Scandinavian Boy Names

Scandinavian boys' names tend to be short, sturdy and easy to say, and many of them are local versions of names found across Europe. Johan, Henrik, Kristian, Tomas and Markus look familiar because they are, with the spelling adjusted to Swedish, Danish and Norwegian habits, including a preference for k over c. Anders is the Scandinavian form of a well-known apostle's name, and Axel began as a Danish form of a biblical name before becoming a standard in its own right.

Other names come straight from the Viking Age. Eric and Erik trace to an Old Norse name usually explained as ever ruler, and Leif recalls the Norse explorer who reached North America around the year one thousand. Gunnar combines Norse words for battle and warrior, and Magnus, the Latin word for great, was taken up by Norwegian and Swedish kings in the Middle Ages. Bo is a Swedish name linked to a word meaning to live or dwell.

When you compare spellings, decide how much Scandinavian flavor you want. Erik and Eric, Gunnar and its American cousins, Axel and Axl all sound nearly the same but read differently on paper. Two-syllable names like Magnus and Henrik balance well with short surnames, while Bo and Kai suit longer ones.