50 Swedish Baby Names That Are the Absolute Cutest
Ah, the Swedes. First, they brought us IKEA. Then it was fika and the secret to sleeping better. Now they’re bringing us some of the sweetest and most adorable baby names we’ve ever heard.
Bestow one of these 50 Swedish baby names to your darling son or daughter for instant grace, taste and style. (Just make sure to note the silent "J"s.)
100 Uncommon Baby Names to Help Your Kid Stand Out from the Crowd
1. Astrid
A flower and a feminine name with Old Norse roots and a meaning of “divinely beautiful.” (No pressure, baby.)
2. Magnus
Like Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, this masculine name means “great.”
3. Bjorn
This cute-as-a-button Scandinavian boy’s name means baby carrier. Er, "bear."
4. Evelina
Evelina, the Swedish form of Evelyn, has a lovely meaning of “light” and “life.”
5. Olaf
A much-loved Disney snowman and the patron saint of Norway, Olaf is a boy’s name that means “descendant of the ancestors.”
6. Stella
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This pretty, vintage girl’s name meaning “star” is popular throughout Scandinavia, though its origins are Latin.
7. Malin
This sweet and elegant Swedish variant of the name Madeleine has a badass meaning of “little strong warrior.”
8. Felix
This too-cool-for-school boy’s name means “happy” and “lucky” (a pretty good combo if you ask us).
9. Greta
Here, the Swedish form of the name Margaret with the same meaning: “pearl.”
10. Axel
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Axel, one of the most popular boy names in Sweden, boasts a meaning of “Father of Peace.” (Bring on the Guns N’ Roses references at your own risk.)
11. Eleanora
This pretty feminine name meaning “light” is also the Swedish rendition of the name Helen.
12. Lars
This strong masculine name means “hailing from the place of laurel.” In other words… Olympian!
13. Matilda
A lovable character from Roald Dahl’s namesake book and a downright adorable girl name meaning “brave in war.”
14. Oskar
A Scandinavian and German variant of the name Oscar with the same meaning of “deer lover” and “gentle friend.”
15. Ingrid
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This girl name of Old Norse origin has a vintage feel and a meaning of “beautiful and feminine.” Bless.
16. Elsa
Meaning: “Joyful” and “noble.” As for the Frozen reference? Embrace it, love it, let it go.
17. Ebba
A popular choice in Sweden, this feminine name of German origin has a meaning of “brave boar” that belies its super cute, diminutive sound.
18. Saga
This feminine name of Swedish origin means (you guessed it) “story” and “seeress.” We think it’s a fine choice for a future drama queen.
19. Signe
A variant of an Old Norse name, this gender neutral moniker means “new victory.”
20. Arvid
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A sturdy sounding, masculine name of Old Norse origin that’s well-suited to a nature lover—Arvid means “eagle tree.”
21. Ebbe
A masculine or gender neutral variant of Ebba with the same meaning of “brave boar.”
22. Nils
If you’re looking for a seriously cool one-syllable moniker, this traditional Scandinavian boy’s name meaning “people of victory” fits the bill.
23. Tilde
This shortened form of Matilda is also a stand-alone feminine name with a charming, diminutive vibe and the same(ish) fierce meaning of “mighty in battle.”
24. Ronja
Pronounced RON-ya, this feminine name meaning “lake” was invented by Swedish children’s book author Astrid Lindgren.
25. Svea
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This feminine name of Old High German and Nordic origin means “free” and “sea” respectively. It also translates to “little Swedish girl,” so it doesn’t get much more Scandinavian than this.
26. Isak
This popular Scandinavian boy’s name has Hebrew origins and a meaning of “he who laughs.” A fine choice for an actual bundle of joy.
27. Olle
If you like Olaf but aren’t so keen on the Frozen snowman connection, try Olle—a very cute shortened version of the name with a similar meaning of “ancestor’s relic.”
28. Stina
Scandinavians love this feminine moniker of Greek origin, which is a shortened form of Christina and has a religious meaning of “anointed” and “Christian.”
29. Emil
Another popular Scandinavian choice for boys, Emil has Latin roots and an auspicious meaning of “he who excels.”
30. Elton
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Perhaps the Swedes are big fans of The Rocket Man or maybe they just like the classic, dignified sound of this masculine English name meaning “from the old town”; either way, it’s a Scandinavian hit.
31. Ida
This feminine Germanic moniker has vintage vibes, a sturdy meaning of “labor” and “work,” and ties to the Old Norse goddess Iðunn.
32. Liv
In keeping with its sound, the feminine name Liv means “life” in Scandinavian languages. It’s also the given name of a certain rockstar’s daughter. (Liv Tyler, anyone?)
33. Vera
Famous fashion designer Vera Wang’s Slavic name has a considerable fanbase in Sweden. It means “faith.”
34. Elias
Sweden’s fourth most popular boy name in 2019 has Hebrew roots and a meaning of “the Lord is my God.”
35. Elliot
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This variant of Elias is also popular in Sweden; it has the same Hebrew origins and religious meaning with a softer sound.
36. Otto
Beloved by the Swedish, Dutch and Hungarian, this masculine name of German origin means “wealth.”
37. Nova
Nova is both an astronomical term for a bright star and a fresh-sounding feminine name of Latin origin that means “new.”
38. Viggo
This tough guy masculine moniker has Old Norse roots, a meaning of “battle” and some celebrity clout, to boot, thanks to actor Viggo Mortensen.
39. Maja
This soft-sounding and oh-so pretty feminine name has Greek mythological ties and a Scandinavian meaning of “splendid.”
40. Lovisa
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The female form of Ludwig and German version of Louisa—Lovisa is a Scandinavian name meaning “famous warrior.”
41. Elin
This feminine name of Greek origin meaning “bright, shining one” is used primarily in England, Whales and Scandinavian countries.
42. August
August, a lovely boy’s name with a classic feel, is the Scandinavian form of the Latin name Augustus, which means “great” and “majestic.”
43. Hugo
The Latin form of the Germanic name Hugh, this popular Swedish pick for boys has bookish vibes and a corresponding meaning of “mind” and “intellect.”
44. Vidar
This strong sounding masculine name has Old Norse roots, mythological ties and a meaning of “forest” and “warrior.”
45. Josef
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Here, the Scandinavian spelling of a traditional Hebrew name that means “Jehovah increases.”
46. Märta
This Scandinavian form of Martha—a name of Latin origin meaning “mistress of the house”—has a less dowdy and decidedly fresher feel.
47. Tuva
Tuva is 100 percent Scandinavian in origin, being a feminine moniker derived from the Old Norse name Thor. It has a soft and pleasant meaning of “beautiful.”
48. Leia
Leia has many origins (Latin, Hebrew, Hawaiian and Arabic) and just as many meanings. It’s also the preferred spelling of Leah in Sweden.
49. Albin
This masculine name meaning “white” and “bright” is popular throughout Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
50. Tyra
Famous supermodel Tyra Banks’s name has Scandinavian origins and a meaning of “God of battle.” File this one under fierce.