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Sarah Sherman Samuel
It's no secret that Scandinavian style is having a moment. From the sheepskin hide on your bedroom floor to that dark rye bread you had for lunch to minimalistic clothing in your IKEA closet: Everything that's popular in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway seems to reach our shores. What you may not have noticed is that Swedish baby names are roaringly popular at the moment too.
From Agnes to Axel to Elsa, names that are topping the charts in Sweden tend to be traditional yet slightly quirky—trends that have been on the upswing themselves in recent years. Many of them are traditionally Swedish; others are Anglo-Saxon monikers that Swedes have embraced. If the region's ability to predict design, fashion, and food trends are any indication, these names will soon be huge. Hej Sweden organized a list of the top Swedish baby names. Take a look at the top 100 baby names that Swedish moms adore below.
1. Adrian
Derived from the Latin "Adriānus," Adrian is a popular baby name choice in Sweden. A number of famous individuals bear the name, including past popes; basketball players Adrian Beltre, Adrian Branch and Adrian Caldwell; and tennis player Adrian Garcia.
2. Agata
Agata is derived from the Greek "Agathē," which means "good" and "kind." The Swedish variation of the name holds the meaning "pure," and is usually given to baby girls.
3. Agnes
This nostalgic name, which is also Greek, means "pure" or "holy." In 2011, actor couple Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany called their daughter Agnes. (And that's a soft "e," by the way: The pronunciation is "Ag-ness," not "Ag-neez.")
4. Albin
Pronounced "AHL-been," the name Albin is a Swedish baby name growing in popularity for young boys.
5. Alice
A perennial favorite, Alice often tops the baby names list for most common names in Sweden. The compound name has evolved over the years to mean "noble one."
6. Alexander
A global favorite, Alexander is a common choice for baby boys in Sweden. The name, originating from the Greeks, means "defender of man."
7. Alva
While this Old Norse name means "female elf," it is gender neutral and is used for both boys and girls. The most famous male bearer of the name had it as his middle name: Thomas Alva Edison.
8. Anton
Derived from the Roman name Antonius, Anton is a common name for boys in Sweden. Meaning "worthy of admiration or praise," the name can take various forms in other countries. Swedish hockey player Anton Forsberg is one of the many famous athletes named Anton.
9. Aron
Pronounced "A-rən," the name Aron is derived from the Hebrew "aharōn," which means "the exalted one."
10. Arvid
This traditional, nature-inspired name is popular in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. It's derived from the old Norse elements arn for "eagle" and viðr for "tree." The name is pronounced "Ah-RVahD." (If you have high academic aspirations for your bub, you'll be pleased to note that it rhymes with Harvard.)
11. Asta
While it can be a nickname for the name "Astrid," Asta is often a popular Swedish name all on its own.
12. Astrid
While not as common in the U.S., Astrid is a popular name in Europe, particularly in Scandinavian countries. Meaning "divine beauty," Astrid comes from the Old Norse Ássfriđr, a compound name of "god" and "beautiful." While numerous influential individuals have been named Astrid, perhaps the best known is Astrid Lindgren, the author and creator of Pippi Longstocking.
13. Axel
Yes, it's pronounced "AK-sel"; there are no tricky silent letters here, luckily.
We're particularly fond of this name because of its sweet meaning: "father of peace." And it seems we're not the only ones who love it. Funnyman Will Ferrell's son is named Axel Ferrell while athlete Tiger Woods's son is named Charlie Axel Woods. (Sidenote: Charlie is also a hugely popular name in Sweden, so it seems the golfer had a theme in mind with this baby name.)
14. Carin
15. Claes
A Swedish version of the name Nicholas, Claes means "people's triumph." It is a popular masculine name that has withstood the test of time. Pronounced "KLAHS," notable individuals named Claes include artist Claes Oldenburg.
16. Clara
17. Colin
Popular in Sweden, Colin is a name that also means "people's triumph."
18. Cornelia
While it originates from the Latin "horn," Cornelia routinely hits the most popular names charts in Sweden. Writers Cornelia Funke, Cornelia Hoogland, and Cornelia Amiri are notable people with the name.
19. Dahlia
This floral name is a nod to pioneering Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. The name Dahlia was chosen by Canadian food celebrity Gail Simmons for her daughter—but even more compellingly, Dahlia is a floral choice that isn’t overdone, nor soft or wishy-washy.
20. Dante
21. Ebba
Meaning "strong," Ebba is the feminine version of the name Ebbe, which routinely ranks among the most common names in Sweden.
22. Egil
23. Elias
24. Elin
25. Elina
26. Elsa
This name doubled in popularity from 2014 to 2015 due to the popularity of the animated film Frozen—but guess what? It's a traditional Swedish name that sits at the top of the popular Swedish names list. Model Elsa Pataky also bears the name, in case you’re wondering why you've seen it on a best-dressed list recently.
27. Elvira
28. Emil
29. Emilia
While it means "rival," Emilia is a beloved feminine name Swedish parents often choose. While it appears to be the same as the name Amelia, the name has a different root and meaning. Amelia comes from a German root which means "work."
30. Felix
31. Gabriel
32. Greger
33. Hanna
34. Hedda
35. Hasse
36. Hilda
37. Hugo
38. Ida
39. Isak
40. Ivar
41. Jonna
42. Josef
43. Juni
44. Kajsa
45. Lotta
46. Loui
47. Luna
48. Leo
In Sweden, Leo isn't just a shortening of Leonardo. It's a standalone name used for both boys and girls, and its use in Sweden dates back to 1753. Its original Latin meaning is "lion"—so the name has both playful and majestic connotations.
49. Leon
50. Levi
51. Eira
52. Liam
53. Linnea
While it's the name of a Swedish flower, Linnea is derived from the name of Swedish scientist Karl von Linné, who is credited with the Linnean classification system for plants and animals. The name has two pronunciations: "li-NAY-ə" and "LI-nee-ə."
54. Linus
55. Loke
56. Love
57. Maja
Popular in Scandinavian and Slavic countries, Maja is derived from the Greek "Maia," who was the mother of Hermes. Swedish singer Maja Ivarsson bears the name.
58. Malte
59. Margareta
60. Marta
61. Matilda
62. Matteo
63. Mikkel
64. Mila
65. Milo
66. Minna
67. Mira
68. My
69. Neo
70. Nils
71. Noah
Number 13 on Sweden's popular baby name list is used widely across Scandinavia. It's also occasionally used as a girl's name in Sweden and Denmark.
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72. Noel
73. Nora
74. Nova
75. Maximilian
76. Mio
77. Olivia
A traditional English name, Olivia (meaning "symbol of peace") has been appropriated by both Swedes and Americans alike. Athlete Lance Armstrong, musician Eddie Vedder, and actors Al Pacino, James Van Der Beek, Denzel Washington, and Ben Stiller have all fallen in love with this name—each calling their daughter Olivia. With its kind, classic connotations, we can see why.
78. Omar
79. Otto
80. Oskar
While the spelling with a K is traditional in Scandinavia, the English spelling of Oscar nevertheless remains on the top-20 list in Sweden. Actors Hugh Jackman and Gillian Anderson both chose to give their sons this name, which means "God's spear" or "divine spear."
81. Olander
82. Olle
83. Peder
84. Sanna
85. Sebastian
86. Siri
87. Stella
This chic name, meaning "star," was originally Latin but later became popular in England. It was eventually snapped up by the Swedes and is also hugely popular among celebrities, with actors Harvey Keitel, Matt Damon, Tori Spelling, Ellen Pompeo, and Antonio Banderas—plus Beatle Paul McCartney—all bestowing the name on their respective daughters.
88. Stefan
89. Strom
90. Signe
91. Tage
92. Thea
93. Theo
94. Tilde
95. Ulla
96. Vera
Commonly considered to come from the Russian "faith" or Latin "true," Vera is a feminine name that frequently graces the Swedish top 100 names list. American fashion designer Vera Wang is a notable individual with the name.
97. Ville
98. Vide
99. Viktor
100. Wilma
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