Interested in learning about Norwegian male names? You’re in the right place, so let’s begin…
While there’s a lot more to Norway than a passion for unusual, but inspiring names, it’s definitely worth checking out some of the top listed titles if you’re looking for a muse.
Norwegian boy names are often a good choice for people who have a Nordic background, or those who like the idea of a name connected with Vikings.
Many of the Norwegian names for boys we’re going to cover on this list are intricately linked with Norway’s incredible history, and the Old Norse myths and legends still shared around the region.
Though some Norwegian boys’ names here might sound familiar, like Jakob, or Kasper, there are also plenty of options sure to make your child stand out from the crowd.
Here are just some of our favorite Norwegian male names.
Male Norwegian names: Popular Norwegian boy names
The most likely reason you’ve come here searching for Norwegian boy names, is you’ve got a new arrival on the way. Adding a touch of Scandinavian culture to your family is an excellent idea if you’re keen to shine more light on your Nordic heritage.
Even if you don’t have a background in Norway, you’re sure to love the way Norwegian boy’s names are spelled, and what they mean.
For instance, you’ll learn in this list of popular Norwegian boy names, many titles come with the “K” sound in the place of the “C”, because Norway didn’t have a “C” in its alphabet for a long time. Aksel, Oskar, and Kasper are some examples.
Here are some great names to inspire you…
1. Aksel
Aksel frequently ranks among the most popular Norwegian boy names lately. It’s a fun name with a great sound, and it translates well around the world, thanks to the popularity of the name “Axel”. Aksel actually comes from a Hebrew name, Absalom, which meant the “peace of the father”.
2. Age
This might sound like an odd title at first, but it’s actually a well-known choice among male Norwegian names. Age, as you might expect, means “ancestors”, or “wisdom”. The name isn’t as common today as it used to be, but we still love it.
3. Alv
When it comes to Norwegian boys’ names there’s a tendency for parents to choose slightly harsher sounding letters to replace soft ones. Alv is an alternative to “Alf” in Norway, and it means either “friend of the elves” or “noble friend”.
4. Asbjørn
Ideal if you’re not worried about messing around with a new alphabet, Asbjørn is both a Danish and Norwegian name coming from old Norse. The title means “God” and “bear”, or “bear God”, which is fantastic for families who love nature.
5. Brynjar
Frequently shortened to “Bryn”, the name Brynjar is traditional in Norway, and it comes from the Old Norse name, Brynjarr (with two r’s). The name is a compound one, made up of the words for warrior and armor. It means “protector”.
6. Bard
A delightful choice among strong Norwegian boy names, Bard, which is sometimes spelled “Baard”, is a Norwegian term taken from the Old Norse, Bárðr. This moniker means peace and battle at the same time, which is a little odd.
7. Christoffer
You’ve definitely heard of the name “Christopher” before, Christoffer is simply the Norwegian version. This title is very popular throughout all of Scandinavia, and it shares the same meaning as Christopher, which is “he who holds Christ in his heart”.
8. Dag
No, this isn’t just the word someone uses when they pronounce “dog” wrong. Dag is a fantastic Norwegian male name, also common throughout Denmark and Sweden. Dag means “day”, and it comes from the Old Norse word, Dagr.
9. Ebbe
Ebba and Ebbe are two pretty common names in Norway. The first version, “Ebba” is female, while the second is male. Ebbe is a diminutive of Eberhard which means “wild boar”, it can also be a diminutive of Esben.
10. Edvard
This is another example of Norway placing different letters in the places we’re not used to seeing them. Edvard is a version of Edward which is perfect for the Scandinavian region. The title means “wealthy guard”, and it’s commonly one of the most popular Norwegian boy names.
11. Einar
Ideal for any warrior in your world, Einar is a name coming from the Old Norse word for “lone warrior”. We love this title, because it sounds like the name you’d give to the protagonist of a great book. Einar is pronounced Eye-nar.
12. Egil
Egil name comes from the Old Norse moniker, Egill, which is a diminutive of various names beginning with the “Agi” prefix. This was the title of a famous Icelandic warrior, but it’s also extremely popular in Norway.
13. Even
Even is an interesting Norwegian male name with Old Norse roots. Not just another version of “Evan”, Even comes from Eivindr, which is a name meaning “winner” or “the gift”. You could also use “Eivind” as a Norwegian boy name.
14. Filip
Filip is a popular Norwegian boys name because it’s so easy to spell and say. Norway regularly switches the “ph” sound in our names to a single f. Filip is a fun version of Philip, and it translates to mean “friend of the horses”.
15. Frode
It’s difficult to know for certain whether Frode is most popular in Denmark, Sweden, or Norway. Either way, the title is common throughout Scandinavia, and it refers to someone who is clever, wise, or extremely learned.
16. Fridtjof
The meaning of this Norwegian male name isn’t’ entirely positive — but it is badass. The title comes from the Old Norse name meaning “thief” and “peace”. Calling your son Fridtjof would mean calling him a thief of peace.
17. Gaute
Fully Norwegian in origin, Gaute is a masculine name stemming from the Old Norse legends. The title was originally “Gauti” which is formed by the words meaning “goths” or “mean from Sweden”. You can cover too Scandi countries in one here.
18. Gier
A strong Norwegian boy name, Gier appears frequently throughout both Norway and Iceland. The title comes from the Old Norse word for spear, which had two “r”s instead (Gierr). This name also appears around Germany.
19. Goran
Goran is a name present in various parts of the world today, but it’s still very popular in Norway. The male name apparently means “mountain man”, or someone who came from the highlands. In Norway, it’s sometimes used as an alternative to George.
20. Gjurd
This name is a little tougher to say than some of the other Norwegian male names we’ve looked at. Fortunately, it looks and sounds fantastic. Taken from the German name, Godfred, Gjurd means the “God of Peace”.
Norwegian boy names: Strong Norwegian boy names
If there’s one thing you can guarantee when looking through popular Norwegian boy names, it’s a lot of monikers focus on strength. Remember, this is a country of Vikings and Old Norse gods.
Here are some more Norwegian boy names to inspire you…
1. Hakon
Hakon is among the most popular Norwegian boy names in recent years. It comes from Old Norse, like many of the names we’ve covered here, and goes back centuries. The name means “the highest son” and was often given to members of the Royal Family.
2. Halle
Halle is a girl’s name in some parts of Scandinavia, but it’s regularly used as a male name in Norway. Halle comes from the Old Norse name Halli, which used to mean “rock”, in ancient Norway. Some people shorten this name to “Hal”.
3. Havard
Havard is a Norwegian boy’s name which is common throughout the country. The title sometimes has a slightly different spelling, and it seems to come from Old Norse. According to experts, Havard means “protector”.
4. Ingolf
This unusual Norwegian male name is going to appeal to any parent with a taste for special-sounding monikers. Ingolf comes from the Old Norse name, Ingolfr, which comes from the old Germanic God, Ing. The name means “God wolf”.
5. Jorgen
Jorgen is another alternative to the name “George” in Norway. There are quite a few different options available for this popular name, and Jorgen can also be shortened to “Jorg”. The name just means “farmer”, which is the same as the original meaning.
6. Jakob
Another popular Norwegian male name, Jakob takes the popular title of “Jacob”, and replaces the “c” with the slightly harsher “k” sound. This is a common name throughout Scandinavia, and it apparently means “Supplanter”.
7. Jarl
Jarl actually sounds like “Yarl”, thanks to the soft J at the beginning. The title appears all throughout Nordic countries, and in Sweden, and Denmark. Jarl means either “nobleman” or “chieftan” depending on who you ask.
8. Jens
Jens is the slightly more interesting form of John, in Norway and other Scandinavian countries. This name appears throughout Norway, the Farose islands, and various parts of Denmark and Sweden. Jens means “God is gracious”.
9. Kennet
We like this name as a fun alternative to Kenneth. You can still call your young boy Ken for short, or even Kenny. Kennet comes from Norway, Scotland, and Ireland. The title comes from the word “Caonh”, which means handsome or good looking.
10. Ketil
Ketil, sometimes spelled Ketill, is an Old Norse word, and a common name in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The title means “cauldron” or “kettle”, but it also acquired the meaning of “helmet” over time. Ketill were used to gather the blood of sacrificed animals in old rituals.
11. Leiv
Leif is one of the more common names in Norway and Scandinavia, you can also spell this title Liev, but this would make it more Yiddish in origin. Leiv comes from Old Norse, and it means “descendent” or “heir”.
12. Loke
You might have noticed a trend in this list of names, highlighting the presence of Old Norse mythology and Gods. Loke is a version of the Old Norse name, Loki, which is the name of the God of mischief in Norse mythology.
13. Magne
Magnus is an exotic name gaining significant popularity around the globe. Although it’s not as common today as it once was, Magnus still has a lot of impact. If you want something a little different, you can try the shortened Norwegian version, Magne.
14. Oddmund
When you first hear it, this Norwegian male name sounds a lot like the better-known Edmund. In reality, it has its own background and meaning. Oddmund comes from the Old Norse elements of “Oddr”, the point of a sword, and “mundr” protection.
15. Oskar
As we noted above, you’ll frequently see plenty of Norwegian boys’ name switching the “c” sound out with a “k”. Oskar is one such example. Oskar is the Scandinavian version of Oscar, and it means “the spear of God”, or the “friend of deer”.
16. Pal
How fun is this Norwegian boys’ name? It’s actually just a shortened version of “Paul”, but it looks like your young son will be everyone’s friend (or pal). The meaning of Paul is “humble” or “small”. It used to be a name given when two boys shared the same moniker.
17. Rasmus
Rasmus is a popular Norwegian boy’s name which has also gained a lot of attention in other parts of Scandinavia. The title comes from “Erasmus”, which means “beloved”. This was also the name of a saint in Scandinavia.
18. Roald
Probably best-known for Roald Dahl, Roald is a modern version of a fantastic Old Norse name, which includes the elements hróðr for “fame” and valdr for “ruler”. Basically, this title means “famous ruler”, or famous champion.
19. Sander
Versions of monikers like “Xander” appear pretty frequently around Norway and other parts of the Nordics. The name “Sander” is a version of Alexander, and a great choice if you’re looking for a name that’s a little different, but still easy to remember. The name means defender of men.
20. Sindre
We love how interesting and unusual this name sounds, as well as it’s unique spelling. Sindre means “mythical dwarf”, and it comes from a variation of Sindri, which is also quite popular around the Scandinavian landscape.
Celebrating Norwegian boy names
Naming your young boy is a wonderful experience, and a great way to set your child up for confidence in life. After all, even when we’re young, we take pride in our names, and how they reflect our background, nature, or heritage.
Let’s finish off this list of magnificent Norway male names with a handful of final options for your new arrival…
1. Ståle
This Norwegian boy name might be a little tougher to get used to than some of the options on this list, thanks to its unique spelling. Ståle comes from old Norse, and it means “steel”, or strength. Perfect for a child with a family of warriors.
2. Stig
Probably better known in the UK and US for things like Top Gear, Stig is a modern form of the Old Norse name, Stigr, which translates to the “Wanderer”. Unlike most Norse, titles, Stig is specifically connected to Old West Norse.
3. Svein
One of the more popular Norwegian boys’ names to appear around the world over the decades, Svein is a version of Sven. Similar to other versions like “Svend”, this name allows you mix up a common moniker with a unique spelling. Svein means “boy”.
4. Tallak
Yet another example of Norwegian boy names taken from Old Norse, Tallak comes from “Torleikr”, which refers to “Thor’s game”. According to experts, the title basically means “Thor’s play” or “Thor’s sport”. You can also spell this Moniker “Tollak”.
5. Torkel
Torkel is one of the Norway male names that doesn’t seem to appear in other parts of Scandinavia, despite the popularity of Norse lore. Torkel means “Thor’s cauldron”, and it’s one of many names linked to the God of Thunder.
6. Ulf
This name might seem simple, but it has a powerful meaning, taken from Old Norse, Ulf comes from the word Ulfr, in Norse, which meant “wolf”. It’s great for connecting your family back to Norwegian nature.
7. Ulrik
An excellent choice for those who want a highly Scandinavian name, Ulrik is the Norwegian version of Ulrich, which is also common in the area. Ulrik means “power of the wolf”. There’s a version for women with two k’s too, (ulrikke).
8. Valdemar
Often shortened to Vald, or Valde, Valdemere is a common Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish title. As the Scandinavian form of Waldemar, this German turned Norwegian title means “powerful” and “famous”.
9. Viggo
This is still a pretty rare name in most parts of the world, but you’ll hear it more frequently in Norway, and various parts of Scandinavia. Viggo is a short form of an Old Norse word, and it contains the term “vig”, which means war.
10. Yngvar
Probably one of the more complicated Norwegian boys’ names to say and spell for a non-Scandi family, Yngvar means “protected by Yngvi”, which is a reference to an Old Norse god. Yngvi was the god of war.
Hopefully, this guide to Norwegian male names has given you all the inspiration you need. Don’t forget to check out our other lists of fantastic Scandi names to discover popular titles for both boys and girls all across the region.
Scandification: Discovering Scandinavia.
Now read these:
—An introduction to Norwegian first names
—Your guide to Norwegian girl names
—The most common Norwegian surnames
—Scandinavian names and their meanings
—Viking and Norse names, and their origin
—Your guide to Scandinavian people traits
—Popular Scandinavian female names
—Popular Scandinavian men’s names
