Country Name Rankings
Most Popular Baby Names in Norway (1948)
Official birth-registry rankings — Anne and Jan take the top spots. Every name links to its full meaning, origin, and popularity history.
Anne#1 Girl Name
Jan#1 Boy Name
1948Data Year
Top 100 Girl Names
| # | Name | Trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anne | — | The name Anne derives from the Hebrew name Channah (חנה), meaning "grace" or "favor," from the root word "cha… |
| 2 | Inger | — | Inger is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse name Ingvarr, combining the elements "Ing" (a Germani… |
| 3 | Liv | ▲ 1 | The name 'Liv' is derived from the Old Norse word 'hlíf', meaning 'protection' or 'shield', and is also relat… |
| 4 | Marit | ▲ 1 | Marit is a Scandinavian feminine name derived from the Latin name Margarita, meaning "pearl." The name comes … |
| 5 | Kari | ▼ 2 | Kari means "pure" and derives from the Sanskrit root "kari" or from Greek "katharos" (pure), with Scandinavia… |
| 6 | Berit | ▲ 1 | Berit is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse "Birgit," which comes from the Germanic root "beorg" … |
| 7 | Bjørg | ▼ 1 | Bjørg is a Scandinavian feminine name derived from Old Norse *Bjorg*, composed of elements meaning "help" or … |
| 8 | Randi | ▲ 2 | The name 'Randi' is a feminine given name derived from the Old Norse element *rǫnd* meaning "shield" or "prot… |
| 9 | Gerd | ▼ 1 | The name 'Gerd' is a short form of Germanic names beginning with *ger-* (meaning "spear"), such as Gerhard, a… |
| 10 | Karin | ▲ 1 | Karin is a Scandinavian and Germanic form of Catherine, derived from the Greek name Katherina, which comes fr… |
| 11 | Eva | ▼ 2 | Eva means "life" and derives from the Hebrew name Chava (חוה), which comes from the root word meaning "to liv… |
| 12 | Aud | ▲ 1 | Aud is a short form of Germanic names beginning with "Aud-," derived from the Old Germanic root *audaz meanin… |
| 13 | Solveig | ▼ 1 | Solveig derives from Old Norse elements "sól" (sun) and "veig" (strength or power), meaning "strong as the su… |
| 14 | Turid | ▲ 1 | Turid is a Scandinavian feminine name derived from Old Norse elements "Þórr" (the god Thor) and "friðr" (peac… |
| 15 | Astrid | ▼ 1 | Astrid derives from Old Norse elements "áss" (god) and "fríðr" (beautiful), meaning "divine beauty" or "beaut… |
| 16 | Torill | ▲ 5 | Torill is a Scandinavian feminine given name derived from the Old Norse name Þórhildr, meaning "Thor's battle… |
| 17 | Else | ▼ 1 | Else is a Germanic name meaning "noble" or "of noble kind," derived from the Old German element "adal" (noble… |
| 18 | Wenche | — | Wenche is a Norwegian and Danish feminine given name, a diminutive form of the Germanic name Wencke, ultimate… |
| 19 | Reidun | ▼ 2 | Reidun is a Scandinavian name derived from Old Norse elements "reið" (meaning ride or journey) and "unn" (mea… |
| 20 | Tove | ▼ 1 | Tove is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse name Tófa, meaning "beautiful" or "fair," with roots i… |
| 21 | Grete | ▲ 5 | |
| 22 | Grethe | — | |
| 23 | Laila | ▲ 8 | |
| 24 | Vigdis | ▲ 5 | |
| 25 | Unni | ▲ 3 | |
| 26 | Ase | ▼ 3 | |
| 27 | Kirsten | ▼ 7 | |
| 28 | Jorunn | ▼ 4 | |
| 29 | Sissel | ▲ 5 | |
| 30 | Ragnhild | ▼ 5 | |
| 31 | Ingrid | ▼ 4 | |
| 32 | Ellen | — | |
| 33 | Britt | ▼ 3 | |
| 34 | Brit | ▲ 2 | |
| 35 | Toril | — | |
| 36 | Eli | ▼ 3 | |
| 37 | Bodil | — | |
| 38 | Elisabeth | ▲ 1 | |
| 39 | Bente | ▲ 13 | |
| 40 | May | ▲ 1 | |
| 41 | Ruth | ▼ 1 | |
| 42 | Gunn | ▼ 4 | |
| 43 | Torhild | ▲ 2 | |
| 44 | Lillian | ▼ 2 | |
| 45 | Synnøve | ▼ 2 | |
| 46 | Torild | ▲ 2 | |
| 47 | Elin | ▲ 3 | |
| 48 | Rigmor | ▲ 3 | |
| 49 | Gunvor | ▲ 16 | |
| 50 | Anna | ▼ 4 | |
| 51 | Solfrid | ▼ 7 | |
| 52 | Torunn | ▼ 5 | |
| 53 | Tone | ▲ 3 | |
| 54 | Aase | ▲ 8 | |
| 55 | Gro | ▲ 12 | |
| 56 | Kirsti | ▼ 2 | |
| 57 | Signe | ▲ 11 | |
| 58 | Mette | ▼ 3 | |
| 59 | Ann | ▲ 1 | |
| 60 | Elsa | ▼ 2 | |
| 61 | Jorun | ▼ 4 | |
| 62 | Lisbeth | ▲ 1 | |
| 63 | Sidsel | ▼ 2 | |
| 64 | Irene | ▼ 11 | |
| 65 | Karen | ▲ 6 | |
| 66 | Anne-Lise | ▼ 17 | |
| 67 | Sigrid | ▼ 3 | |
| 68 | Birgit | ▲ 8 | |
| 69 | Ingeborg | ▲ 14 | |
| 70 | Olaug | ▲ 7 | |
| 71 | Mona | ▲ 10 | |
| 72 | Ingebjørg | — | |
| 73 | Helga | ▼ 4 | |
| 74 | Erna | ▲ 8 | |
| 75 | Gunhild | NEW | |
| 76 | Ingunn | ▼ 2 | |
| 77 | Rita | ▲ 19 | |
| 78 | Marie | ▼ 12 | |
| 79 | Sonja | ▼ 9 | |
| 80 | Mary | ▼ 21 | |
| 81 | Sigrun | ▼ 6 | |
| 82 | Evy | ▲ 16 | |
| 83 | Lise | ▼ 5 | |
| 84 | Marianne | ▲ 5 | |
| 85 | Åshild | ▼ 12 | |
| 86 | Sølvi | ▼ 1 | |
| 87 | Aslaug | ▼ 1 | |
| 88 | Magnhild | ▼ 4 | |
| 89 | Oddbjørg | ▲ 6 | |
| 90 | Greta | — | |
| 91 | Tordis | ▲ 3 | |
| 92 | Anny | ▼ 13 | |
| 93 | Eldbjørg | ▼ 13 | |
| 94 | Solbjørg | NEW | |
| 95 | Hilde | ▼ 3 | |
| 96 | Målfrid | NEW | |
| 97 | Astri | — | |
| 98 | Edel | ▼ 5 | |
| 99 | Gudrun | ▼ 8 | |
| 100 | Kristin | NEW |
Top 100 Boy Names
| # | Name | Trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan | — | Jan is a diminutive form of Joannes, the Latin version of the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "God is gracious."… |
| 2 | Per | — | Per is a Scandinavian name derived from the Latin name Petrus, meaning "stone" or "rock," which itself comes … |
| 3 | Bjørn | — | Bjørn means "bear" and derives from Old Norse *bjorn, cognate with Germanic languages like German "Bär" and E… |
| 4 | Kjell | — | Kjell is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse name Ketill, which comes from the root meaning "kettl… |
| 5 | Svein | — | Svein means "young man" or "young warrior" and derives from the Old Norse word "sveinn," which carries connot… |
| 6 | Arne | — | Arne derives from the Old Norse name "Arnór," composed of "arn" (eagle) and "órr" (warrior), meaning "eagle w… |
| 7 | Knut | ▲ 1 | Knut means "knot" and derives from Old Norse "knutr," reflecting a Germanic linguistic root related to tying … |
| 8 | Odd | ▼ 1 | # Odd The name Odd derives from Old Norse "Óðr," meaning "point of a weapon" or "sharp," and is linguistical… |
| 9 | Terje | — | Terje is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse name Thorgeir, combining "Thor" (the Norse god of thu… |
| 10 | Tor | ▲ 4 | The name Tor derives from Old Norse "Þórr," meaning "thunder," and is rooted in the Proto-Indo-European word … |
| 11 | Gunnar | ▼ 1 | Gunnar is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse elements "gunr" (war) and "arr" (warrior), meaning "… |
| 12 | Harald | ▼ 1 | Harald derives from the Old Norse elements "herr" (army) and "valdr" (ruler), meaning "army ruler" or "warrio… |
| 13 | Ole | ▲ 2 | The name Ole is a Scandinavian diminutive of Olaf, derived from the Old Norse elements "anu" (ancestor) and "… |
| 14 | Tore | ▼ 1 | Tore is a Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse name Þórr (Thor), meaning "thunder" and referring to t… |
| 15 | Hans | ▼ 3 | Hans is a German and Scandinavian diminutive of Johannes, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God… |
| 16 | Rolf | — | Rolf means "famous wolf" or "renowned wolf," derived from the Old Norse elements "hróðr" (fame) and "úlfr" (w… |
| 17 | Helge | ▲ 2 | Helge derives from the Old Norse name Helgi, which comes from the root "heilagr" meaning "holy" or "sacred." … |
| 18 | John | ▼ 1 | John derives from the Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "God is gracious" or "the Lord is merciful," c… |
| 19 | Leif | ▼ 1 | Leif means "heir" or "descendant" and derives from the Old Norse name Leifr, composed of the elements "leif" … |
| 20 | Steinar | — | Steinar is a Scandinavian name composed of the Old Norse elements "steinn" (stone) and "arr" (warrior), meani… |
| 21 | Olav | ▲ 1 | |
| 22 | Nils | ▼ 1 | |
| 23 | Kare | — | |
| 24 | Arild | ▲ 3 | |
| 25 | Einar | — | |
| 26 | Lars | ▼ 2 | |
| 27 | Erik | ▼ 1 | |
| 28 | Egil | — | |
| 29 | Magne | — | |
| 30 | Jon | ▲ 4 | |
| 31 | Finn | — | |
| 32 | Alf | ▲ 5 | |
| 33 | Ivar | ▼ 3 | |
| 34 | Reidar | ▼ 1 | |
| 35 | Tom | ▲ 6 | |
| 36 | Trond | ▲ 2 | |
| 37 | Arvid | ▼ 1 | |
| 38 | Sverre | ▼ 6 | |
| 39 | Karl | — | |
| 40 | Thor | — | |
| 41 | Asbjørn | ▼ 6 | |
| 42 | Øystein | ▲ 6 | |
| 43 | Torbjørn | ▲ 11 | |
| 44 | Geir | ▲ 11 | |
| 45 | Stein | ▲ 5 | |
| 46 | Oddvar | ▲ 7 | |
| 47 | Vidar | ▲ 9 | |
| 48 | Åge | ▼ 3 | |
| 49 | Roar | — | |
| 50 | Erling | ▼ 3 | |
| 51 | Ragnar | ▼ 7 | |
| 52 | Inge | ▲ 10 | |
| 53 | Bjarne | ▲ 5 | |
| 54 | Johan | ▼ 11 | |
| 55 | Øyvind | ▼ 13 | |
| 56 | Ove | ▲ 1 | |
| 57 | Dag | ▼ 11 | |
| 58 | Øivind | ▼ 7 | |
| 59 | Jens | — | |
| 60 | Ola | ▼ 8 | |
| 61 | Frank | ▲ 7 | |
| 62 | Anders | ▼ 1 | |
| 63 | Rune | ▲ 8 | |
| 64 | Roald | ▲ 3 | |
| 65 | Hakon | ▼ 1 | |
| 66 | Willy | ▼ 3 | |
| 67 | Jarle | ▼ 2 | |
| 68 | Trygve | ▼ 8 | |
| 69 | Jostein | ▲ 1 | |
| 70 | Sigmund | ▼ 1 | |
| 71 | Arve | ▼ 5 | |
| 72 | Dagfinn | ▲ 1 | |
| 73 | Birger | ▲ 5 | |
| 74 | Roy | ▲ 7 | |
| 75 | Harry | ▲ 8 | |
| 76 | Arnfinn | ▼ 2 | |
| 77 | Eivind | ▲ 10 | |
| 78 | Morten | ▲ 1 | |
| 79 | Torstein | ▲ 7 | |
| 80 | Paul | ▼ 8 | |
| 81 | Sven | ▲ 1 | |
| 82 | Kai | ▼ 2 | |
| 83 | Roger | ▲ 5 | |
| 84 | Atle | ▼ 9 | |
| 85 | Bernt | NEW | |
| 86 | Torgeir | ▲ 14 | |
| 87 | Magnar | ▼ 11 | |
| 88 | Pal | ▲ 4 | |
| 89 | Aage | ▲ 4 | |
| 90 | Arnt | NEW | |
| 91 | Bjørnar | ▲ 7 | |
| 92 | Ulf | ▼ 8 | |
| 93 | Petter | ▼ 2 | |
| 94 | Johnny | ▲ 3 | |
| 95 | Tormod | ▼ 6 | |
| 96 | Sigurd | ▼ 19 | |
| 97 | Johannes | ▼ 12 | |
| 98 | Olaf | ▼ 2 | |
| 99 | Oddbjørn | ▼ 4 | |
| 100 | Ingar | NEW |
Source: Statistics Norway (SSB), 1948. Trend arrows compare each name’s rank with the previous available year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the most popular girl name in Norway in 1948?
The most popular girl name in Norway in 1948 was Anne, given to 1,437 newborn girls.
What was the most popular boy name in Norway in 1948?
The most popular boy name in Norway in 1948 was Jan, given to 1,362 newborn boys.
Which baby names are rising fastest in Norway?
Compared with the previous rankings, the fastest-rising names in the 1948 top 100 were Rita (+19), Gunvor (+16), Evy (+16), Torgeir (+14), Torbjørn (+11), Geir (+11).
Where does this data come from?
Rankings are from the Statistics Norway (SSB).