The baby name Swain feels like an old school romantic choice and a very modern one, too.
Thanks to Rochelle for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE NAME SWAIN?
There are two general origins for the baby name Swain … which are actually just different branches of a single meaning and origin.
The Old Norse name Sveinn means boy. It became Sven, and despite that humble meaning, has been worn by kings of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
There’s also Sweyn, a medieval English name that brings to mind Sweyn Forkbeard. He ruled Denmark, and briefly reigned in England in the year 1013, too.
Sweyn comes from Sveinn.
So does a Middle English term: swein. It meant servant. In some cases, it specifically referred to a knight’s attendant.
But most of the time, a swain would’ve been more of a peasant. Possibly a swineherd, tending pigs. Or maybe just a country laborer.
By the 16th century, pastoral poetry used “swain” as the equivalent of “suitor.” There’s a romantic edge to the name. It’s sometimes used as an archaic equivalent of sweetheart or even boyfriend today.
SWAIN IN THE HISTORY BOOKS
So was anybody actually named Swain?
The multiple spellings make it a bit tricky to parse out, but the answer is yes.
- Sweyn Forkbeard ruled Denmark, and, briefly, England.
- His grandson, Sweyn II, ruled Denmark from the 1040s into the 1060s.
- And his son became known as Sweyn the Crusader, who lost his life in a battle en route to Jerusalem in 1097.
- Sweyn Godwinson was the firstborn son of Earl of Wessex. In 1066, his younger brother Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, defeated by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He might be the most familiar at the moment, thanks to historical drama King & Conqueror, released by BBC and Amazon Prime in late 2025.
The name continues in use. In the Old Norse History of the Earls of Orkney, Sweyn the Viking is a major figure.
But in recent centuries, Sven became the dominant form of the name across Scandinavia.
SWAIN AS A SURNAME
Swain is most familiar as a surname in the US, worn by actors and athletes, along with plenty of other notables.
But there’s no single Swain that dominates the image.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME SWAIN?
The baby name Swain has charted in the US popularity data just a handful of times. It debuted in 1916, with five births. The name’s most recent appearance was in 1987, with ten children receiving the name.
Other spellings include Swayne and Swein, both used in even tinier numbers.
Despite the popularity of names like Wayne, Kane, Lane, Zane, and Shane, Swain remains virtually unheard as a given name.
RARE BUT WEARABLE
If you love surname-style names, or want something that honors Norse roots without being as obvious as Bjorn, the baby name Swain could be the perfect, intriguing rarity to consider.
It’s a handsome, underused choice for a son.
What do you think of the name Swain?
