Browse Names - Behind the Name

Borgny f Norwegian
From the Old Norse elements borg "fortress" and nýr "new". This name appears in the Old Norse poem Oddrúnargrátr in the Poetic Edda.

Dagny f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Dagný, which was derived from the elements dagr "day" and nýr "new".

Dagný f Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse and Icelandic form of Dagny.

Elsy f Swedish, Spanish (Latin American)
Diminutive of Elisabet.

Elvy f Swedish
Swedish short form of Elvira.

Emmy f English, French, Swedish, Dutch, German
Diminutive of Emma or Emily.

Evy f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
Diminutive of Eva or Evelina.

Fanny f English, French, Spanish, Swedish
Diminutive of Frances, Françoise or Stéphanie. In the English-speaking world this has been a vulgar slang word since the late 19th century, and the name has subsequently dropped out of common use.

Gry f Norwegian, Danish, Swedish
Means "to dawn" in Norwegian, Danish and Swedish.

Harry m English, Dutch, Swedish, German
Medieval English form of Henry. In modern times it is used as a diminutive of both Henry and names beginning with Har. Famous bearers include the American president Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), who was named after his uncle Harrison, and the British royal Prince Harry (1984-), who is actually named Henry. It is also the name of the boy wizard in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of books, first released in 1997.

Henny f & m Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
Diminutive of Henriette, Hendrika and other names containing hen. In Dutch it can also be masculine as a diminutive of Hendrik.

Jenny f English, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, German, Dutch, French, Spanish
Originally a medieval English diminutive of Jane. Since the middle of the 20th century it has been primarily considered a diminutive of Jennifer.

Jenný f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Jenny.

Kay 3 m Frisian, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
Variant of Kai 1.

Lilly f English, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish
English variant of Lily. It is also used in Scandinavia, as a form of Lily or a diminutive of Elisabeth.

Milly f Swedish, Norwegian, English
Diminutive of Emilie, Mildred and other names containing the same sound.

My f Swedish
Swedish diminutive of Maria.

Nelly f English, Swedish, French, German
Diminutive of Nell and other names containing nel.

Oddny f Norwegian
Norwegian form of Oddný.

Oddný f Old Norse, Icelandic
From Old Norse oddr "point of a sword" and nýr "new".

Signy f Norwegian
Norwegian variant form of Signý.

Signý f Old Norse, Norse Mythology, Icelandic
Old Norse name that was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and nýr "new". In Norse legend she was the twin sister of Sigmund and the wife of Siggeir.

Sóley f Icelandic
Means "buttercup (flower)" in Icelandic (genus Ranunculus), derived from sól "sun" and ey "island".

Torgny m Swedish
From the Old Norse name Þórgnýr meaning "Thor's noise" from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with gnýr "noise, grumble, murmur".

Torny f Norwegian (Rare)
From the Old Norse name Þórný, which was derived from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with nýr "new".

Veslemøy f Norwegian
Means "little girl" from Norwegian vesle "little" and møy "girl". This name was created by Norwegian writer Arne Garborg for the main character in his poem Haugtussa (1895).

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