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Home › Baby Names Directory › Runa

Runa

♀ Girl

Pronounced ROO-na /ˈɾʉː.nɑ/High

Meaning: Secret lore, runeHigh

In 30 seconds: Runa is a Norwegian girl's name meaning 'secret lore' or 'rune'.
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Origin HighNorwegian, Swedish, Danish
MeaningSecret lore, rune
U.S. rank (2025)#2771 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births62 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2020
Total births (all-time)≈ 622

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202020002025

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

Runa grows out of the Old Norse word for a rune, tied to ideas of hidden knowledge and secret lore. It belongs to the Scandinavian naming world, where rune-based names carry old associations with writing and mystery. Accented spellings such as Rúna keep that Nordic flavor.

The name is compact and clear, two syllables that feel at home across Norway and the wider Nordic region. Forms like Rúna and the masculine Rúni show how the same root bends across spellings and genders.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Runa is 'secret lore, rune', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 86%
Behind the Name - Runa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Ru-naRunáRúnaRúni

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Runa Basu (1955–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Runa…

Kristina— shares Runa's Danish roots
Katarina— a similarly popular pick
Gina— shares Runa's Swedish roots
Karen— a similarly popular pick
Milly— another Norwegian name

Explore names like Runa

By themenorwegiandanish

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Runa mean?

Runa is usually explained as meaning 'secret lore, rune' and is most often linked with Norwegian tradition.

How do you pronounce Runa?

It's commonly said ROO-na /ˈɾʉː.nɑ/.

Is Runa a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Runa is used as a girl name.

How popular is Runa?

In 2024, Runa ranked #2871 in the U.S. for girls, with 58 births recorded.

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