Find below the list of the most used Norwegian names from 1880 through 2010, according to the data provided by Statistics Norway (Statistisk sentralbyrå). Statistics for 2011 are not ready as yet, but in 2010 the most popular boys’ name in Norway was Lucas and the most popular girls’ name was Emma. In 2009 the most common Norwegian names were Mathias and Sara. The most used boys’ name in Oslo in 2010 was Mohammad.
The list is divided into top 50 male names and top 50 female names, giving the top 100 popular names in Norway for the last 130 yerars. Each name is provided with a short note as for its origin and meaning (ON stands for Old Norse). Check also the name day in Norway (in several cases other Scandinavian countries have different dates for the same names).
Male Norwegian Names
Jan — short form of Johannes. September, 24.
Per — short form of Peter. June, 29.
Bjørn — ON bjǫrn, ‘bear.’ June, 18.
Ole — ON Ólafr. Combination of elements meaning ‘ancestor’ and ‘heir, descendant.’ July, 29.
Lars — short form of Laurentius. August, 10.
Kjell — ON kętill ‘kettle, cauldron,’ or ‘helmet.’ July, 11.
Arne — ON arni ‘eagle’ August, 4.
Knut — ON knútr ‘knot.’ January, 7.
Svein — ON sveinn ‘young man’ or ‘young warrior.’ December, 3.
Thomas — Latin spelling of a New Testament name. December, 21.
Hans — German short form of Johannes. June, 24.
Geir — ON geirr ‘spear.’ May, 30.
Tor — ON Þórr (Norse god Thor). September, 10.
Odd — ON oddr ‘point (of a weapon), spear’. April, 15.
Morten — variant form of Martin. November, 11.
Terje — dialectal for Torgeir, combination of ON Þórr and geirr. October, 13.
Erik — ON Eiríkr. According to various interpretations of the two elements, ‘one ruler’ or ‘eternal ruler’ or ‘ever powerful.’ May, 18.
John — Low German and English short form of Johannes.
Martin — German short form for the Latin Martinus. November, 11.
Anders — short form of Andreas.
Andreas — Latin spelling of a New Testament name. November, 30.
Rune — ON rún ‘secret.’ June, 2.
Trond — ON Þróndr from þroásk ‘to grow and thrive.’ September, 21.
Tore — ON Þórir ‘Thor’s warrior.’ October, 19.
Jon — short form of Jonas.
Harald — ON Haraldr ‘warrior power’ or ‘host wielder.’ May, 17.
Olav — Norwegian modern form of ON Ólafr. July, 29.
Kristian — Nordic spelling of Christian. May, 14.
Tom — English short form of Thomas. December, 21.
Daniel — Old Testament name meaning ‘(my) judge is God.’ December, 11.
Stian — ON Stígandr ‘stepping, treading one.’ September, 13.
Gunnar — ON Gunnarr ‘battle, fight’ + ‘warrior.’ January, 9.
Rolf — ON Hrólfr ‘fame’ + ‘wolf.’ August, 27.
Marius — Roman family name. January, 19.
Leif — ON Leifr ‘heir, descendant.’ October, 9.
Magnus — Latin byname meaning ‘great.’ April, 16.
Øyvind — ON Eyvindr ‘luck, fortune’ + ‘winner.’ August, 26.
Espen — ON Ásbiǫrn ‘god’ + ‘bear.’ May, 10.
Nils — Short form of Nicolaus. December, 6.
Fredrik — German Friedrich ‘peace’ + ‘mighty, rich.’ November, 14.
Helge — ON Helgi ‘luck, fortune, health.’ September, 30.
Christian — short form of Christianus.
Eirik — Norwegian form of Eiríkr.
Einar — ON Æinarr ‘one, alone’ + ‘warrior.’ September, 26.
Håkon — ON Hákon ‘high’ + ‘son.’ June, 22.
Jonas — Latin spelling of Ionas or contracted form of Johannes.
Steinar — ON Steinarr ‘stone’ + ‘warrior.’ December, 14.
Øystein — ON Øystæinn, probably ‘luck, fortune’ + ‘stone.’ January, 26.
Frode — ON Fróði ‘clever, wise.’ February, 18.
Female Norwegian Names
Anne — variant form of Anna. July, 26.
Inger — dialectal form of Ingerd, ON Ingigærðr ‘god Ing’ + ‘enclosure.’ February, 26.
Kari — variant form of Karin. November, 25.
Marit — variant form of Marghit, Margarita. July, 20.
Liv — modern form of Líf from ON hlíf ‘cover, shelter, protection, esp. shield,’ early associated with ON líf ‘life.’ October, 2.
Ingrid — ON Ingríðr ‘god Ing’ + ‘beautiful, beloved.’ February, 10.
Eva — Latin form of the Old Testament name.
Berit — short form of Beritta, Brigitta, from the Celtic name Brighid.
Astrid — ON Ástríðr ‘god’ + ‘beautiful, beloved.’ April, 13.
Bjørg — ON Bjǫrg ‘help, salvation.’ June, 11.
Solveig — ON Sǫlveig ‘sun’ + ‘power, strength.’ September, 1.
Randi — ON Ragnfríðr ‘advise, decision’ + ‘beautiful, beloved.’ February, 12.
Hilde — variant form of Hilda ‘battle, fight.’ December, 15.
Marianne — French pet form of Maria. November, 21.
Nina — Russian name. April, 4.
Anna — variant form of Hanna. July, 26.
Elisabeth — New Testament name. November, 19.
Ida — pet form of Adelaida and Adelaide. September, 4.
Kristin — variant form of Christina. July, 24.
Maria — New Testament name. March, 25.
Bente — variant form of Benedicta. October, 8.
Gerd — ON Gerðr ‘enclosure, protection.’ March, 23.
Heidi — German pet form of names containing the element heid. June, 4.
Hanne — variant form of Hanna. January, 5.
Silje — variant form of Cecilie. November, 22.
Tone — ON Þórný ‘thunder’ + ‘new.’ June, 13.
Linda — German pet form of names containing the element lind. May, 13.
Tove — from ON pet form of names with the first element Þórr. November, 2.
Ragnhild — ON Ragnhildr ‘advise, decision’ + ‘battle, fight.’ May, 17.
Elin — variant form of Elina, Helena. July, 31.
Anita — pet form of Anna. July, 10.
Wenche — variant form of Wenke, Low German pet form of the names meaning ‘friend.’ August, 17.
Ellen — variant form of Eleonora or Helene. May, 21.
Karin — short form of Katrina or Carolina. November, 25.
Camilla — Italian name. August, 12.
Else — short form of Elisabeth.
Hege — dialectal form of Helga. September, 30.
Ann — short form of Anna and Anne. August, 13.
Aud — ON Auðr ‘prosperity, fortune.’ July, 30.
Mona — Short form of Monika. May, 4.
Marie — variant form of Maria. March, 25.
Monica — variant form of Monika. May, 4.
Turid — ON Þúríðr ‘thunder’ + ‘beautiful.’ January, 8.
Laila — Sami form of Helga.
Kristine — variant form of Christine.
Reidun — ON Reidunn ‘nest, home’ + ‘love.’ July, 28.
Julie — variant form of Julia, a Roman name. April, 12.
Åse — from ON short forms of names beginning with Ás ‘god.’ May, 2.
Jorunn — ON Jórunnr ‘wild boar’ + ‘love.’ June, 25.
Stine — Short form of names ending in -stin, -stina, -stine. December, 5.
hello people can you tell me if margesson is of norse roots if poss thank you
Hello Pete. Margesson seems to be a form of Margerison. This name was widespread in Yorkshire. Its origin is not clear. It also may be a variant of Marginson, which reached England in 1066, from a location in Normandy called Argenson.
My gg grandfather came from Arandale, Norway. His name was Peter Ranloff born in 1822 and arrived in the US in 1841. He was a sea captain and was actually murdered by his captain boy and buried in Cuba. I cannot find the name Ranloff anywhere in Norway. Is this name familiar to you? Do you know what the name may have been derived from? How on earth do I go about finding his parents?!?
Peter D. Ranloff, born about 1820, married to Elisabeth Valerie.
Thank you very much for info. the site you have here is great easy to use and loads of info thanks again pete
You are welcome, Pete.
Great site! I’m looking for a list of known ancient names written in the ruinic alphabet. Haven’t seen such a beast out there yet. I’m guessing you probably have though! Thanks!
Hello Jim. I don’t think such a list exists. What name would you like to write in runes?
Hi there,
I really want to get my kids names tattooed in runes.
Shayden
Athena
Freya
Can you give me a recommendation on which of your guides to follow. I don’t want it spelled wrong. Thanks:)
How to Spell Words in Runes for A Tattoo
Hi my maiden name is Bergersen my family came out from Norway to New Zealand in 1873 on the Hovding My great -great grandfather was Thorval Bergersen and his son Anders was my great grandfather I would like to know more about our surname and where it comes from also any other information available.
Hello debbie. Bergersen is a Norwegian surname meaning ‘son of Berger’. Berger is a variant form of Birger.
hi my last name is Ericsson and I want to know more about where it comes from can you help
Hello Kiana. Eriksson is a common Swedish surname meaning ‘son of Erik’.
My grandfather immigrated here in 1910 from Norway. Once he became a citizen of the US, he no longer spoke nor taught his children his native language. He passed when I was an infant so I never got to know him. I wish he would have taught my father the language. I haven’t been able to trace much about my ancestors and am wondering if you have any other suggestions other than Ancestry. Com? Also his name was George Stein Alberthsen. What does Stein mean? Thanks!
His name was probably spelt “Albertsen”
It would Sound like “Alberthsen” for an english speaking person. “Stein” means “Stone”
what does my name mean and what is the name for november 1?
In Norway November 1 is the name day for male name Vetle and female name Veslemøy. Erich is the German form of Erik, which means either ‘eternal ruler’ or ‘one ruler’.
Hello, I am joining SCA and would like a Nordic name equivalent to my own. I know it means savior. Any suggestions?
Hello Joshua. The Old Norse word for savior is frelsari.
You can also use Josva.
Hello Viking Rune
Uhmm you’ve missed a great deal about the danish vikings, their names and the country…where is all that???
Hello Line. Here it is: Danish Viking DNA Retrieved. But I will blog on Denmark and Danish Vikings more, I promise!
Hello there,
My surname is Garretsen, is this a norse surname?
Awesome site btw!
Trolling? (pun intended)
Type in “Garretsen” in Google and you’ll find plenty hits. Most of them are probably Dutch (as in from Holland/The Netherlands). I’m Dutch myself and would say it would be either a Dutch or a Belgian family name.
“Garret” being a first name, and “sen” added as equivalent of “son”. Total meaning being “Son of Garret”.