Bringing home a new dog is a life-changing experience for many families or owners. Although gathering your pet supplies is something to prioritize, choosing their name is even more essential. However, you might find it overwhelming trying to pick the best name for your pooch. Typical dog names like “Fido,” “Spot,” and “Daisy” might not cut it for you. So, why not give your pup a Nordic name worthy of his stature or nature?
We compiled a list of the 136 best Scandanavian dog names to help you narrow down what you want to call your new furry friend. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hand, you can use some of our name ideas to simplify the process. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are the primary countries that come to mind when most people talk about Scandinavian countries, so it would be best to take inspiration from their most popular names.
Before scrolling down, here a some related article: Best Manly Dog Names
Table of Contents
Male Scandinavian Dog Names
Many dog owners search for dog names that match their pet’s strength, size, and personality. Thankfully, several Scandinavian and Nordic names encapsulate strength and courage. When in doubt, choose a Scandinavian name that humans might use. Here are some of our favorite picks for Scandinavian dog names for your male pup.
- Anders – manly or brave
- Bergen – mountain dweller
- Brodrick – brother
- Einar
- Anton
- Dag
- Alf
- Arkin
- Axel
- Sigmund – protector
- Olaf
- Carrson
- Sven
- Asmund – divine protection
- Bjorn – bear
- Calder – harsh/cold waters
- Gustav
- Gunther
- Magnus
- Ulf – wolf
- Hendrik
- Jakob
- Tove – beautiful
- Ingrid
- Erik
- Kristoff
- Kai
- Lars
- Baldar – prince
- Jarle – nobleman
- Kirkwood
Scandinavian Dog Names Female
Suppose you’re bringing home a beautiful Norwegian Elkhound and want to give her the best name possible. They’re formidable hunters and need a name that defines their regal power as much as their male counterparts. Luckily, we compiled a list of several beautiful female Scandinavian dog names for you to use. Many of them are popular names, while others take inspiration from cultural words.
- Brenna – sword
- Astrid – beautiful
- Freya – lady
- Helga
- Maiken
- Saga
- Tanja
- Margrete
- Nissa
- Dahlia
- Selma
- Annika
- Aurora
- Asta
- Emilie
- Elsa
- Sophia
- Frida
- Kelda
- Elia
- Juni
- Solveig
- Hortensia
- Norna
- Tiril
Scandinavian Dog Names Based on Nature
The northern parts of the Scandinavian region tend to have heavy winters. If you’re in the winter mood, consider giving your dog a Scandinavian name indicative of the lush snow or the holiday season? Several owners like naming their dogs after flowers or plants; perhaps a forest-themed name may suit them better. Check out this list to get a head start.
- Elin – light
- Mjöll – fresh, powdery snow
- Revna – raven
- Snæbjörn – snow bear
- Flykra – snowflake
- Brede – glacier
- Linnea – light pink flower
- Lumi – light
- Kari – gust of wind
- Embla – elm tree
- Lea – meadow
- Fýrr – fire
- Esya – a type of clay
- Aska – ashes
- Sten – stone
- Halle – rock
- Guido – forest
- Lilja – lily
- Begonia – a perennial flowering plant
- Aalto – wave
- Marna – the sea
- Vicia – flowering plant
- Steiner – small rock
- Vern – of the alder tree
- Ylva – female wolf
- Arne – eagle
Scandinavian Dog Names Based on Norse Mythology
Another naming trend many people follow when picking out the best Scandinavian dog names is referencing Norse mythology. Naming your dog after one of the Norse gods is an excellent way to emphasize a large dog’s massive stature or give your smaller pup an ironic name that matches their moody attitude.
However, if you think “Thor” is too mainstream for your dog, consider a few name variants that reference this icon.
Check out this list of the 28 best Scandinavian dog names based on Norse mythology. While many of these choices reference the Norse gods, they have a few name options for mystical objects and creatures.
- Mjöllnir – Thor’s hammer
- Bestla – mother of Odin, Vili, and Ve
- Nidhogg – a dragon that dwells, eats, and lives inside the roots of Yggdrasil
- Asgard – one of the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology
- Baldur – god of light and joy; a son of Odin
- Valhalla – Norse mythology’s afterlife concept
- Loki – God of mischief
- Fafnir
- Fenrir – Odin’s wolf
- Gandalf
- Skoll – a wolf that chases the sun
- Torsten
- Valkyrie – a female warrior
- Ymir – the first giant
- Tyr – god of war
- Aegir – god of the sea
- Heimdal
- Magni – god of brute force and strength
- Ingimar
- Vale
- Thora – like thunder; variant of Thor
- Thurman – protection of Thor
- Skadi – Goddess of winters, skiing, and hunting
- Eydis – goddess of good luck
- Gustav – staff of the gods
- Huldra – a forest-dwelling creature
- Mare – monsters that give people bad dreams
- Jormungand – a sea serpent
Scandinavian Dog Names Based on Famous Vikings
Another naming theme you should consider when picking a name for your dog is names connected to Vikings. As dominant forces on the seas, many people picture them as big, powerful, and fierce; perhaps one of these historical names might be fitting for a giant Mastiff or a spunky little terrier puppy.
These names take inspiration from their language, legends, or from the most significant Vikings who traveled the seas. While many people associate Viking names with large and burly warriors, several names are befitting for girls. Here’s a list of the 26 best Scandinavian dog names based on famous Vikings
- Ragnar
- Ironside
- Leif
- Jomsborg
- Halfdan
- Gunnar
- Bloodaxe
- Boneless
- Rollo
- Forkbeard
- Sigrid – beautiful woman who leads to victory
- Freydis
- Sigurd
- Ubba Ragnarson
- Canute – a Viking king
- Bjarni
- Oskar
- Dottir
- Olga of Kiev
- Brynhild
- Lagertha
- Hervor – daughter of the Viking warrior Heidrek
- Veborg – daughter of King Harald
- Gudrun
- Svanhvit
- Olrun
Conclusion Best Scandinavian Dog Names
Finding the perfect name for your new dog may sound daunting, but as long as you narrow down your top ten or so names, you won’t have to worry about any last-minute naming troubles when bringing your dog home.
You can also consult your friends or family about your name selections and vote on which one sounds the best. It’s an excellent solution that gets everyone involved with the new dog and an opportunity to find new names you hadn’t thought about.
Regardless of what you pick from our list of the 136 best Scandinavian dog names, your top choice should resonate with you and reflect how you see your dog. It may also be wise to call your dog a few times with each of your name choices; the one they respond to the most should be the one that sticks. The sooner you decide on your dog’s name, the more time you can spend building your bond with them.
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