Freja

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Freja Pronunciation

Freja is pronounced FRAY-ah /ˈfreɪ.ə/High

Meaning: Lady, noblewoman; from Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and warHigh

In 30 seconds: The Danish and Swedish spelling of Freyja, the Norse goddess of love and beauty whose name literally means 'lady'. A Scandinavian chart-topper now reaching American parents.

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Origin HighOld Norse, Swedish, Danish

MeaningLady, noblewoman; from Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and war

U.S. rank (2024)#3231 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births49 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 519

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Freja descends from Old Norse Freyja, literally 'lady' or 'mistress', the title-turned-name of the most prominent goddess in Norse mythology — deity of love, beauty, fertility, and war, owner of the falcon cloak and the necklace Brísingamen. Her twin brother Freyr's name, in parallel, means 'lord'.

Modern Scandinavians revived the goddess's name in force: Freja has ranked among the most popular girls' names in Denmark for years, with Freya doing the same in Britain. The j-spelling reads distinctly Scandinavian, and in the U.S. it remains the rare, imported sister of the fast-rising Freya.

Did you know? In Norse myth the goddess Freyja rode a chariot drawn by two cats and claimed half of all warriors slain in battle — the other half went to Odin.

Overall data confidence 95%

Behind the Name — Freja — etymologyDanmarks Statistik — Danish popularity

Variations

FreyaFreyjaFrøya

Nicknames

Frey

Famous Bearers

★Freja Beha Erichsen (1987–present)
Danish model regarded as one of the defining runway faces of the 2000s.

If you like Freja…

Freya— the anglicized spelling of the same goddess name

Astrid— a fellow Old Norse name meaning 'divinely beautiful'

Ingrid— another classic Scandinavian girls' name with mythic roots

Freyja— echoes that soft -ja sound

Sonja— echoes that soft -ja sound

→ See all names like Freja

Browse the whole category: All Old Norse names → · All Swedish names → · All Danish names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Freja?

Freja is pronounced FRAY-ah (/ˈfreɪ.ə/). Press play above to hear Freja said aloud.

How do you say Freja?

Freja is said FRAY-ah (/ˈfreɪ.ə/). Press play above to hear Freja said aloud.

What does the name Freja mean?

Freja comes from Old Norse Freyja, meaning 'lady' or 'noblewoman', the name of the Norse goddess of love and beauty.

Is Freja a boy or girl name?

Freja is a girl's name; the related masculine name is Frey or Freyr.

How popular is Freja?

Freja is a top favorite in Denmark but remains a rare, distinctive choice in the U.S., where the Freya spelling is far more common.