Norwegian Names for Girls

Norwegian girl names feel fresh, feisty and fashionable in the English-speaking world right now — in an understated, Scandi-chic sort of a way, of course. With their strong consonant sounds and simple spellings, these stylish Norwegian girls' names are the opposite of frilly, fussy, or frou-frou. A few — like Birgit, Vigdis and Helge — might be a little too clunky for all but the bravest of baby-namers, but others — like Juni, Malin and Sunniva — feel bang on-trend in the US today.

Browse our full roster of cool Norwegian baby girl names below. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Sunniva
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "sun gift"
    • Description:

      Sunniva was an Irish-born saint who fled to Norway, where she hid in an island cave with her followers and eventually died. After miracles were reported on the island, the cave was excavated and Sunniva's intact body was found. Sunniva is the patron saint of Western Norway. Her name would make a fascinating and unusual choice for a modern baby girl, and if her story is a bit grim, you can take refuge in the upbeat nickname Sunny or Sunni.
  2. Juni
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "June"
    • Description:

      Juni is the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish form of the month name June. While Juni feels cute and fresh, most Americans would assume it was a nickname or a Joni variation. We prefer Juna or the English June.
  3. Tove
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"
    • Description:

      Tove is a modern variation of an Old Norse name for which there are no letters on the twenty-first century keyboard. It's related to Thor, and Tove and Tuva are the forms that survive and thrive in modern Scandinavia.
  4. Kirsten
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Christine
    • Description:

      Lovely, authentic name -- but any Kirsten will be condemned to a lifetime of hearing "Did you say Kristen?" They're both genuine Scandinavian names but too interchangeable.
  5. Malin
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian diminutive of Magdalene
    • Meaning:

      "high tower or woman of Magdela"
    • Description:

      A multi-cultural name that's in the Norwegian Top 50 and well-used throughout the Scandinavian cultures. Malin has the advantage of being at once simple and unusual.
  6. Thelma
    • Origin:

      English, Literary, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Though modern parents seeking to honor an ancestor named Thelma might opt for the airier Thea instead, Thelma is starting to make its way back onto adventurous vintage name lovers' radars. It is currently experiencing a modest revival in France, where it now ranks around the #300 mark.
  7. Kristin
    • Origin:

      German and Norwegian variation of Christina
    • Meaning:

      "a Christian"
    • Description:

      A crystalline name that retains its loveliness far past its prime. Its biggest downside: Eternal confusion over spelling and pronunciation. Kristen? Kirsten? It can be so confusing that many parents today opt to bypass it.
  8. Tuva
    • Origin:

      Swedish and Norwegian variation of Tove
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful"
    • Description:

      Tove is a modern variation of an Old Norse name, related to Thor. Tuva is a form of the name popular in modern Scandinavia.
  9. Sonja
    • Berit
      • Origin:

        Scandinavian variation of Birgit
      • Description:

        Well used in northern Europe, almost unknown here.
    • Tea
      • Origin:

        Short form of Dorotea or Mattea
      • Meaning:

        "gift of God"
      • Description:

        As Theo and Thea get more popular, so do Teo and Tea, short forms of the Latinate variations of Theodore and Matthew -- which include Dorotea and Mattea. But like Theo and Thea, Tea can stand perfectly well on its own and blends seamlessly into any Anglophone or European culture, if that is your aim. Some may argue that the Tea version is the prettiest and it's certainly the sleekest.
    • Janne
      • Origin:

        Danish and Norwegian diminutive of Johanna
      • Meaning:

        "God is gracious"
      • Description:

        This common name for both boys and girls in Scandinavia would definitely work better as a feminine name in the U.S.
    • Birgit
      • Origin:

        Scandinavian variation of Brighid
      • Meaning:

        "strength"
      • Description:

        Birgit is pronounced with a hard 'g' and is one of the many international versions of the Irish Bridget. Birgit Nilsson was a celebrated Swedish operatic soprano.
    • Lovise
      • Fjord
        • Origin:

          Norwegian nature name
        • Description:

          The Old Norse and modern Norwegian word name Fjord, which refers to a passage in the sea, could work for children of both genders.
      • Kjersti
        • Vigdis
          • Origin:

            Norwegian
          • Meaning:

            "war goddess"
          • Description:

            This strong Norwegian name war goddess name, commonly heard in both midcentury Norway and Iceland, has never ventured far beyond its native culture.
        • Rane
          • Terese
            • Helge
              • Origin:

                Scandinavian
              • Meaning:

                "holy"
              • Description:

                Form of Helga