Old Norse

Beautiful, strong, Norse names. Once popular among Vikings, and still in use today (some more than others), mostly in Nordic countries.
  1. Alda
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Aldo, German, or Old Norse
    • Meaning:

      "old or wave"
    • Description:

      Alda's brother name Aldo has been a mainstay of the U.S. popularity chart for decades now, and the related Alden is soaring up as well. This version has never really caught on. (Maybe it's the association with Alan Alda: great actor, unlikely namesake for a little girl.) However, there is possible hope now that Alba and Alma are on the rise. Aida and Arden are more familiar alternatives.
  2. Aud
    • Origin:

      Norwegian
    • Meaning:

      "deserted, empty"
    • Description:

      This minimalist name is frequently heard in Norway, but has little chance of acceptance in the US.
  3. Audun
    • Amund
      • Ask
        • Aslak
          • Eira
            • Origin:

              Welsh
            • Meaning:

              "snow"
            • Description:

              This Welsh nature name that can be pronounced exactly like the male Ira. Or, to avoid confusion, you could just name her Snow.
          • Eirik
            • Elida
              • Eiril
                • Eivind
                  • Embla
                    • Erlend
                      • Freya
                        • Origin:

                          Norse
                        • Meaning:

                          "a noble woman"
                        • Description:

                          Freya has long been popular in the U.K. but has only taken off in the US in the last decade, along with the entire category of mythological names. Derived from the Old Norse name Freyja, meaning "Lady, noble woman", Freya is the name of the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
                      • Hedda
                        • Origin:

                          Scandinavian, diminutive of Hedvig
                        • Description:

                          Hedda is a card-carrying member of the league of older, slightly bohemian urban names like Nedda, Andra, and Petra; also linked to Ibsen heroine Hedda Gabler, as well as being the basis of cruel joke names like Hedda Hare.
                      • Liv
                        • Origin:

                          Diminutive of Olivia, English, Norse
                        • Meaning:

                          "olive tree; life, protection"
                        • Description:

                          Liv combines the succinct charm of a nickname—people might assume it's short for Olivia—with the solidity of being a classic stand-alone Scandinavian name with a life-force meaning. It was brought into the public eye (in the English speaking world that is) due to the fame of actress and Aerosmith daughter Liv Tyler.
                      • Ragna
                        • Runa
                          • Storm
                            • Origin:

                              Word name
                            • Description:

                              Windswept and dramatic, but perhaps asking for trouble. Quite popular in Denmark and Sweden, where it derives from Stromr, which is a fairly common surname. Storm Thorgerson is a famous bearer of the name - he designed iconic album covers for Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, the Cranberries, Anthrax, and Pink Floyd.
                          • Sturla