Baby Names Freya Name Meaning By Vicky Yip Vicky Yip Vicky is a freelance writer specializing on topics relating to prenatal care, motherhood, parenting, family, and home life. Learn about our editorial process Published on September 28, 2021 Print BlackJack3D / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Does Freya Mean? How Popular is the Name Freya? Name Variations Similar Names Famous People Named Freya What Does Freya Mean? A classic name steeped in Nordic tradition, the name Freya possesses a strong and modern vibe while giving a nod to Old Norse mythology. Derived from the name Freyja, it means “a noble woman.” It is the name of the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. She was a deity who practiced a form of magical arts and divination that allowed practitioners to see and change the future. Freya was also ruler over the meadow where she received slain heroes of the battlefield. The mythological roots of this Nordic name are still evident today. The Danish national anthem honors the goddess Freya by referring to Denmark as the “hall of Freya.” Origin: Freya is a Scandinavian name meaning "a noble woman”Gender: Freya is most commonly used as a girl name. Masculine variations include Frey, Freyr.Pronunciation: FRAY-ya Although baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It's important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best. How Popular is the Name Freya? The name Freya has not always been popular in the United States. Freya started to gain traction here only in the last decade, entering the Social Security Administration list of top 1,000 names for the first time in 2013. Ranked as No. 907 upon its first appearance, the name has since jumped hundreds of spots. Data from 2020 has Freya ranked as the 179th most popular name for girls in the U.S. This is the peak of its popularity so far. Freya may still have room to grow, but it probably made its biggest leap between 2013 and 2014 when it skipped over 400 spots in one year. The name may have started trending in conjunction with the rise in popularity of Australian actress Freya Tingley and Scottish actress and model Freya Mavor, who both starred in several movies and television series. In addition, in 2016, "The New Yorker" reported on the trend in hygge, the concept of Scandinavian coziness. The surge of U.S. interest in hygge may have contributed to the rising popularity of all things Scandinavian, including baby names. Name Variations The following are variations of the name Freya: Freja (Danish/Swedish)Freyja (Icelandic)Frøya (Norwegian) Frea (Old Norse Mythology) Similar Names Similar sounding names to Freya: AnyaDanyaElysiaGloriaMoyaMayaOlympiaOphelia Other Scandinavian names: AstridBrittaEllaHeidiHildaKatjaNoraVera Other girl names starting with F: FarrahFeliciaFionnaFloraFlorenceFrancineFrieda Suggested Sibling Names Looking for a sibling name for Freya? Here are some popular options: DorotheaFinnFrederikFridaHannaHansKaiLeifLeoStorm Famous People Named Freya Notable women named Freya appeared throughout history. Those who bear the name have ranged from fictional characters to modern film stars. Freya Allan, English actress best known for her role as Princess Cirilla of Cintra in the Netflix series "The Witcher"Freya Anderson, British swimmer, known primarily for her achievements as a freestyle sprinter who won seven gold medals, and three bronze medals at the European ChampionshipsFreya Christine Clausen, Danish singer/songwriter and television personality based in CopenhagenFreya North, British writer whose romantic novels are seen as one of the precursors to modern chick-litFreya Stark, explorer and writer from the 1930s to 1980s who traveled extensively in the Middles East and nearby countriesFreya Tingley, Australian actress who has appeared in numerous television shows and films, including the 2014 American musical drama "Jersey Boys"Freya Manfred, modern American poet whose work has been published in magazines and books since the 1970sFreya Mavor, Scottish actress and model who starred in the "The ABC Murders," a BBC One mystery-thriller television series that originally aired in 2018 Fictional Characters Named Freya: Freya, goddess associated with love, beauty, and fertility in Norse mythology who rules over her heavenly field and rides a chariot pulled by two catsFreya, fictional female character in Joseph Conrad’s novel “Freya and the Seven Isles,” originally published in 1912, who navigates a romance against a backdrop of conflict between Dutch and British merchant naviesFreya, a mythical Asgardian goddess appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, as a supporting character of ThorFreya, title character of the novel "Freya" by Anthony Quinn that follows the story of a headstrong heroine over two decades while she navigates post-war 1940s to the cultural shifts of the 1960s More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S. 50 Swedish Baby Names 50 Norwegian Baby Names Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source 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. Social Security Administration. Popularity of name Freya. Updated 2020.