means ‘God’s secret lore’ and is the name of Sigurd’s wife in Norse mythology (2).

Infographic: Marvelous Norwegian Baby Girl Names With Meanings

Norwegian names contain in them the essence of the Scandinavian culture, which traces its roots all the way back to the Viking Age. Norwegians often bear more than one personal name. Have a look at the following infographic, which lists some of the most beautiful Norwegian names for girls and their meanings. You can pick one or maybe even two!

illustrious norwegian baby girl names with meanings (infographic)

References:

Norwegian Names.
https://www.norwaydna.no/gedcoms-and-genealogy/norwegian-names-en/
Guðrún
https://pantheon.org/articles/g/gudrun.html

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.