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Freya

/FRAY-ə/

Freya is a girl name of Old Norse origin, meaning Lady, noblewoman.

  • GenderGirl
  • OriginOld Norse
  • StyleOriginal
  • Syllables2
  • US rank#168

What does Freya mean?

Lady, noblewoman

From the Old Norse Freyja, which is not originally a personal name but a title meaning "lady" or "mistress" - cognate with the German Frau.

The story behind the name

Freyja is the Norse goddess of love, beauty, war and death, who rides a chariot drawn by cats and receives half of those who die in battle - Odin takes the other half. Friday is named for her, or possibly for Frigg; the sources blur the two.

The name was essentially unused as a given name until the twentieth century, and its modern popularity is a revival rather than a survival.

Freya has been a top-twenty girls' name in England and Wales since the 2000s and is strong across Scandinavia.

Notable people named Freya

  • Freyja, Norse goddess
  • Freya Stark, explorer and travel writer

How popular is Freya?

Popularity in the United States

Freya has been given to 10,032 babies in the United States since 1931, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 1,044 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

07911,581193119752020
Babies named Freya per year in the United States, 1931–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Freya has been given to 506 babies in France since 1996, peaking in the 2020s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

04589199620092022
Babies named Freya per year in France, 1996–2022. Source: INSEE
10,032 Babies named since 1931
2010s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Freja, Freyja, Frøya

Related names: Astrid, Saga, Ingrid, Frigg

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Frequently asked questions about Freya

What does the name Freya mean?

Freya means Lady, noblewoman. It is of Old Norse origin.

Is Freya a boy's or a girl's name?

Freya is most often given to girls.

How do you pronounce Freya?

Freya is pronounced FRAY-ə.

How popular is the name Freya?

Freya has been given to 10,032 babies in the United States since 1931, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

What are other spellings of Freya?

Common variants include Freja, Freyja, Frøya.