Every now and then I come across a book, movie, TV-series, fanfic, game or whatever, that will mention a fictional «Norwegian» or «norse» place or person, and it just sounds so wrong it makes me either cringe or ROFL. Really. I still haven’t recovered from the 1995 X-files episode, «Død Kalm», which took us to the port of «Tildeskan» where we met «Henry Trondheim», «Halverson» and «Olafsson».
Hopefully this list will help others not to be that “creative” with names. 🙂
Common names for places, towns and villages in Norway
These names are very generic and suitable for a place, village or town anywhere (and pretty much any time) in Norway. Mix and match prefixes with suffixes for diversity.
Bonus: All of these can also be used as surnames.
Name (meaning) – usage
Nes (headland, cape, ness) – Standalone
Bø (fenced-in field on a farm) – Standalone
Fjell (mountain) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Fjell- / -fjell
Haug (small hill / large mound) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Haug- / -haug
Vik, Viken, Vika (inlet, the inlet, the inlet) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Vik- / -viken / -vika
Ås, Åsen (hill, the hill (larger than «Bakken»)) – Standalone or prefix/suffix:
Dal, Dalen (valley, the valley) – Standalone or prefix/suffix:
Berg (small mountain) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Berg(s)- / -berg
Sand (sand) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Sand- / -sand ((-sanden) means ‘the sand’ and would be a sandy beach)
Strand (beach) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Strand- / -strand, -stranda, -stranden
Li (hill) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Li- / -li
Gran (spruce) – Standalone or prefix: Gran-
Bratt (steep) – prefix only: Bratt-
Myr, Myra, Myre (bog, mire) – Standalone or prefix/suffix: Myr- / -myra
Neset, Nesset (the headland, the cape, the ness) – Standalone or suffix: -neset / -nesset
Odden (foreland, headland) – Standalone or suffix: -odden
Våg (cove, bay) – Standalone or suffix: -våg
Lund (grove) – Standalone or suffix: -lund
Sund (sound, strait) – Standalone or suffix: -sund
Skog (forest) prefix/suffix: Skog- / -skog
Øy (island) prefix/suffix: Øy- / -øy
øya (the island) – suffix only: -øya
bakken (the hill) – suffix only: -bakken
gard / gård / gården (farm / farm / the farm) – suffix only: -gard / -gård / -gården
elv, -elva (river, the river) suffix only: -elv / -elva
stad (old word for town/place) suffix only: -stad
vannet (the lake) – suffix only: -vannet
Common words that can be used as prefix to any of the suffixes above
Svart- (black)
Lille- (little/small)
Sol- (sun)
Brei-/Bred- (wide)
Stor- (big)
Lang- (long)
Common Norwegian surnames (contemporary)
Heredatory surnames didn’t become mandatory in Norway until 1923. Many took the name from the farm or place they lived, or just changed their primary patronyms into hereditary patronyms. Example: Helgessønn/Helgesdatter (son of Helge / daughter of Helge) became Helgesen.
Alm
Andersen
Anderssen
Antonsen
Aspelund
Bakke
Bakken
Bang
Berg
Bjerkan
Bråthen
Christensen
Corneliussen
Dahl
Dahlberg
Danielsen
Dyrnes
Dørum
Eide
Ellingsen
Erdal
Eriksen
Falch
Fredriksen
Foss
Fure
Fylling
Gabrielsen
Gran
Grønning
Halvorsen
Hansen
Hanssen
Hay
Hoff
Holm
Holt
Husby
Isaksen
Iversen
Jacobsen
Jensen
Jenssen
Johansen
Karlsen
Klausen
Konradsen
Kristensen
Kristiansen
Larsen
Larssen
Lie
Lien
Lund
Løvold
Magnussen
Meyer
Mikalsen
Mo
Moen
Myhre
Myklebust
Mørk
Ness
Nilsen
Olavsen
Olsen
Paulsen
Pettersen
Prestegård
Rasmussen
Riise
Rogstad
Ruud
Simonsen
Solbakken
Solli
Stokke
Strøm
Sund
Svendsen
Thorvaldsen
Torp
Thune
Tønnesen
Ueland
Ulven
Urdal
Vik
Vinje
Wahl
Wik
Wilhelmsen
Zakariassen
Ødegård
Årseth
Årvik
Ås, Aas
Åsen, Aasen
Common Norwegian names — 1980 – present
NB! If there are millennials or younger in your story, please also Google the most popular baby names in Norway for the year they were born before you make your decisions… Spelling really does matter for credibility.
Men
Anders
André
Andreas
Are
Arne
Atle
Bjørn
Cato
Chris
Christian, Kristian
Christoffer, Kristoffer
Daniel
David
Dennis
Elias
Emil
Espen
Erik, Eric
Eirik
Fredrik
Filip
Geir
Harald
Helge
Hans
Henning
Håkon, Haakon
Håvard
Isak
Jan
Joachim
Johan
Johannes
John, Jon
Johnny
Jonas
Jonathan
Kim
Kristian, Christian
Kristoffer, Christoffer
Lars
Lucas, Lukas
Mads, Mats
Magnus
Martin
Michael, Mikael
Morten
Niklas
Nils
Odin
Ole
Ove
Paul
Per
Peter, Petter
Preben
Pål
Richard, Rikard
Roger
Sebastian
Simen
Simon
Sindre
Sondre
Stian
Terje
Thomas
Thor, Tor
Thore, Tore
Vegard
Werner
William
Øystein
Åge
Åsmund
Women
Andrea
Ane, Anne
Anette, Annette
Annika, Anniken
Astrid
Bente
Camilla
Carina
Cathrine
Celine
Charlotte
Christin, Kristin
Christina, Kristina
Christine, Kristine
Elin, Eline
Elise
Elisabeth
Ellinor
Emilie
Eva
Frida
Grete, Grethe
Hanne
Hege
Heidi
Helene
Hilde
Ida
Ine
Ingrid
Ingvill, Ingvild
Isabel, Isabell, Isabelle
Iselin
Jannicke
Janine
Jeanette
Jennie, Jenny
Julia, Julie
Karoline (Kine)
Katrin, Katrine
Kristin, Christin
Lea, Leah
Lena, Lene
Linda
Line
Linn
Linnea
Lise, Lisa
Liv, Live
Mai, May
Maja
Malin
Margrete, Margrethe
Mari, Maria, Marie
Mariann, Marianne
Marte, Marthe
Mette
Monica
Nina
Nora
Oda
Pia
Ragnhild
Randi
Rikke
Sara, Sarah
Silje
Siv
Stina, Stine
Susann, Susanne
Tanja
Tina, Tine
Tiril
Tone
Trine
Vilde
Vera
Veronica
Wenche
Åse
Åshild
Common Norwegian names – 1800 – 1980
Men
Aksel
Albert
Anders
Andreas
Anker
Ansgar
Arne
Arnt
Arve
Asle
Atle
Birger
Bård
Charles
Edmund
Edvard
Egon
Erling
Even
Fred
Fredrik
Frode
Geir
Georg
Gunnar
Gunvald
Gustav
Harald
Helge
Hilmar
Håkon, Haakon
Ivar
Ingvar
Jens
Jesper
Jørgen
Joakim
Karl
Karsten, Karstein
Kjell
Klaus
Kolbein
Kolbjørn
Kristian
Kåre
Lars
Lavrans
Leif
Lossius
Ludvig
Magne
Magnus
Nikolai
Nils
Odd
Oddvar
Odin
Ola
Olai
Olaf
Olav
Ole
Omar
Oscar, Oskar
Peder
Per
Petter
Philip, Phillip
Pål
Ragnar
Rikard
Roald
Roar (also Hroar)
Rolf
Rune
Sigurd
Sigvard, Sigvart
Simon
Svein
Sverre
Tarjei
Terje
Toralf, Thoralf
Torbjørn, Thorbjørn
Torleif, Thorleif
Torstein, Thorstein
Torvald, Thorvald
Trond
Ulf
Ulrik
Valdemar
Wilhelm
Willy
Åge
Women
Albertine
Alice, Alise
Alma
Anita
Anna
Annbjørg
Asbjørg
Astrid
Aud
Bente
Berit
Birgit
Birgitte
Bjørg
Bjørgun
Bodil
Borghild
Dagny
Dagrun
Edel
Ella
Ellen
Elsa
Fredrikke
Frida
Gerd
Gjertrud
Gunhild
Gyda
Hanna, Hannah
Helga
Henny
Herdis
Hilda
Hilde
Hjørdis
Ingeborg
Inger
Irene
Johanna, Johanne
Jorun, Jorunn
Josefine
Judith
Kari
Karin
Kirsten
Kitty
Kjersti
Laila
Lilli, Lilly
Lisa, Lise
Liv
Lovise
Mathilde
Margaret
Marit
Martha
Molly
Nanna
Oddrun
Oddveig
Olga
Ragna
Ragnhild
Rigmor
Sara
Signe
Sissel
Solbjørg
Solveig
Solvår
Svanhild
Sylvi
Sølvi
Tora
Torhild, Toril, Torill
Torun, Torunn
Tove
Valborg
Ylva
Åse
Åshild
Names usage
Double names, like Ragnhild Johanne or Ole Martin are common in Norway. Just keep them as two names and don’t use «-«, and you’ll be safe, even if it ends up a tongue twister. Using only one of two given names is also common practice.
In Norway everyone is on a first name basis. Students call teachers and other kids’ parents by their first name, workers call their boss by their first name, we call our Prime Minister by their first name (journalists will use their title when speaking to them though). Some senior citizens still use surnames and titles when speaking of or to people their own age.
There are some exceptions. For example, a doctor may be referred to as Dr. Lastname when we speak of them, but first name is used when speaking to them. A priest is «the priest» when speaking of him/her and their first name is used when spaking to them. In the millitary only surnames (and ranks) are used. If you meet Harald, the King of Norway, in an official setting you will refer to him as «Kongen» (the king). If you run into him at the gas station, or while hiking, he is «Harald».
If you don’t know someone’s name it is okay to use their title, or just say «you».
Names for pets (contemporary)
Dogs
Laika (f)
Bamse (m) (bear)
Tinka (f)
Loke/Loki (m)
+ characters from TV/film/books…
Cats
Melis (m/f) (powdered sugar)
Mango (m/f) (mango)
Pus (f) (kitty)
Mons (m) (tomcat)
Nala (f)
Pusur (m) (Garfield)
Felix (m)
Simba (m)
+ characters from TV/film/books…
Horses
Pajazz (m)
Mulan (f)
Balder (m) – cold blood
Kompis (m) (pal)
Freya (f) – cold blood
+ characters from TV/film/books…
Rabbits
Trampe (m) (Thumper)
Trulte (f)
+ characters from TV/film/books…
Cows (yes, I am serious)
Dagros
Rosa
Mira
Luna
Sara
+ characters from TV/film – Disney is popular, as are the Kardashians 🙂
In Norway pet names can be very elaborate, funny, or extremely dull. For example, I have two cats. One is called Tigergutt van Germangemus. Tigergutt is the Norwegian translation for Tigger (in Winnie the Pooh), and he is called that because he is a short-hair with stripes. Very common and very boring. His surname however, ‘van Germangemus’, looks Dutch, but if you read it out loud it sounds like ‘fanger mange mus’ (catches lots of mice). The other one is a black cat named Sirius Svaart, which ofc is the Norwegian translation for Sirius Black (from Harry Potter). So, basically, name your pets whatever you want, just keep in mind that the Norwegian version is a better choice when there is one, as in Snøhvit, not Snow White.
Road and street names
Very common:
Storgata (usually the main street)
Kongens gate (the king’s street)
Dronningens gate (the queen’s street)
Jernbanegata (railroad street)
Jernbaneveien (railroad road)
Sjøgata (ocean street)
Sjøveien, Sjøvegen (ocean road)
Skolegata (school street)
Torvgata (plaza street)
Industrigata (industrial street)
Industriveien (industrial road)
In rural areas the main roads are often named for the area around. Like, if the area is called Berg the road going through the area would likely be named Bergsveien. Unless it is also a numbered main road, like the E6 or E18, in which case someone’s address might be Bergsveien 14, but they will say they live off E6.
If you have some basic understanding of Norwegian grammar you can also try these, but be careful, a single letter can change it from clever to cringe, and using the ‘wrong name’ will make it sound… off.
First or last name + s + gate / vei – Philips vei, Magdas vei, Olafs gate, Hansens gate
Prefixes
Blåbær- (blueberry)
Bringebær- (raspberry)
Bjørke- (birch)
Aspe- (asp)
Kastanje- (chestnut)
Solsikke- (sun flower)
Blåklokke- (blue bell)
Nype- (rosehip)
Kirke- (church)
Park- (park)
Suffixes
-veien, -vegen (Bjørkeveien = Birch road)
-stien (Solsikkestien = the Sunflower path)
-gata / gaten (Kirkegata = Church street)
Other
Torvet (the plaza) – standalone or suffix: -torvet
Havna (the port) – standalone or suffix: -havna
Kaia (the port) – standalone or suffix: -kaia
Safe solution: use a first name or surname as prefix.
Old norse
Men’s names
Agnarr (Agnar)
Alfr (Alf)
Ámundi (Amund)
Ánarr
Árngrimr (Arngrim)
Askr (Ask)
Auðun (Audun)
Baldr (Balder)
Beinir
Bjørn
Burr
Borkr
Dagfinnr (Dagfinn)
Davið (David)
Drengr
Durinn
Einarr (Einar)
Eirikr (Eirik)
Eivindr (Eivind)
Erlingr (Erling)
Fafnir
Flóki
Freyr (Frey)
Fuldarr
Galinn
Gautarr (Gaute)
Gegnir
Geirr (Geir)
Glóinn
Grímarr (Grimar)
Hafli
Hakon
Hallsteinn (Hallstein)
Haraldr (Harald)
Haukr (Hauk)
Heðinn (Hedin, Hedinn)
Helgi (Helge)
Hrafn, Hrafni (Ravn)
Hrafnkell (Ravnkjell)
Iarl (Jarl)
Ingolfr (Ingolf)
Iuar (Ivar)
Jafnhárr
Jón
Jóngeirr
Kál
Kiaran
Klaus
Knútr (Knut)
Kolgrimr (Kolgrim)
Kolr (Kol)
Leifr (Leif)
Loki
Lyngvi
Magnus
Mikjáll (Mikal, Mikkel)
Mór
Morði
Nesbjørn
Nokkvi
Oddr (Odd)
Oddbjørn
Oðin (Odin)
Olafr (Olaf)
Ormr (Orm)
Otr
Ouden
Pálni
Pedr
Ragnarr (Ragnar)
Ragnvaldr (Ragnvald)
Randr (Rand)
Róaldr (Roald)
Rólfr (Rolf)
Salvi
Sigarr (Sigar)
Sigbjørn
Sigurðr (Sigurd)
Skarpe
Snorri (Snorre)
Steinn (Stein)
Sveinn (Svein)
Teitr
Þor (Thor/Tor)
Þórbjørn (Thorbjørn/Torbjørn)
Þorsteinn (Thorstein/Torstein)
Tryggr (Trygg)
Týr
Ulfár
Ulfheðinn (Ulvhedin)
Ulfr (Ulf)
Vakr
Vani
Veigr
Viðarr (Vidar)
Yngvarr (Yngvar)
Æsi
Women’s names
Anna
Arnfriðr (Arnfrid)
Ása
Bera
Bergdís (Bergdis)
Biørg (Bjørg)
Cecilia
Cecilie
Christina
Dagný (Dagny)
Dagrún (Dagrun)
Dís
Dísa
Edda
Elin
Ellisif (Ellisiv)
Freyja (Freya)
Friða (Frida)
Frigg
Gerðr (Gerd)
Gertrud
Grima
Gyða (Gyda)
Hadda
Hallbéra
Hallkatla
Herdís (Herdis)
Hildigunnr (Hildegunn)
Huld
Hvít
Ida
Iðunn (Idun, Idunn)
Ingríðr (Ingrid)
Johanna
Jórunn (Jorun, Jorunn)
Juliana
Katla
Katrine
Kristín (Kristin)
Leikný (Leikny)
Lif (Liv)
Magnhildr (Magnhild)
Mjøll
Myrgiol
Nál
Nanna
Nótt
Oda
Oddný (Oddny)
Ólaug (Olaug)
Rafnhildr (Ragnhild)
Rán
Rannveíg
Ríkví (Rikvi, Rikke)
Rúna (Runa)
Roskva
Sága (Saga)
Sif (Siv)
Sigriðr (Sigrid)
Skaði (Skadi)
Skuld
Svana
Sýn
Solveig
Tekla
Tóra (Tora)
Trana
Ulfhildr (Ulfhild)
Una
Urðr (Urd)
Valborg
Vigdís (Viigdis)
Vírún
Yngvildr (Ingvill, Ingvild)
Yrsa
Bynames
Bynames, or nicknames, could be neutral, praising or condescending. Usually bynames described a person’s
- body, bodyparts, bodily features
- age
- kinship and descent
- territorial origin
- knowledge, belief, spirituality
- clothing, armour
- occupation, social position
- nature
Examples:
Eirik Blodøks (Eirik Blood-Axe), Gammel-Anna (old Anna), Halte-Ása (limping Ása).
I suggest that you stick with English for bynames, or use (relatively) modern language if you are writing in Norwegian.
Surnames
Surnames weren’t really a thing until 1923 when they became mandatory. Before 1923 patronyms (son/daughter of) were used, and the name of the farm you lived on was often added as an address.
For instance: Helgi Eiriksøn (Helgi, son of Eirik), who lived at the farm called Vollr (grass field), would be called Helgi Eiriksøn Vollr. If he moved to the farm called Haugr his name would change to Helgi Eiriksøn Haugr.
Patronyms
Men: Use father’s first name and add -sen /-son /-sønn
Women: Use father’s first name and add -dotter / -dottir / -datter
Farm names
Farm names were usually relevant and derived from either the location, a nearby landmark, nature or from occupation.
I suggest you stick with the modern forms for farm names.
Old Norse (meaning) – modern
Bekkr (stream) – Bekk, Bekken
Dalr (valley) – Dal, Dahl
Horn (horn) – Horn
Vollr (field) – Vold, Volden
Lundr (grove) – Lund
The list of common names for places/villages/towns is still valid, although the spelling is modern. Just keep it simple and make «clever» combos based on meaning.