Boys’ names

The 10 most common names for boys and men in 1801/1803 were:

Peder (Peter, Petter)
Hans (Hanss)
Jens (Jenss)
Niels (Nils, Njoels, Nels)
Christen (Kristen, Kresten, Cresten)
Anders (Anners)
Rasmus (Rassmus, Rasmus)
Søren (Sören, Sǿrren)
Lars
Christian (Cristian, Kristian)

In 2024, 5 of the old names still are on Top-10:

Peter
Michael
Lars
Jens
Thomas
Henrik
Søren
Christian
Martin
Jan

The 2024-list of new-born boys is completely different

Noah
William
Alfred
Carl
Aksel
Emil
Oscar
Malthe
Oliver
Arthur

For a comprehensive exploration of Danish naming traditions and their historical evolution, MyDanishRoots.dk and Statistics Denmark provide valuable resources. You can explore these sources yourself for further details:

Discover the Heritage and Meaning of Traditional Danish Male Names

Discover the origins, meanings, and historical roots of Danish names. This interactive table allows you to browse a collection of male and female first names, including when they first appeared in Denmark, their linguistic origins, and the stories they carry. The data updates automatically, giving you access to the latest insights in real-time—perfect for genealogy, heritage exploration, or just pure curiosity.

Boy's names

Name	Earliest occurence in Denmark	Connected to	Origin	Meaning
Abraham	11th century		Hebrew	Father of multitude
Absalon	11th century		Hebrew	Father of peace
Adam	11th century		Hebrew	Earth, human
Adolf	11th century		German	Nobility, wolf
Adolph	See ADOLF
Aksel	14th century	Developed by Absalon	Hebrew	Absalon means "Father of Peace"
Albert	12th century	By Adelbert	German
Aleksander	See ALEXANDER
Alexander	13th century		Greek	Helper, male
Alfred	12th century		English	Elf, advice
Allan	19th century		English	Harmony
Anchor	See ANKER
Anders	13th century	By Andreas
André	20th century	By Andreas	French
Andreas	12th century		Greek	Masculine
Andrew	20th century	English form of Andreas	English
Anker, Ancher	14th century		Nordic	Eagle, fierce
Ansgar	12th century		German	God, spear
Anthon	See ANTON
Anton	14th century		Greek, Latin, Italian	Flowering
Arne	The Viking Age		Nordic	Eagle
Arthur		New Danish	English
Artur	See Arthur
Asger	The Middle Ages		Nordic	God, spear
Asmund	Legendary historic		Nordic	God, protect
Asmus	15th century	By Rasmus	Schleswigian
August		New Danish	Latin	Exalted
Benjamin		New Danish	Hebrew	Son of the right hand, happiness
Benny		New Danish - English short form of Benjamin	English
Bernard	20th century	English and French form of Bernhard	English, French
Bernhard	10th century		German	Bear, hard
Bertram	13th century		German	Shining, raven
Birger	10th century		Nordic	Guardian
Bjarne	13th century		Nordic	Bear, hard
Bjørn	Legendary historic			Bear
Bo	Legendary historic		Nordic	The settled
Boje	12th century		Frisian	Resident
Brian	20th century		Irish	Small hill
Broder	See BROR
Bror	15th century		Nordic
Bryde	14th century		Nordic	Manager
Buster	20th century		American
Bøje	See BOJE
Børge	15th century	By Birger
Baard	13th century		Nordic	Strife, peace, guardian
Cai	See KAJ
Carl			Italian
Carsten	15th century	Low German form of Christian	German
Casper	15th century		German	Bailiff
Chresten	See KRESTEN
Christer	15th century	By Christian
Christian	11th century		Greek	Christian
Christoffer	12th century		Greek	Christ, bearer
Christopher	See CHRISTOFFER
Claus	13th century	German short form of Nicolaus	German
Clement	13th century		Latin	Gentle
Conrad	12th century		German	Bold, advice
Cornelius	15th century		Latin	Horn
Dan	Legendary historic		Nordic	Dane
Daniel	12th century		Hebrew	The Lord, judge
David	12th century		Hebrew	Love
Dennis	20th century	English form of Dionysius	English
Detlev	See DITLEV
Didrik	Legendary historic		German	People, mighty
Dieter	20th century		German	People, hard
Dirch	17th century	By Didrik
Dirk	See DIRCH
Ditlev	15th century
Ditmar	11th century		German	People, famous
Ditmer	See DITMAR		German	People, famous
Ebbe	Legendary historic	Norse short form of Esbjørn	Nordic	God, bear
Edgar	11th century		English	Wealth, spear
Edger	See EDGAR
Edvard	11th century		English	Wealth, protector
Edvin	The Viking Age		English	Wealth, friend
Eggert	11th century		German	Discipline, sword-egg, hard
Egil	11th century		Nordic	Discipline, sword-egg
Eigil	SEE EGIL
Ejler	14th century		German	Discipline, sword-egg, hard, warrior
Ejnar		New Danish side form for Enar	Nordic	One, warrior, spear
Ejner	See EJNAR
Ejvind	Legendary historic		West Nordic	Twisted, twisted, giant
Elias	12th century		Hebrew	God
Elmer	20th century		English	Early, famous
Emil		New Danish - French form of Greco-Latin æmilius (friendly)	French	Friendly
Erhard	15th century		German	Honor, hard
Erik	Legendary historic		Nordic	One, mighty
Erling		New Danish
Ernst	13th century		German	Serious, fierce
Esben	15th century		Nordic
Esge	See ESKE
Esger	See ESKE
Eske	The Viking Age		Nordic	God, spear
Eskil	Legendary historic		Nordic	God, kettle hat
Evald	14th century		German	Law, power
Felix	13th century		Latin	Happy
Ferdinand		New Danish	German	Peace, bold
Filip	12th century		Greek	Love, horses
Finn	Legendary historic		Nordic
Flemming	13th century			Flemish
Folke	Legendary historic		Nordic
Folmar	See FOLMER
Folmer	12th century
Frank	15th century		German	Frank, free
Frans	See FRANTZ
Frants	See FRANTZ
Franz		By Franciscus
Frede	13th century		Nordic
Frederik	12th century		German	Peace, mighty
Fridlev	Legendary historic		Nordic	Peace, abandoned
Fridolf		New Danish	Nordic	Peace, wolf
Fridtjof		New Danish	Nordic	Peace, thief
Frits	15th century	German short form of Fredidrich	German
Fritz	See FRITS
Frode	Legendary historic		Nordic	Wise, wise, knowledgeable
Gabriel	12th century		Hebrew	God's man
Georg	12th century	By Georgius	Greek	Farmer
Gerhard	12th century		German	Spear, hard
Gerner	20th century
Gert	14th century	Gerhard
Gilbert	12th century		Nordic	Spear, shining
Godfred	9th century		German	God, peace
Gorm	Legendary historic	By Guttorm	Nordic	God, worm
Gotfred	See GODFRED		German	God, peace
Gothard	14th century		German	God, hard
Gotlieb		New Danish	German	God, dear
Gregers	14th century		Greek	Alert
Gudmund	The Viking Age		Nordic	God, protection
Gunnar	See GUNNER		Nordic
Gunner	The Viking Age		Nordic
Gustav	14th century		Swedish	Staff
Gynter	Legendary historic		German	Battle, warrior
Hakon	See HAAKON		Nordic	Horse, offspring, son
Haldor	15th century		Nordic	Stone, Thor
Halfdan	Legendary historic		Nordic	Half Dane
Hans	14th century	German short form of Johannes	German
Harald	Legendary historic		Nordic	Army, ruler
Hartvig	Legendary historic		German	Hard, battle
Heine	14th century	German short form of Heinrich	German
Heinrich	11th century		German	Home, mighty
Hektor	12th century		Greek	Maintains
Helge	Legendary historic		Nordic	Holy
Helmer	15th century		German	Helmet, warrior
Helmuth		New Danish	German	Whole, unharmed, courage
Hendrik	13th century	By Henrik
Henning	12th century	German derivation of Hans	German
Henri	See HENRY
Henrik	11th century		German	Home, mighty
Henry		New Danish - English form of Henrik	English
Herbert	11th century		German	Army, bright, shining
Herluf	15th century	By Herlev	Nordic	Army, bath
Herman	Legendary historic		German	Army, man
Hieronymus	15th century		Greek	Holy, name
Hilmer	15th century		German	Battle, famous
Hjalmar	Legendary historic		Nordic	Helmet, warrior
Hjalte	Legendary historic		Nordic	Sword hilt
Holger	Legendary historic			Island, islet, spear
Hubert	15th century		German	Mind, brilliant
Hubert	15th century		German	Mind, brilliant
Hugo	12th century			Thoughts, memory
Haagen	14th century	Developed by Hakon	Nordic
Haakon	Legendary historic		Nordic	Horse, offspring, son
Ib	15th century	Contraction of Jep
Ingeman	13th century	By Ingemund	Nordic
Ingolf	12th century		Nordic	Wolf
Isak	12th century		Hebrew	Laughter
Ivan	13th century	Loaned form of Johannes
Ivar	Legendary historic		Nordic	Yew, warrior
Iver	Legendary historic	By Ivar	Nordic	Yew, warrior
Jack		Danish - English diminutive of Johan	English
Jacob	The Viking Age		Hebrew	The one who grasps the heel
Jakob	See JACOB		Hebrew	The one who grasps the heel
Jan	13th century	Dutch and Frisian form of Johannes	Dutch
Jean		New Danish - French and American form of Johannes	French, American
Jens	14th century	By Johannes
Jeppe	15th century	Petit form of Jakob
Jesper	13th century	Danish development of German Jasper	Danish
Joakim	15th century		Hebrew	God has established
Johan	14th century	German short form of Johannes	German
Johannes	12th century		Hebrew	God has acted graciously
John	19th century	English form of Johannes	English
Jokum	15th century	By Joakim
Jon	13th century	Norse short form of Johannes	Nordic
Jonas	12th century	Hebrew contraction of Johannes	Hebrew
Jonatan	19th century		Hebrew	God has given
Josef	12th century		Hebrew	God will increase
Julius		New Danish	Latin	Young
Jørgen	15th century		German
Jørn	See JØRGEN
Kai	See KAJ
Kaj	14th century		Frisian
Kalle	The Viking Age	Norse petit form of Karl	Nordic
Karl	Legendary historic		Nordic	Young man
Karsten	See CARSTEN
Kasper	See CASPER
Keld	14th century		Nordic	Kettle hat, sacrificial cauldron
Kim	20th century	English short form of Kimball	English
Kjeld	15th century	Jutlandish form of Keld
Klaus	See CLAUS
Knud	Legendary historic		Nordic	Knot
Konrad	See CONRAD
Kresten	14th century	By Christian
Kresten	See KRESTEN
Kristian	See CHRISTIAN
Lage	12th century		Nordic	Fellow
Lars	After The Middle Ages	Contraction of Laurentius
Las	14th century	Short form of Laurentius
Lasse	14th century	Petit form of Laurentius
Lau	15th century	Developed by Lage
Lauge	13th century	By Lage	Nordic	Fellow
Laurens	13th century	By Laurentius
Laurids	See LAURITZ
Laurits	See LAURITZ
Lauritz	14th century	Danish form of Laurentius	Danish
Laurs	15th century	Developed by Laurids
Laust		New Danish (Jutland) - ff Laurit	Danish
Lavrids	See LAURITZ
Lavst	See LAUST
Leif	Legendary historic		West Nordic
Leo		New Danish	Latin	Lion
Louis		New Danish - French form of Ludvig	French
Ludvig	14th century		German	Famous
Mads	15th century	By Matthias
Magnus	Legendary historic		Latin	Great
Maks	See MAX
Marcus	12th century		Latin
Marinus	14th century		Latin	Sea
Marius	After The Middle Ages		Latin	Sea
Marius
Martin	12th century		Latin
Mathias	15th century		Greek	The Lord's gift
Mathies	See MATHIAS
Max		New Danish - of Maximilian	Danish
Melchior	15th century		Hebrew	King of light
Melkior	See MELCHIOR
Michael	12th century		Hebrew	Who is like God
Mikael	See MICHAEL
Mikkel	14th century		Hebrew	Who is as God
Mogens	14th century
Morten	14th century	By Martin
Mourids	See MOURITZ
Mouritz	14th century	By Maurits
Nicolai	17th century		Latin
Nicolaus	11th century		Greek	Victory, people
Niels	14th century	By Nicolaus
Nikolai	See NICOLAI
Nils	13th century	Side form for Niels
Norman	Legendary historic		Nordic	Norse
Olaf	Legendary historic		Nordic	Ancestor, abandoned
Olav	See OLAF
Ole	The Late Middle Ages	By Olaf
Olfert	After The Middle Ages		German, Frisian	Wolf, hard
Oliver	13th century		French
Oluf	15th century	Side form for Olaf
Orla	19th century		Celtic
Orla
Oscar	See OSKAR
Oskar	9th century	Conversion of Asger	Scottish
Osvald		New Danish	English	God, power
Otte	Legendary historic	Danish form of Otto	Danish
Otto	10th century		Latin
Ove	14th century
Palle	9th century		Nordic
Patrick		New Danish	Irish	Nobleman
Paul	14th century	By Paulus	Latin
Paulus	12th century		Latin	Small
Peder	13th century	By Peter
Peiter	16th century		Frisian
Pelle	14th century
Per	14th century	Contraction of Peder
Peter	13th century	By Petrus
Petrus	11th century		Latin	Rock
Philip	See FILIP
Poul	14th century	By Paulus
Povl	See POUL
Preben	After The Middle Ages		Vendic	Forrest, battle
Rasmus	15th century	By Erasmus
Reimar	13th century		German	Ruling power, famous
Reimer	See REIMAR
Reinhard	13th century		German	Ruling power, hard
René		New Danish	French	Reborn
Richard	12th century		English, German	Mighty, hard
Rikard	See RICHARD
Robert	12th century		English, German	Fame, brilliant
Rolf	Legendary historic	By Rodulf	Nordic	Fame, wolf
Rudolf	13th century		German	Fame, wolf
Sebastian	15th century		Greek	Venerable
Severin	14th century		Latin	Serious, strict
Sigmund	Legendary historic		Nordic	Victory, protect
Sigurd	Legendary historic	Form of Sigvard	West Nordic
Sigvard	Legendary historic		Nordic	Victory, protective
Simeon	12th century		Hebrew	The one who is heard
Simon	Legendary historic	Greek form of Simeon	Greek
Skjalm	The Viking Age		Nordic
Skjold	Legendary historic		Nordic
Sofus	See SOPHUS
Sophus		New Danish	Latin	Wise
Stefan	12th century		Greek	Wreath, crown
Steffen	15th century		Greek	Wreath, crown
Sten	11th century		Nordic	Stone
Stephen	13th century	By Stefan
Stig	12th century		Nordic	Wanderer
Sven	See SVEND
Svend	Legendary historic		Nordic	Young man
Svenning	13th century		Nordic	Sven's descendant
Sylvester	12th century		Latin	Resident in the forest
Søren	15th century	By Severin
Søwren	14th century	By Severin
Tage	14th century		Nordic	The one who guarantees
Terkel	15th century	By Therkil
Theodor	15th century		Greek	God, gift
Thomas	12th century		Hebrew	Gemini
Thor	14th century		Nordic
Thorben	15th century		Nordic	Thor, protection
Thorbjørn	The Viking Age		Nordic	Thor, bear
Thorsten	The Viking Age		Nordic	Thor, stone
Thøger	13th century	By German Theodgar	German	People, spear
Tobias	12th century		Greek	God is good
Toke	Legendary historic	Short form of Thorkil	Nordic
Tommy		New Danish - English petit form of Thomas	English
Torben	See THORBEN
Torsten	See THORSTEN
Troels	14th century
Tue	13th century	By Tuve
Tyge	Legendary historic	Norse mutation of Toke	Nordic
Tøger	See THØGER
Uffe	Legendary historic	Short form of Ulf
Ulf	The Viking Age		Nordic	Wolf
Ulrik	13th century		Nordic German	Mighty
Urban	15th century		Latin	Free the city
Vagn	The Viking Age		Nordic	Chariot
Valdemar	Legendary historic		German	Might, famous
Valentin	15th century		Latin	Healthy
Valter	12th century		German	Might, warrior
Verner	13th century		German	Affiliate tribe Varnene, warrior
Victor	18th century		Latin	Victory lord
Viggo	Legendary historic		West Nordic	The one with a rocking gait
Viktor	See VICTOR
Vilhelm	10th century		German	Will, helmet
Villads	15th century		Latin	Will, fight
Volmer	15th century	By Valdemar
Walther	See VALTER
Werner	See VERNER
Wilhelm	See VILHELM
Willy		New Danish - English short form of William	English
Zacharias	14th century		Hebrew	The one God remembers
Øjvind		New Danish	Norwegian	Island, twisted, turned
Østen	The Viking Age		Nordic	Island, wealth, stone
Aage	10th century	Short name for Anager	West Danish	Spear
Aamund	The Viking Age		Nordic	Sword-egg, discipline

Interested in uncovering more about your own Danish heritage or exploring the stories behind the names in your family? We offer a free consultation to help you begin your journey into discovering your Danish roots. Reach out to us today, and let’s explore your family’s history together!

Boys’ names

Discover the Heritage and Meaning of Traditional Danish Male Names

Boy's names

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Boys’ names

Discover the Heritage and Meaning of Traditional Danish Male Names

Boy's names

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