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Home › Baby Names Directory › Inger

Inger

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Inger

Pronounced ING-er /ˈɪŋ.ər/Medium

Meaning: Inger is an Old Norse name built on Ing, a Norse fertility god, plus an element meaning 'army' or 'guardian' — a long-standing Scandinavian classic borne by actress Inger Stevens.Medium

In 30 seconds: A Nordic classic: Inger nods to the god Ing and means 'Ing's army' (said 'ING-er'). Crisp, Scandinavian, and rare in America.
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Origin MediumScandinavian, Old Norse
MeaningInger is an Old Norse name built on Ing, a Norse fertility god, plus an element meaning 'army' or 'guardian' — a long-standing Scandinavian classic borne by actress Inger Stevens.
U.S. rank (1986)#11581 ↘ Falling
1986 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1966
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,367

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196618881986

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

Inger is Old Norse, joining the god-name Ing to a word for 'army' or 'guard.' A staple in Scandinavia, it saw a small U.S. flicker around 1966 via actress Inger Stevens (said 'ING-er').

It never became common in America and remains a distinctly Nordic import. Clean, cool, and uncommon.

Did you know? Inger reached American ears mid-century largely through Swedish-born actress Inger Stevens, peaking around 1966.
Overall data confidence 62%
References — Inger — Old Norse; Ing (god) + army; actress Inger Stevens

Variations

IngерIngridIngeborg

Nicknames

IngieIng

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Inger…

Ingrid— a like Ing- Nordic name
Astrid— a like Scandinavian classic
Sigrid— a like Norse -rid name
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Kristen— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Inger mean?

Inger is an Old Norse name meaning 'Ing's army,' built on the god-name Ing.

How do you pronounce Inger?

It's said ING-er /ˈɪŋ.ər/ — the stress lands on the part shown in capitals.

Is Inger a boy or girl name?

In Scandinavia Inger is chiefly a girl's name, and it is used that way here.

How popular is Inger?

Inger has always been rare in America, with a faint high point in the mid-nineteen-sixties, and it stays uncommon today.

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