Nanna

At a Glance

Meaning

Likely from a root meaning 'brave, daring' (possibly instead an old word for 'mother'); belongs to a Norse goddess, wife of the god Baldr, known for her devotion to him

Origin

Old Norse (Germanic)

Gender

Primarily used for girls

Pronunciation

NAHN-nahListen

Nanna is an Old Norse name, pronounced NAHN-nah, and it belongs to the Norse goddess who was the wife of the god Baldr, remembered for her devotion to him. It likely comes from a root meaning 'brave, daring,' though it may instead be an old word for 'mother.' You'll often see it sold as a 'moon' name or glossed as 'joy,' but neither holds up: the moon deity named Nanna is a separate Sumerian god, and the Norse Nanna is chiefly known for dying of grief over Baldr's death.

Meaning & Origin of Nanna

Meaning: Likely from a root meaning 'brave, daring' (possibly instead an old word for 'mother'); belongs to a Norse goddess, wife of the god Baldr, known for her devotion to him.

Origin: Old Norse (Germanic).

A common claim: Widely marketed as a 'moon' name, and sometimes glossed as 'goddess of the moon' or 'joy' Actually: The Norse goddess Nanna isn't a moon deity — that belongs to a separate, unrelated Sumerian god of the same name; the 'joy' gloss also isn't supported, since Norse Nanna is chiefly known for dying of grief over Baldr's death.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Nanna

Popularity of Nanna

Nanna peaked at #997 in 1882, with 5 babies given the name that year. By 1994, the last year in the Social Security data, it had slipped to #15005, again with a count of 5.

Names Like Nanna

These names have followed a similar path to Nanna in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Vina
• Retta
• Rennie
• Rella
• Pricilla
• Pearla

FAQ

What does the name Nanna mean?

Likely from a root meaning ‘brave, daring’ (possibly instead an old word for ‘mother’); belongs to a Norse goddess, wife of the god Baldr, known for her devotion to him. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Nanna?

Nanna is pronounced NAHN-nah (IPA: /ˈnɑːnə/).

Is Nanna a popular name right now?

Nanna peaked at #997 in 1882 and is ranked #15005 as of 1994. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1882–1994.)

Make Nanna Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Nanna, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.