Scandinavian Names for Boys

A name that took on a pronounced country twang via Nashville megastar Garth (born Troyal) Brooks.

Shades of Thurston Howell, the effete millionaire castaway on Gilligan's Island.

Fewer letters does not always mean easier—the traditional spelling is the one most people will recognize.

Old Norse name that lives on more appealingly in modern times as Jalmari, short form Jari.

The name of Sarah Palin's youngest son might also be good for the child of a mathematician. Trig Palin's middle name is Paxson, after a popular snowmobiling area in Alaska.

Too tied to those well-publicized twins.

Outmoded comic book choice.

Ericson, also spelled Erickson and Erikson (and with -sen endings too), is a Nordic surname that makes a strong choice. Ericson may continue the trend Harrison, Jefferson and Jackson started.

The raven was a holy bird in Norse mythology, giving this choice some resonance beyond other Bart variations.

This old Norse name is still used in contemporary Scandinavia. An ancient hero's name, Sigurd got a modern boost from a heroic figure in television's The Vikings.

This common name in Finland, which is also a diminutive for Jan in Sweden, might feel a bit feminine in the English-speaking world, too close to girls' names Jan and Jane.

Popular in Norway, an interesting choice for anyone with northern European roots.

The name of several legendary Danish kings, including one who declared universal peace.

Simple, friendly, distinctive name heard in several cultures. The a ending may feel more feminine in the US than Ole, though both variations are acceptable in Scandinavia.

A locational surname turned rare first name, which would likely be misheard as the much more familiar Ray.

An ancient name that's been used by the Norwegian royal family; still popular there but not likely to appeal to many American parents.

Nickname-name that's all the rage in Scandinavia.

Unlikely to catch on in the Anglophone world, where parent name Ludwig still conjures up images of Beethoven. But Ludvig actually ranks among the top boy names in Norway and Sweden, while German form Ludwig ranks among the Top 100 boy names in Germany and Ludovico is cool in Italty.