Category Archives: Norwegian Names

Walburg, Walburga, Walpurga

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Painting by the Master of Meßkirch
  • Origin: Anglo-Saxon
  • Meaning: “powerful fortress.”
  • Gender: feminine

The name was born by an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon female saint who did missionary work in Germany. It is composed of the Anglo-Saxon element, weald (power) and burg (fortress). Her feast day was celebrated on May 1st and the day before is called Walpurgisnacht (St. Walpurgis’ Eve).

In German-speaking countries, the name is most common in Bavaria and Austria, more so at the turn of the 20th-century.

In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, this is the name of the mother of Sirius Black.

The name spread in use across Europe, especially in Nordic and Germanic countries. Other forms include:

  • Wealburh (Anglo-Saxon)
  • Valpurga (Catalan, Italian)
  • Valburga (Czech, Hungarian, Portuguese, Spanish)
  • Valborg (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish)
  • Walburga (Dutch, German, Polish)
  • Walburg (English)
  • Valba, Valbe (Estonian)
  • Valli (Estonian)
  • Valbjørg (Faroese, Norwegian)
  • Vappu (Finnish)
  • Valpuri (Finnish)
  • Gauburge (French)
  • Walburge, Valpurge (French)
  • Waldeburg (German, archaic)
  • Walpurga (German)
  • Valbjörg (Icelandic)
  • Válbor (Sami)
  • Várbu (Sami)

A common German short form is Wally, while a Swedish nickname is Bojan.

Italian masculine forms are Valburgo, Walburgo, Walpurgo and Valpurgo.

Sources

Tollak

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Photo by Dagmara Dombrovska on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Norwegian
  • Meaning: “Thor’s play.”
  • Gender: Masculine

The name is derived from the Old Norse, Þórleikr, which is composed of the elements Þór (Thor) and leikr (play).

A notable bearer is American musician, Tollak Ollestad.

Other forms include:

  • Torlak (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish)
  • Torleik/Thorleik (Danish, Norwegian)
  • Torlek (Danish)
  • Tollakur, Torlakkur (Faroese)
    • Þorlákur, Þorleikur (Icelandic)
  • Thorlacius, Torlacus (Late Latin)
  • Þollak, Þórleikr (Old Norse)
  • Tallak, Tollek (Norwegian)

Sources

Ephraim

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  • Origin: Biblical Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם
  • Meaning: “fruitful; double fruited; increasing.”
  • Gender: masculine
“Ephraim” Francisco Hayez

The name is borne in the Bible by the son of Joseph and Asenath, who is considered a patriarch, as he is a founder of one of the 12 trubes of Israel. According Genesis 41:52, he is named thus by Joseph because “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

The name was also borne by a few early Christian saints, including St. Ephraim of Syria (4th-century, CE).

Ephraim appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 between 1880-1914, it disappeared for 99 years and reappeared in the charts in 2013. For its first centennial cycle, it peaked at #403 in 1880. As of 2023, it was the 992nd most popular male name.

Its Spanish counterparts of Efraín and Efrén have also appeared in the U.S. Top 1000, Efraín appeared between 1950 and 2014, peaking at #469 in 1981 whilst Efrén appeared between 1966-2007, peaking at #768 in 1990.

Forms/Usages

  • Efrayim ኤፍራይም (Amharic, Modern Hebrew)
  • Yeprem, Jeprem, Eprem Եփրեմ (Armenian)
  • Afrem ܐܦܪܝܡ (Assyrian)
  • Afri ܐܦܪܝ (Assyrian)
  • Afron ܥܦܪܘܢ (Assyrian)
  • Aprem, Aprim ܐܦܪܝܡ (Assyrian)
  • Efrim ܐܦܪܝܡ (Assyrian)
  • Ephraim ეფრაიმ (Georgian); Εφραιμ (Greek); ⲉⲫⲣⲁⲓⲙ (Coptic); ܐܦܪܝܡ(Syriac) (Assyrian, Dutch, English, Estonian, German, Greek, Portuguese)
  • Akhrym, Ahrym Акхрым (Belarusian)
  • Yafrym Яфрым (Belarusian)
  • Efraïm (Catalan, Dutch)
  • Efrajim (Czech)
  • Efraim (Finnish, Hungarian, Italian, Nordic, Polish, Romanian)
  • Eprami (Finnish)
  • Éphraïm (French)
  • Îvfa (Greenlandic)
  • Eframi (Icelandic)
  • Efraím (Icelandic)
  • Efraimo (Italian)
  • Efrem (Italian, Polish)
  • Effrem (Italian)
  • Efro (Italian)
  • Ephraem (Late Latin)
  • Ephraimus (Late Latin)
  • Ofrem (Russian, Archaic)
  • Yefraim, Jefraim Эфраим (Russian)
  • Yefrem Ефрем (Russian)
  • Jevrem Јеврем (Serbian)
  • Efraín (Spanish)
  • Efrén (Spanish)
  • Ohrim, Okhrim Охрім (Ukrainian)
  • Evron ֶבְֿרוֹן (Yiddish)

Sources

Álvaro, Alvaro

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Photo by Maria Pop on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Germanic
  • Meaning: debated
  • Gender: masculine

The name is of unknown origin or meaning, the consensus is that it is Germanic but which Germanic language it originates from is up for debate. Since it first occurred in Spain, the most likely is that it is of Gothic origins, possibly composed of the Germanic elements *allaz “all, whole, every”‘ and wart “‘guard, ward.” The second element may also stem from wars (cautious, guarded). Others have related it to the Old Norse, Hallvadr (hall-guard) or Alfarr (elf-warrior), but this is less likely.

The name has been in use in the Iberian peninsula since Medieval times, it was borne by Álvar Fáñez (12th-century), a vassal of El Cid and the subject of the Spanish epic poem, El Cantar de mio Cid.

It is the progenitor of the Spanish surname, Alvarez/Álvarez and the Portuguese, Alves.

Álvaro is the 10th most popular male name in Spain as of 2022. His rankings in other countries/regions are as follows:

  • #22 (Galicia, Spain)
  • #69 (Catalonia, Spain)
  • #97 (Chile, 2021)
  • #99 (Basque Country, Spain)
  • #188 (Mexico, 2021)
  • #794 (United States)

Usage/Forms

  • Àlvar (Catalan)
  • Álvaro (Portuguese, Spanish)
  • Álvaro (Galician)
  • Alvar (German, Scandinavian)
  • Alvaro (Italian)
  • Alvarus (Latin)
  • Alwar (Polish)

Feminine forms include, Álvara (Portuguese, Spanish), Alvara (Italian, Scandinavian).

Sources

Bode, Bodo

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Photo by igovar igovar on Pexels.com
  • Origin: German
  • Meaning: “lord, master.”
  • Gender: Masculine
  • Pronunciation: Eng: BOH-dee; Low Germ (BOH-deh); Germ, Eng: BOH-doh

Both names are derived from the Old Saxon bodo (lord). It has alternately been argued to be linked with the Old German, boto (messenger). It may have also been a hypochoristic form of any older Medieval Germanic name which had the bod- element.

It was borne by a 7th-century Frankish saint, who was bishop of Toul, he founded what is now known as the Monastery of Bonmoutier.

Bodo reentered popular use in Germany in the 19th-century. In recent years, its low German form of Bode has entered the U.S. top 1000. It currently ranks in as the 960th most popular male name (2022).

Other forms include:

  • Bode (Dutch, English, Scandinavian)
  • Bodon (French)
  • Bodo (German, Scandinavian)
  • Botho (German)
  • Poto (Italian, archaic)

Sources

Alaric

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Photo by Leandro Paes Leme on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Gothic
  • Meaning: “ruler of all.”
  • Gender: masculine
  • Pronunciation: Eng (AL-e-rik)

The name is composed of the Germanic elements al (all) and rikr (ruler). It was most notably borne by two Gothic kings, Alaric I and Alaric II. Alaric I was known for leading a rebellion against Rome and sacking it. His Gothic name was 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃 (Alareiks).

An historical curiosity, Alaric has never experienced much usage, however, it has been in the U.S. Top 1000 since 2017, and currently ranks in as 915th most popular male name.

Other forms include:

  • Alaric (Catalan, French, English, Occitanian)
  • Alarich (Czech, German, Slovak)
  • Alareiks (Gothic)
  • Alarico (Italian, Portuguese, Spanish)
  • Alaricus (Latin)
  • Alariks (Latvian)
  • Alarikas (Lithuanian)
  • Alaryk (Polish)
  • Alarih Аларих (Russian, Ukrainian)
  • Alarik (Scandivanian, Slovene)

Obscure feminine forms include Alarica, Alarika and Alarice.

Sources

Phaedra

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Phèdre. Alexandre Cabanal
  • Origin: Greek Φαίδρα
  • Meaning: “bright.”
  • Gender: feminine
  • Pronunciation: Eng (FAY-drah, FYE-drah, FEED-rah)

The name comes directly from the Greek word φαιδρός meaning, “bright.”

It is borne in Greek mythology by the sister of Ariadne and the wife of Theseus. There are several versions of her tragic tale, one is that Aphrodite drove Phaedra to fall madly in love with the latter’s step-son, Hippolytus who rejects Phaedra, and in retaliation, Phaedra claims that Hippolytus attempted to rape her. Theseus who was granted 3 wishes by Poseidon wishes his own’s son death by having Poseidon summon 3 bulls from the sea who subsequently dragged Hippolytus to death. In another version of the tale, Phaedra falls in love with Hippolytus of her own free-will but he rejects her, and the story follows the same sequence of events as above.

The story was retold by Ovid and Senece the Younger and later became the popular subject of plays throughout Europe.

In England and France, the name became more widespread after its use in Jean Racine’s 1677 play, Phèdre and later Algernon Charles Swinborn’s1866 play, Phaedra. Friedrich Schiller also wrote a play and recently it was the subject of the opera written by German playwrite, Hans Werner Henze.

It is also another name for the plant, Bernardia, as well as the name of a genus of butterfly and an asteroid.

In France, Phèdre is a unisex name as it is a translation of both Phaedra & Phaedrus.

Phaedra appeared in the Top 100 Most Popular Female Names in Belgium, ranking in at #87 in 1997.

A masculine form is Phaedrus and Phaidros.

Forms and use include:

  • Fedra Федра (Catalan, Corsican, Italian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, Ukrainian)
  • Faidra (Czech, Finnish, Hungarian, Slovakian, Swedish)
  • Fædra (Danish)
  • Phaedra (Dutch, English, Latin)
  • Phèdre (French)
  • Phaidra Φαίδρα (German, Greek)
  • Phädra (German)

Sources

Thurstan, Torsten

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  • Origin: Old Norse
  • Meaning: “Thor’s stone.”
  • Gender: masculine

Both names are derived from the Old Norse male name, Þórsteinn, literally meaning “Thor’s stone.” The name is attested as early as the 5th-century in Medieval Scandinavia and appears in the Norse saga, Draumr Þorsteins Síðu-Hallssonar.

It was transported to England by Anglo-Saxon & Norse settlers, the Anglo-Saxon form being Thurstan, and remained prevalent even after the conquest of the Normans, who themselves also used the name due to their original Norse heritage. Thurstan was borne by an 11th-century Bishop of York. Thurstan is the progenitor of the English surnames Thurston and Dustin.

Torsten appeared in Germany’s Top 100 Most Popular Male Names between 1960 and 1978, and peaked at #6 between 1964-68. While Torstein was in and out of the Norwegian Top 100 Male Names between 1947-1991, peaking at #84 in 1948. It’s original Old Norse form of Þórsteinn ranked in at #46 in Iceland’s Top 100 Male Names in 2012.

Forms include:

  • Turstin (Anglo-Norman, French)
  • Thurstan (English)
  • Tórstein (Faroese)
  • Torstein, Thorstein (Faroese, Norwegian)
  • Toro, Torro (Finnish, Scandinavian)
  • Torste,Torsti (Finnish)
  • Toutain (French, archaic)
  • Torsten (German, Scandinavian)
  • Thorsten (German, Scandinavian)
  • Torstene, Torsteni (Greenlandic)
  • Þórsteinn (Icelandic, Old Norse)
  • Turstino (Italian, Spanish)
  • Turstanus, Tursteinus, Turstinus (Late Latin)
  • Twyste (Middle Low German)
  • Tostein (Norwegian)
  • Dorste (Sami)
  • Toste (Scandinavian)
  • Tosten, Thosten (Swedish, archaic)

Sources

Astraea

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  • Origin: Greek Ἀστραία
  • Meaning: “star.”
  • Gender: feminine
  • Eng Pronunciation: (uh-STRAY-ah)

The name is borne in Greek mythology by the daughter of Astraeus and Eos. She is the goddess of justice, innocence, purity, & precision and is closely associated with Dike, the goddess of Justice. According to Ovid, Astraea was a mortal woman during the Golden Age, but ascended into the heavens to become the constellation Virgo.

Other froms of the name include:

  • Astraia Աստրաիա (Armenian, Czech, German, modern Greek, Scandinavian)
  • Astrea Астрея (Bulgarian, Catalan, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian)
  • Astrée (French)
  • Astraja (Lithuanian, Polish)
  • Astreia (Portuguese)

Sources

Hansa

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  • Hamsa talking to Damayanti by Raja Ravi Varma

The name can have a few origins and meanings. It is primarily an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit हंस (hamsa), which originally referred to an aquatic bird of passage. The hamsa is described as a mythical bird with knowledge in the Rig Veda and also as the main means of transport for the gods Brahma, Gayatri, Saraswati, and Vishvakarma in Hinduism. In the Ramayana, the hamsa was the bird that carried love letters between Damayanti and Nala. According to Indian legend, arayanna (heavenly hamsa swans) are said to live in the Himalayas where they eat pearls and are able to separate milk from water.

The hamsa bird is also associated with the concept of soham (that I am), as when it is said fast, hamsa starts to resemble soham. The latter is linked with the Brahman, and thus the bird is often associated with the cycle of samsara.

The hamsa bird has also been a popular motif in Indian art for centuries.

Over the centuries, it has interchangeably been translated as a swan, flamingo, goose or duck. It is ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root word *ǵʰh₂éns, which is also the progenitor of the English word goose, German gans (goose), and the Latin anser (goose).

In India, as a given-name, it is used among all languages groups. The name is primarily used on females but has occasionally been given to males.

The name is also German and Scandinavian female name, being a contracted form of Johanna. Other forms are Hansina and Hansine.

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