Norwegian Names for Boys

Norwegian boy names feel fresh and fashionable in the English-speaking world right now, with the influence of Scandi noir and the "hygge" epidemic making all things Nordic feel cooler than ever. With their strong consonant sounds and simple spellings, these stylish Norwegian boys' names are fit for a little Viking, and would make a bold and meaningful choice for anyone with Norwegian heritage. Many could also work well as unique substitutes for the most popular boys' names of today: think Mats for Max, Matteus for Matthew, or Nils for Miles.

You'll find all of our cool Norwegian baby names for boys 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. Oslo
    • Origin:

      Norwegian place name, Old Norse
    • Meaning:

      "meadow at the foot of a hill"
    • Description:

      Oslo, the capital city of Norway, makes for an intriguing new place name, especially with its bookended O's, as in Otto. One Berry has already used it and we predict others will follow.
  2. Arvid
    • Origin:

      Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
    • Meaning:

      "eagle-tree"
    • Description:

      Arvid, a Scandinavian name that's virtually unknown in the US, is one of the top baby names in Sweden. It might make a handsome, unusual choice for a parent in search of an original yet traditional A name.
  3. Gregor
    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Gregory
    • Meaning:

      "vigilant, a watchman"
    • Description:

      Two prominent literary namesakes make Gregor a somewhat risky choice. On the highbrow side, there's Gregor Samsa, the Kafka character who woke up one day to find himself turned into a cockroach. And then there's Gregor Clegane, one of the most feared and purely evil characters in the world of Game of Thrones.
  4. Nils
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Nicholas
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"
    • Description:

      Like Lars, Sven, Niels, and Nels, an unjustly neglected straightforward Scandinavian name. Surname Nilsson or the anglicized Nelson derives from Nils.
  5. Aksel
    • Origin:

      Danish, version of Hebrew Absalom
    • Meaning:

      "the father is peace"
    • Description:

      Most American parents would choose to use the more commonly seen variant, AXEL.
  6. Nels
    • Origin:

      Norwegian and Swedish variation of Nicholas
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory"
    • Description:

      One of those simple Norse names, like Lars, that is definitely worth thinking about.
  7. Stein
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "Stone"
  8. Trygg
    • Origin:

      Norwegian
    • Meaning:

      "safe"
    • Description:

      Sarah Palin spelled it Trig, as in the nickname for trigonometry, but Trygg is a genuine Norwegian word name for boys.
  9. Havard
    • Origin:

      Norwegian
    • Meaning:

      "protector"
    • Description:

      An unusual yet accessible Scandinavian choice, though it might be confused with Harvard.
  10. Mats
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian diminutive of Matthias, Aramaic
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      If you're looking for a Euro-chic alternative to Max, Mats is a strong possibility. It's a fading classic in Norway, but is popular in the Netherlands and Belgium, where short names are the height of style.
  11. Roald
    • Origin:

      Norwegian
    • Meaning:

      "famous ruler"
    • Description:

      This intriguing Scandinavian name is associated with Roald Dahl, author of the juvenile classics James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You can honor an ancestral Ronald just by dropping that middle 'n'.
  12. Pelle
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian variation of Peter, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "rock, stone"
    • Description:

      Pelle is one of several possible Peter-related Scandinavian choices. In Swedish or Norwegian, the name Pelle rhymes roughly with Ella.
  13. Matteus
    • Ole
      • Olay
        • Salomon
          • Olav
            • Ulv
              • Eirik
                • Odo