Norwegian / old norse names and places
Every now and then I come across a book, movie, TV-series, fanfic, game or whatever, that 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 keep others from being 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
Strand (beach) - Standalone or prefix/suffix: Strand- / -strand
Li (hill) - Standalone or prefix/suffix: Li- / -li
Gran (spruce) - Standalone or prefix: Gran-
Bratt (steep) - prefix only: Bratt-
Myr (bog, mire) - prefix only: Myr-
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
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
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 her first name (journalists will use her title when speaking to her 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 :)
Road and street names
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)
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 (the road)
-stien (the path)
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.
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Rocker joins NRKs Sommerboat- Article about Tarjei Strøm
I translated a nice article about the sweet, wonderful and kind drummer of Ylvis, Tarjei. Hope you like it. :)
http://www.ba.no/kultur/rocker-monstrer-pa-nrks-sommerbat/s/5-8-116636
Rocker joins NRKs Sommerboat
Carina Olset is known and loved from NRK sports and so I will be a ‘wildcard’, says Tarjei Strøm. Next week the drummer is program leader in ‘Sommeråpent’
The drummer of Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Orchestra and Ylvis has a summer-job as program leader in Sommeråpent. The Bergenser Tarjei Strøm and NRK Sport’s Carina Olset travel with the summer boat and lead the shows from Odda, Ulvik, Bekkjarvik, Leirvik and Haugesund next week.
-I have family from Ulvik and Leirvik and have been a lot on holiday in Ulvik, so it feels a lot like home. It was actually my cousin from Leirvik who introduced me to Kiss and the heavy rock. I have played in all these places as well, says Tarjei smiling.
The musician is not unfamiliar with boats after having spent many holidays in Tysnes.
-We have always had a boat and went fishing, so I have a close relationship to the sea. And I have been three times on the Kiss-cruise in the Caribbean, and will be there for the fourth time this summer, where one is so to speak on the sea, the drummer grins, who also has a sailing boat tattooed on his back. On his fingers it’s written ‘West coast’ forever and always.
From Turboneger to NRK
On Twitter the rocker poses with both Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley and Carola. His many tattoos are also not a disadvantage during his side job as drummer for Turboneger in Stavanger at the weekend.
-Today I will go to a family meeting, so there is no lipstick and make-up, and tomorrow ‘Sommeråpent’. That will be something for everyone’s taste, explains Tarjei.
-It is fun, if someone had told me ten years ago that I will be program leader in a summer program on NRK, play with Turboneger, Ralph Meyerz and Ylvis, I would have gone in a time machine and just travelled to 2015.
-How does a rock-drummer become a program leader on NRK?
-That’s a long story. I am indeed a drummer that is where my identity is. I use to say that I go where my drumsticks take me. In Ralph Meyerz it’s me who talks on stage, due to absence of a front-figure. When we played at P3 sessions in 2004, the power failed, except for my microphone. I made a talk-show for ten minutes. Then the music-boss Håkon Moslet came to me and said that that was the best radio-application he had heard. The door was open in P3. It just wrapped itself around from P3, P13, the pristine-finale and Melodi Grand Prix program leader to being an underground NRK-profile, explains Tarjei.
He also made a drum solo at the Roskilde-concert with Ralph Meyers when the power failed in 2002.
-It runs in my spine that the show must go on. For many that is the fear, but for NRK it’s a safety that when something happens, then it goes well.
A wildcard
The Sommeråpent shows from the NRK summer boat have a price tag worth 34 million kroner. The public TV channel had received some critic for using so many freelancers as program leaders when there is hiring freeze at NRK.
-They are dependent on hiring freelancers. I am not a permanent employee at NRK. I just think it’s a perfect match. There are rather not so many other bearded, tattooed drummers at NRK they can use, Tarjei smirks. And he means he will be a wildcard together with NRK Sport’s Carina Olset.
-I think it will be better TV when there are two who didn’t have the same journey or education behind them. That can lead to a bit more character, the drummer, who also had Razika and Maya Vik with him on sommeråpent, means
Paying boradcast fee
-How do you defend using 34 million kroner for a program?
-I feel sincerely that that is a production that reaches a broad audience. Sommeråpent is enormous in the whole country. If they had used 34 million to send from the opera- roof top in Oslo, it would have been different. I think it is well-used money. Since I am not a permanent employee I pay broadcast fees like everyone else, he says with a smile in his beard.
Everywhere where the summer boat stops, people pour in at the pier. Sommeråpent has had more than 700 000 viewers, there have been proposals and jumps into the sea.
-The program has struck a chord there. It is the Norwegian people giving back to the Norwegian people. Two years ago Sommeråpent was very full of celebrities to begin with. It became clear at the end that most people like to see normal people. It is important to have local guests. On the paper it sounds very boring, but if you see the involvement around it, it is very unique, Tarjei thinks.
No alcohol or fish
The musician is still straight edge, something that includes that he is an abstainer.
-It has worked very well for me. If I had spent my youth with partying at all tours I don’t think that I would have gotten so far. Carina is also abstinent, so when we are asked to taste cider in Ulvik I think we need to get in some experts, Tarjei smirks.
The Bergenser doesn’t eat fish either.
-If they want to have a bit entertainment at Sommeråpent, I have said that they have to try to get me to eat fish. I have said I will give my eyeteeth, so who knows?
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