Freya

♀ Girl

Pronounced FRAY-uh /ˈfreɪ.ə/High

Meaning: Noble woman; lady — from Old Norse Freyja, from freyja meaning 'lady, mistress'High

In 30 seconds: Named for the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and war, Freya means 'noble woman' or 'lady.' One of Scandinavia's most beloved names, it has swept into the English-speaking world and is now a top-20 name in the UK.

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Origin HighNorse

MeaningNoble woman; lady — from Old Norse Freyja, from freyja meaning 'lady, mistress'

U.S. rank (2025)#176 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births1,746 girls (0.11% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 19,808

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Freya is the Anglicization of Old Norse Freyja, a compound possibly from freyja (lady, mistress) related to the Old High German frouwa (lady). In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, gold, war, and magic. She rides a chariot pulled by cats, and half of those slain in battle go to her hall, Fólkvangr.

Freya has been used in Scandinavian countries throughout recorded history. In the English-speaking world it emerged as a given name in the 19th century during a period of interest in Norse mythology, but rose dramatically in the 2000s–2010s. It is now a top-10 girls' name in Scotland and England, and ranks in the U.S. top 200.

Did you know? Friday is named after Freya — the Old English name Frīgedæg (Freya's day) directly honors the Norse goddess of love, the same way Thursday honors Thor.

Variations

FreyjaFrejaFreia

Nicknames

Frey

Famous Bearers

★Freyja (Norse goddess) (mythological)
Norse goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and war; one of the principal deities of the Norse pantheon.

If you like Freya…

Frida— another Norse name

Nori— a similarly popular pick

Ingrid— a fellow Norse choice

Brenda— a similarly popular pick

Wednesday— shares Freya's Norse roots

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Freya mean?

Freya comes from the Old Norse Freyja meaning 'lady' or 'noble woman,' and is the name of the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and war.

How do you pronounce Freya?

Freya is pronounced FRAY-uh /ˈfreɪ.ə/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Freya a boy or girl name?

Freya is a feminine name, as it derives from a female Norse deity.

How popular is Freya?

Freya is a top-10 girls' name in England, Scotland, and several Scandinavian countries, and is rising in the U.S. top 200.