50 Norwegian Baby Names: Meanings & Origins

Norwegian names come from a rich history of Vikings and Norse Mythology. Norway is a mountainous country known for its widespread forests and fjords filled with salmon. Norwegian, a Germanic language derived from Old Norse, has 5 million speakers worldwide.

Choosing a Norwegian name for your baby is a great way to pay homage to your Scandinavian roots. Even if your family doesn't hail from Norway, one of these names might still be the perfect fit for your little one. Norwegian names tend to connote strength and virtue, like Hilda, which means battle, or Thor, the Old Norse god of strength, thunder, war, and storms.

What are Norwegian Names?

Norway's unique history brought a variety of names to this country. Many Norwegian names are inspired by Old Norse mythology, such as Oskar and Thor. Others have ancient Scandinavian roots, such as Astrid and Kaia. Still others hail back to Viking times, when explorers forged their way across the sea in search of a better (and probably warmer) place to live.

Popular Norwegian Baby Names for Girls

Here are some of the most popular and unique Norwegian baby names for girls along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information.

Amalie

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Work
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Amalia, Amala, Amelia, Amaliya
Famous Namesakes: Mathematician Amalie “Emmy” Noether, Princess Amalia of Nassau-Dietz, author and feminist Amalie Skram
Peak Popularity: Amalie is a rare name that was not listed in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: Charlotte Amalie, located on the island of St. Thomas, is the capital city of the United States Virgin Islands.

Astrid

Origin: Ancient Scandinavian
Meaning: Beloved God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Asta, Astride, Sassa
Famous Namesakes: Singer Astrid Roelants, actress Astrid Allwyn, photographer and artist Astrid Kirchherr
Peak Popularity: Astrid first appeared on the charts in the year 1905, eventually peaking at position 452 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren was the author of Pippi Longstocking.

Britta

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Exalted one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Brita, Britt, Birgitta
Famous Namesakes: Dutch politician Britta Böhler, painter and illustrator Brita Granström, writer, translator, and anarchist Britta Gröndahl
Peak Popularity: Britta is a rare name that was not listed in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: Saint Britta was a 4th century martyr.

Carina

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carin, Karin, Karina
Famous Namesakes: Swedish politician Carina Adolfsson Elgestam, volleyball player Carina Aulenbrock, author Carina Axelsson
Peak Popularity: Carina declined steadily in popularity after 2000 until 2006 when it began to jump back and forth. In 2010, Carina was at position 948 and has not made the top 1000 list since.

Fun Fact: Carina means "cute" in Italian.

Dorothea

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Gift of God
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dorothee, Dorete, Dorothy, Dorthy
Famous Namesakes: Social activist Dorothea Dix, first woman doctor in Germany Dorothea Erxleben, novelist Dorothea Gerard
Peak Popularity: Dorothea is a rare name that was not listed in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact

Dorothea is the feminine form of Theodoro.

Ella

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Torch
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elle, Ellie, Elsa, Elsie
Famous Namesakes: Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, child actress Ella Anderson, and educator, anthropologist, ethnographer, linguist, and novelist Ella Cara Deloria
Peak Popularity: Ella is a very popular name, which hit its peak in 2011 on position 12. It has remained in the top 20 since 2008, and is currently the 15th most popular name.

Fun Fact: Ella means “she” in Spanish.

Ellinore

Origin: Old French
Meaning: The other Aenor
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eleanor, Eleonor, Eleonora,
Famous Namesakes: Novelist Elinor Glyn, poet Eleanor Anne Porden, queen of Portugal Eleanor of Aragon
Peak Popularity: Ellinore is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: One of the first people named Eleanor was the 12th-century queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her name was actually Aenor, but to differentiate her from her mother, who was also named Aenor, she was known as “Alia Aenor,” meaning “the other Aenor.” This reference bore the given name Eleanor.

Evy

Origin: Latin
Meaning: To breathe
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ava, Eva, Eve, Evie,
Famous Namesakes: Cyclist Evy Van Damme
Peak Popularity: Evy is a rare name and is not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Frida

Origin: Ancient Germanic
Meaning: Peace
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Frieda, Freida
Famous Namesakes: Painter Frida Kahlo, writer and feminist Frida Stéenhoff, alpine skiier Frida Hansdotter
Peak Popularity: Frida appeared on the charts for the first time in 2001. In 2003 it reached its peak at position 648 and it slowly declined until 2016 where it began to grow steadily more popular.

Fun Fact: Frida Kahlo suffered polio as a child and it left her with one leg shorter than the other. One reason she always wore long, colorful skirts was to hide her leg.

Hanna

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Yahweh is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hanne, Hannie, Janna, Jonna
Famous Namesakes: Actress Hanna Alström, runner Hanna Hermansson, soccer player Hanna Ljungberg
Peak Popularity: Hanna has steadily declined since the year 2000, excepting a minor revival between 2012 and 2013. Hannah landed at 526 in 2020.

Fun Fact: The name Hanna is derived from Johanna, but the alternate spelling “Hannah” has a different meaning and origin.

Heidi

Origin: Dutch
Meaning: Noble type
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alida, Heida, Heide
Famous Namesakes: Lead character in the classic children’s novel, Heidi, German model Heidi Klum, American missionary in Africa Heidi Baker
Peak Popularity: The name Heidi began to be used in the English-speaking world shortly after the 1937 Shirley Temple movie adaptation of the novel Heidi. Over the past twenty years, it has hovered around position 300 to 400.

Fun Fact: Johanna Spyri wrote the novel Heidi for her son, incorporating real people and places from her own life into the plot.

Hilda

Origin: Ancient Germanic
Meaning: Battle
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hylda, Hilde
Famous Namesakes: Princess Hilda of Nassau; author, artist, and anti-apartheid and women's rights activist Hilda Berstein
Peak Popularity: Hilda is a rare name that is not listed in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: A group of asteroids called the Hilda group is named after one of the discoverer's daughters.

Josefine

Origin: French
Meaning: He will add
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Josefin, Josefina, Josephine
Famous Namesakes: Austrian-American actress Josefine Balluck, jazz vocalist and songwriter Josefine Cronholm, world-champion skier Josefine Cronholm
Peak Popularity: Josefine is a rare name that was not listed in the top 1,000.

Kaia

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kaja, Kaisa
Famous Namesakes: Tennis player Kaia Kanepi, daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford Kaia Jordan Gerber
Peak Popularity: Kaia has grown in popularity over time, hitting its peak in 2018 at position 313.

Karolina

Origin: Ancient Germanic
Meaning: Warrior
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Carolina, Caroline, Karoline
Famous Namesakes: Polish first lady Karolina Kaczorowska, volleyball player Karolína Bednárová, gymnast Karolina Nowak, model Karolína Kurková
Peak Popularity: Karolina is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Katarina

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Catharina, Katrina, Katharina,
Famous Namesakes: Actress Katarina Ewerlöf, Queen of Bosnia Katarina Kosača, figure skater Katarina Wolfkostin
Peak Popularity: Katarina peaked in popularity in the year 2000 at position 646 before dropping off the charts in 2006.

Katja

Origin: Russian
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Katia, Katya
Famous Namesakes: Supermodel Katja Shchekina; novelist, journalist, columnist, and screenwriter Katja Kallio; actress Katja Medbøe
Peak Popularity: Katja is a rare name and not listed in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: 1113 Katja is an asteroid discovered in 1928 in the outer regions of the asteroid belt.

Linnea

Origin: Swedish
Meaning: A flower
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Linn, Nea
Famous Namesakes: Figure skater Linnea Ceder, artist Linnea Glatt
Peak Popularity: Linnea is a rare name not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Fun Fact: The Linnea flower is also called the “twinflower” because each step has two blossoms at its top.

Mikaela

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Who is like God?
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Makayla, Micheala
Famous Namesakes: Singer and actress Mikaela (mononym), skier Mikaela Shiffrin
Peak Popularity: The name Mikaela was most popular in the year 1997 at position 273. After declining in popularity for a few years, it jumped up again between the years 2008 and 2011 before declining again.

Nora

Origin: Norwegian
Meaning: Honor
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Norah, Lenora
Famous Namesakes: Gymnast Norah Flatley, children’s advocate Nora Gibbons
Peak Popularity: Nora is a very popular name, having always been in the top 1,000. It broke into the top 100 in 2013 and has grown in popularity since, reaching position 30 in 2020.

Randi

Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Beautiful counsel
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Randie, Randy
Famous Namesakes: Toy inventor Randi Altschul, illustrator Randi Monsen
Peak Popularity: Randi ranked at 996 in 2001 and fell off the charts in 2002.

Storm

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Storm
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Stormr
Famous Namesakes: Actress Storm Reid
Peak Popularity: Storm is a rare name and not listed in the top 1,000.

Sylvie

Origin: Norwegian
Meaning: Strength of the sun
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Silva, Silvia, Silvie
Famous Namesakes: Norwegian politician Sylvi Graham, canoer Sylvi Saimo
Peak Popularity: Sylvie first appeared on the charts in 2016, and ranked 776 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Rhea Silvia is the name of the vestal virgin who gave birth to the twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

Vera

Origin: Russian
Meaning: Faith
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Vjera, Viera
Famous Namesakes: Harpist Vera Ðurašković, writer and activist Vera Francis
Peak Popularity: Vera was in the top 100 from 1900 to 1928, and was position 246 in 2020.

Popular Norwegian Baby Names for Boys

Here are some of the most popular and unique Norwegian baby names for boys along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information.

Anders

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Manly
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Andreas
Famous Namesakes: Astronomer, physicist, and mathematician Anders Celsius; tennis player Anders Järryd; politician Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Peak Popularity: Anders first appeared on the charts in 2006, becoming more and more popular until its peak at 749 in 2014. It has gradually dropped in rank since.

Fun Fact: In Denmark, Donald Duck’s name is Anders And.

August

Origin: Dutch
Meaning: Exalted, venerable
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Auguste, Augustus, Augustine, Gus
Famous Namesakes: Photographer August Sander, playwright August Strindberg
Peak Popularity: August started to gain popularity in 2008. Since then it has steadily increased in rank, peaking in 2020 at position 155.

Fun Fact: Princess Eugenie and Mandy Moore both named their babies August in 2021.

Björn

Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Bear
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bjoern
Famous Namesakes: Comedian and actor Björn Gustafsson, guitarist Björn Ågren
Peak Popularity: The name Björn made it onto the charts six times between 1977 and 2020. The peak year on record is 2020 at position 780.

Fun Fact: BabyBjörn (or “baby bear”) is a Swedish family-owned company that makes baby products.

Casper

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Treasurer
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Caspar, Jasper, Jesper
Famous Namesakes: Landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich, entomologist Caspar Stoll
Peak Popularity: Casper is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: Casper is a version of the name Jasper, the name of one of the three wise men who was said to have visited the baby Jesus.

Erik

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Ever ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eirik, Eric, Erich, Erick, Erikk
Famous Namesakes: Developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, actor Erik Estrada
Peak Popularity: Erik has steadily dropped in popularity since the year 2000, with the most recent data placing it at 419 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Many kings of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway were named Erik.

Espen

Origin: Norwegian
Meaning: Bear god
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Asbjorn, Esben
Famous Namesakes: Jazz musician Espen Aalberg, chess player Espen Agdestein, movie director Espen Sandberg
Peak Popularity: Espen is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: Hollywood director Espen Sandberg was a breakdancer as a young man.

Finn

Origin: Norwegian
Meaning: Person from Finland
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Finnr, Finnur
Famous Namesakes: Novelist Finn Alnæs, illustrator Finn Graff, Olympic rower Finn Pedersen
Peak Popularity: A top 10 name in Germany and the Netherlands, Finn has been gradually becoming more well used in the US. It hit its peak in popularity in 2018 at position 166.

Frans

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Frenchman
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Franciscus, Francis, Franz
Famous Namesakes: Dutch golden age painter Frans Hals the Elder, primatologist Frans de Waal
Peak Popularity: Frans is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: Dutch golden age painter Frans Hals was instrumental in the evolution of 17th-century group portrait painting.

Fredrik

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Peaceful ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Frederick, Frederik
Famous Namesakes: Crown prince of Denmark Frederik André Henrik Christian, social anthropologist Fredrik Barth, musician Fredrik Nordstrom
Peak Popularity: Fredrik is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Hans

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Yahweh is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hanns, Hannes, Hawns
Famous Namesakes: Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, Pediatrician Hans Asperger for whom Asperger syndrome is named
Peak Popularity: Hans is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: The main characters in the movie Frozen, Hans, Christoff, Anna, and Sven are a play on the name Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote the story The Snow Queen, which inspired the movie.

Henrik

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Home ruler
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Heinrik, Hendrik
Famous Namesakes: Playwright Henrik Ibsen
Peak Popularity: A top 10 name in Norway, Henrik was first seen on the charts in 2014. Since then, it’s stayed roughly around the 800 position.

Ivan

Origin: Slavic
Meaning: Yahweh is gracious
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ioann, Ioan, Ivano, Jovan, Yoan
Famous Namesakes: First czar of Russia “Ivan the Terrible”, tennis player Ivan Lendl
Peak Popularity: Since 1989, Ivan has been in the top 200, and peaked in the year 2012 at position 113.

Fun Fact: Ivan the Terrible was said to have asked Queen Elizabeth I for her hand, which she politely declined.

Jonathan

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Yahweh has given
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Johnathan, Johnathon, Jonathon
Famous Namesakes: Rapper Jonathan “Lil Jon” Smith, political satirist Jonathan Swift
Peak Popularity: Jonathan was a top 50 name from 2000 to 2015, hitting the top 20 and peaking in 2005 at position 19. It has steadily and slightly declined since.

Fun Fact: Jonathan Browning was the inventor of the "sliding breech" repeating rifle, also called a Harmonica gun.

Kai

Origin: Dutch
Meaning: Spear
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cai, Caj, Cay, Kaj, Kay
Famous Namesakes: Trombonist and jazz composer Kai Winding, software designer Kai Krause
Peak Popularity: Kai has been steadily growing in popularity over the past 20 years. It broke into the top 100 in 2019 when it sat at position 100, and ranked 93 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Kai means ocean in Hawaiian and it is a popular baby name in Hawaii.

Leif

Origin: Norwegian
Meaning: Descendant, heir
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leiv
Famous Namesakes: Norse explorer Leif Erikson, mycologist Leif Ryvarden
Peak Popularity: Leif made it to the charts in 2016 and 2017 before falling off again. With cottagecore names on the rise, it is possible that we will see Leif back on the charts soon.

Fun Fact: Leif is the name of a sloth character in the game Animal Crossing.

Leo

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Lion
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leon
Famous Namesakes: Author Leo Tolstoy, Pope Leo VIII
Peak Popularity: Leo has been rising in popularity since the year 2000. It broke into the top 100 in 2014 and peaked at 36 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Leo the Lion is one of the earliest recognized constellations.

Markus

Origin: Ancient Roman
Meaning: God of war
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Marco, Marcus, Mark
Famous Namesakes: Vocalist Markus Feehily, DJ and musician Markus Löffel
Peak Popularity: Markus has had mixed popularity over the years. As of 2019, Markus is no longer a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: Marcus Aurelius was born Aurelius Antoninus before adopting the name Marcus as a symbol of the Roman god of war.

Matheo

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Gift of Yahweh
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Matteus, Matteo
Famous Namesakes: Racing driver Mathéo Tuscher
Peak Popularity: Matteo is a rare name and is not listed in the top 1,000.

Fun Fact: Matteo Ricci was an Italian Jesuit missionary who, in the 1600s, gained entrance to the interior of China. At this time it was rare for China to accept foreigners, but Matteo was allowed in because he adopted the Chinese language and culture.

Max

Origin: Ancient Roman
Meaning: Greatest
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maximilian, Maximus
Famous Namesakes: Sociologist and political economist Max Weber, theoretical physicist who discovered energy quanta Max Planck
Peak Popularity: A top 10 name in New Zealand, Max broke into the top 100 in 2010 before falling out again in 2012. Currently, Max is slowly losing popularity.

Oskar

Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Deer friend
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oscar
Famous Namesakes: Poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, Prince Oskar of Prussia
Peak Popularity: Oskar is a top 10 name in both Estonia and Slovenia, but it is a rare name in the US, and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: Oscar, a “deer friend,” is a figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology.

Otto

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Wealth, fortune
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Audo, Odilo, Odo
Famous Namesakes: First Holy Roman emperor Otto the Great, German chancellor Otto von Bismarck
Peak Popularity: Otto has been in the top 1000 since 1900. In 2020 it was at position 386.

Fun Fact: Four German kings were named Otto.

Rasmus

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Beloved
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Erasmus
Famous Namesakes: Linguist and philologist Rasmus Rask, racing cyclist Rasmus Quaade
Peak Popularity: Rasmus is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Sander

Origin: Greek
Meaning: To defend
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Xander, Zander
Famous Namesakes: Electrohouse DJ Sander van Doorn, American politician Sander Martin Levin
Peak Popularity: Sander is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was the first independent to be elected to the House of Representatives in 40 years.

Thor

Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Thunder
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tor
Famous Namesakes: Adventurer and ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl, bicycle racer Thor Hushovd
Peak Popularity: Thor is a rare name and not listed as a top 1,000 name.

Fun Fact: Thor was the Norse god of strength, thunder, war, and storms.

Tobias

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Yahweh is good
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Toby, Tobiah
Famous Namesakes: Actor and film producer Tobias “Toby” McGuire, Scottish poet and author Tobias George Smollett
Peak Popularity: A top 10 name in Austria, Tobias grew in popularity from 2003 to 2007 in the US before experiencing a setback lasting until 2012 when it began to increase again. As of 2020, Tobias is at position 268.

50 Sources

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Rehm G, Uszkoreit H, eds. The Norwegian Language in the Digital Age. Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2012.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Amalie.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Astrid.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Britta.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Carina.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Dorothea.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Ella.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Ellinore.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Evy.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Frida.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Hanna.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Heidi.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Hilda.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Josephine.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Kaia.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Karolina.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Katarina.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Katja.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Linnea.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Mikaela.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Nora.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Randi.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Storm.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Silvie.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Vera.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Anders.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of August.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Björn.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Casper.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Erik.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Espen.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Finn.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Frans.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Fredrik.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Hans.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Henrik.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Ivan.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Jonathan.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Kai.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Leif.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Leo.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Markus.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Matheo.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Max.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Oskar.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Otto.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Rqsmus.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Sander.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Thor.
Social Security Administration. Popularity of Tobias.

By Elisa Cinelli
Elisa is a well-known parenting writer who is passionate about providing research-based content to help parents make the best decisions for their families. She has written for well-known sites including POPSUGAR and Scary Mommy, among others.

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