Freya Name Meaning

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.”

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. 908 upon its first appearance, the name has since jumped hundreds of spots.

Data from 2020 has Freya ranked as the 178th 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:

• Anya
• Danya
• Elysia
• Gloria
• Moya
• Maya
• Olympia
• Ophelia

Other Scandinavian names:

• Astrid
• Britta
• Ella
• Heidi
• Hilda
• Katja
• Nora
• Vera

Other girl names starting with F: 

• Farrah
• Felicia
• Fionna
• Flora
• Florence
• Francine
• Frieda
  

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Freya? Here are some popular options:

• Dorothea
• Finn
• Frederik
• Frida
• Hanna
• Hans
• Kai
• Leif
• Leo
• Storm
  

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 Championships
• Freya Christine Clausen, Danish singer/songwriter and television personality based in Copenhagen
• Freya North, British writer whose romantic novels are seen as one of the precursors to modern chick-lit
• Freya Stark, explorer and writer from the 1930s to 1980s who traveled extensively in the Middle East and nearby countries
• Freya 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 1970s
• Freya 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 cats
• Freya, 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 navies
• Freya, a mythical Asgardian goddess appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, as a supporting character of Thor
• Freya, 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