OK, so I might be a little biased here – but from a scenic point of view, few places in the world will ever beat Norway in natural beauty.
Between the mountains (you did know Disney got their insiration for Frozen in Norway, right?) and the fjords and the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun, this Nordic country can boost some serious nature sights. But did you know that the Norwegians are also pretty darn good when it comes to picking gorgeous monikers for their babies?
It’s true, guys. And being a local, I have rounded up 15 gorgeous names, perfect for whether you are expecting a little ‘jente’ (girl) or ‘gutt’ (boy):
1. Sander (boys)
(Pronounced SAH-nder)
2. Astrid (girls)
Sweet and yet also sophisticated, and you can just call her Asti for short.
3. Jonas (boys)
Pronounced LJO-nas and a nice change to the name John or Joseph, no?
4. Runa (girls)
Pronounced ROO-na, this old norse name means mystery.
5. Mathias (boys)
Pronounced Ma-THEE-as, and can of course be shortened to Mattie, if you wish.
6. Selma (girls)
Short and sweet, and although the name is currently very popular for baby girls in Norway, it is originally a Muslim name meaning ‘peace.’
7. Andreas (boys)
With a name meaning ‘strong and manly’ he’ll no doubt a real viking.
8. Elin (girls)
A sweet Scandi version of Helen that’s pronounced EH-lin.
9. Odin (boys)
In Norse mythology Odin was the highest of the gods, presiding over art, war, wisdom and death.
10. Ingrid (girls)
An old Scandinavian girls name meaning ‘beautiful.’ A famous bearer was, of course, Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman.
11. Aksel (boys)
Pronounced much like the more-used-in-English-speaking-countries Axel, Aksel is a version of the Hebrew name Absalom.
12. Nora (girls)
Pronounced NOH-ra, most think Nora is originally a shortened version of Eleanor, meaning ‘light.’
13. Magnus (boys)
Pronounced much like it it spelled, Magnus became a popular name in Scandinavia during the Viking period, and has remained popular up until today. A number of Norse kings bore this name.
14. Thea (girls)
Pronouned TAY-A, Thea is the English spelling of Theia, the Greek goddess of light. The name is currently in the top 10 most popular girls names list in Norway.
15. Marius (boys)
Pronounced MAHR-ius, this boys’ name is popular in Norway, and has been for decades. Marius is originally a Roman family name which was derived either the name of the Roman god of War, or else from the Latin root mas, maris meaning “male”.
