Swedish Baby Names

Some of the most popular names in Sweden are, to this day, Old Norse names that have a deep connection to Scandinavian history and culture. Asa, one of the most common names for girls, is an Old Swedish name meaning "goddess," and Bo, a favorite for boys, means "the domiciled." Names derived from Latin, such as Johan, Thomas, Karl, and their corresponding feminine forms, were first introduced during the 1300s when conversion to Christianity began to occur on a larger scale. Swedish names made famous by film and sports celebrities are Ing-mar (Bergman), meaning "the god Ing's famous soldier," and Bjorn (as in the tennis star Borg), which literally means "bear." By law, parents must give their children one or more first names and report these to the Office of Taxation within three months. Names that may be offensive or cause the child discomfort are not approved. Other famous Swedes include the writers Par Lagerkvist, Nelly Sachs, Harry Edmund Martinson, and Eyvind Johnson.