10 Scandinavian Names You Never Thought of Using: Boys

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Last week I told you all about my love for the slim, trim Scandinavian name. That's exactly what you'll find here--no name is over two syllables long. If you are a fan of short names, the Scandinavians have got you covered. Take a look.

Espen- Espen--with his similarities to the name Aspen and favorite sports network ESPN--strikes me as the perfect name for a Scandi-American child. Even better if there are Osborns in your family--he comes from Asbjorn, from which Osborn derived.

Folke- It's no secret that hipsters love anything "folk." Folk music, folk dancing, folk festivals--you name it. So why not use it as a name for their son? Folke (with that extra "E") is an old Scandinavian name. Plus, he means "people's guardian."

Frey- When novel names become suddenly trendy, people tend to tire of them quickly. That's what happened to me and Gray/Grey. Years ago when parents first started bestowing their children with the name, I thought, "what a wonderful idea!," "how cute!," and "so creative!" Now it bores me to tears. Frey is a spectacular alternative. He's fresher, edgier, and practically unheard of. Use him instead of Grey, please.

Jens- The Jennifers of the world have exited their child-bearing years, meaning, in the next ten years or so, they will start becoming grandmothers. Jens would be spunky way to honor Grandma Jennifer--but even if you don't know any Jennifers, Jennys, or Jenns (I would be shocked), Jens still makes a fantastic name for a son.

Lars- Sweet sweet Lars is one of my all time favorites. He sounds so kind and gentle (though maybe Ryan Gosling's character in Lars and the Real Girl is coloring my perception). If you prefer him as a nickname, he works as a short form of Laurence or Larson/Larsen.

Oslo- Oslo is the capital of Norway, and a great candidate for the name of your baby boy! Some people argue that he's not "name-y" enough, but Oslo shares a likeness to Oswald, Otto, and Lazlo, so I beg to differ.

Per- Per is the Scandinavian form of Peter. He's pronounced exactly as he looks--though if you're seeking the PEER pronunciation, Peer is another option. Pelle--even though it is longer--is the original nickname for Per, though he is actually more popular in his own right.

Timo- I've been LOVING Timo lately. He's familiar yet unusual, easy to pronounce, and an all-around lovely name. You could use him as a nickname for Timothy, but I much prefer him on his own. Timo would make a nice honor name, though.

Thoren- Thoren is an elaboration on the Scandinavian god name Thor, and also a surname. People who like Thor and Tor but want a longer name to fall back on should strongly consider Thoren.

Viggo- Viggo is a cool, strong name that would be easy to use in America. He's currently most popular in Sweden, where he ranks #45, though his popularity peaked in 2009 at #26. Funnily enough, he doesn't even rank in Norway, his country of origin.

10 Scandinavian Names You Never Thought of Using: Girls

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Scandinavian names are some of my favorites. I love their minimalism--it's very reflective of the culture. Scandinavian names can make great imports. It's easy to picture American children with many of the following names. Let me know which ones you like.

Annalie- She may look like an alternate spelling of smoosh name Annalee, but Annalie is actually the Finnish form of Hannah. She's definitely a fresh substitute.

Freja- Freja is a beautiful Danish name--one of my favorites. In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. Another, more American friendly spelling is Freya.

Hedda- Hedda was originally a short form for Hedvig, the Scandinavian form of the German Hedwig. She's obviously much cuter, so use her on her own. No need to name your daughter Hedvig.

Linnea- Linnea is a gorgeous name with a scientific background. She comes from the surname of Carl Linnaeus--a botanist, physician, and zoologist who created the modern method of scientifically naming organisms. For a biology themed sibset, try Linnea and Darwin.

Malin- This contraction of Magdalene is simple, not overly feminine, and easy to pronounce and spell. Mallin is another possible spelling, though Malin is the traditional Scandinavian.

Marit- I met my first Marit the other day, and she made me fall in love with her name. She's a variation of Margaret, and has ties to Norweigan royalty.

Pirjo- I understand that Pirjo (pronounced PEER-yo) might not be the easiest name to wear as an American girl, but she's too cute (and wonderfully Scandinavian), so I couldn't pass her up. She's a diminutive of the Finnish Piritta, a variation of Birgitta. It's kind of a stretch, but Pirjo would make an adorable nickname for a Bridget.

Signe- Signe--also spelled Signy--is also a name from Norse mythology. Signy (with an accent over the Y) is the twin of Sigmund and the wife of Siggeir. In Sweden and Norway, Signe is pronounced SEENG-nee, however in Denmark is it said more like SEE-nee.

Sunniva- The cheerful Sunniva--that's SOON-ee-vah--means "sun's gift." Sunny, Eva, or Evie make lovely nicknames, though I like her in her whole form.

Tove- Tove is quintessentially Scandinavian. She's best known as the name of author and illustrator Tove Jansson, the creator of the Moomin series (pictured above). Tove is pronounced like Tova, which is an alternate, easier spelling for the English-speaking.