Not a single lengthy Norwegian name or any containing the Norwegian letters æ, ø or å are included on the most recent list of the most popular names chosen for children born in Norway. “Nora” topped the list for girls, while “Lucas” or “Lukas” was once again chosen most often for boys, according to state statistics burean SSB.
Norwegian parents seem to favour shorter, simple names these day, also those with an international flair. “Nora,” also often spelled as “Norah” or “Noora” in Norway, pushed last year’s “Olivia” out of the top spot but hung on as third-most popular for girls. In between them was “Emma” in second-place, while “Sophie” placed fourth and “Ella” was fifth.
“Noah” followed Lucas as most popular for boys, followed by Oliver (pronounced “Oh-lee-vair” in Norwegian), Emil, Jakob, William, Theodor, Ludvig, Liam and Johannes. One common thread for both boys and girls was the lack of names with the Norwegian letters that can cause trouble in the digital age. One never knows if the “ø,” for example, can or should be translated into “o” or “oe.”
New on the girls’ “Top 10” list, meanwhile, were “Selma” and “Ellinor.” Anders Sønstebø of SSB told news bureau NTB both are old Scandinavian names currently undergoing a renaissance.
NewsinEnglish.no staff