The baby name Astrid combines Scandi cool with a long history of use and an offbeat, strong sound.
Thanks to Allison for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
DIVINE BEAUTY
Astrid evolved from the Old Norse Ástrídr. The first element means god; the second, beauty, so the meaning of Astrid is often given as “divine beauty.”
Variant spellings over the years include Æstriðr, Ástríðr, Estrid, Estrith and Astrith.
ROYAL NAME
The name appears on royal family trees from the Middle Ages through the twentieth century.
- The tenth century Astrid of the Obotrites, Queen consort of Olof Skötkonung, King of Sweden.
- Astrid Svendsdatter was a Danish princess from the same era. Her son went on to become King Sweyn II of Denmark. She later married Robert, Duke of Normandy – making her stepmom to William the Conqueror.
- Astrid of Sweden, born in 1905, became Queen of Belgium when she married monarch Leopold III. She was wildly popular, and her tragic death in a car accident at a young age added to her mystique.
- Princess Astrid of Belgium was Queen Astrid’s granddaughter. Born in 1962, she’s now the Archduchess of Austria-Este.
- Princess Astrid of Norway, born in 1932, spent more than a decade serving as official hostess for her father, the King, after her mother’s passing. This royal married a commoner, and was better known as Mrs. Ferner.
FAMOUS ASTRIDS
Thanks in part to the high-profile royals, the baby name Astrid has traveled the world.
You might have heard of:
- Venezuelan telenovela actress Astrid Carolina Herrera Irrazábal.
- Barcelona-born actress Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey played a mermaid in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, though she’s spent most of her career in Europe.
- Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto. Even if you don’t recognize her name, chances are that you’ve heard her sing – she’s the haunting voice in “The Girl from Ipanema.”
- Astrid Kirchherr met Stuart Sutcliffe back when the Beatles were an undiscovered bar band playing Hamburg. Her photographs of them remain favorites.
- Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren penned the Pippi Longstocking series. Pippi is the fiercely independent, improbably strong and surprisingly sensible daughter of a sea captain, best known for her red braids. (She claims that Pippi is a nickname for Pippilotta.)
BY the NUMBERS
The baby name Astrid remains a staple in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden – a classic heritage choice.
But it’s also been popular in France, sometimes spelled Astride. In recent years, Franco-Belgian detective television series Astrid et Raphaëlle might deserve credit for the name’s appeal.
The real story is the rise of Astrid in the US.
It’s long been used in small numbers, and Astrid first charts in the US Top 1000 in 1905.
But Astrid really started to trend in the 1990s, returning to the US Top 1000 in 1995 and 1996, before leaving again.
The name returned from 2004 to 2005.
Since 2013, the baby name Astrid has marched up the popularity charts, reaching an all-time high of #399 in 2023.
What explains the name’s discovery in the US?
Popular culture, of course.
ASTRID in INDIE MOVIES
One possibility for the 1990s spike? The Beatles’ early history was in the spotlight.
1994 indie film Backbeat included Astrid Kirchherr, played by Sheryl Lee. The actress had just dominated pop culture as Twin Peaks’ doomed Laura Palmer. So even if the movie wasn’t a box office smash, it might’ve gotten enough press to tip Astrid into the rankings – at least briefly.
The 2004-2005 bump in use might be down to an indie movie, too. Dark and distrubing coming-of-age film Thirteen included a character named Astrid. While it’s mostly forgotten now, it was a Sundance award winning and netted an Oscar nomination for Holly Hunter.
VIKING PRINCESS
Fast forward to 2008.
The American adaptation of The Office was a smash hit for NBC. Bumbling manager Michael Scott welcomed a baby with another character, Jan Levinson. Sort of. Michael asks his team to throw Jan a baby shower and tells them that the baby would be named Astird. (Not a typo. That’s what Michael announces his future daughter will be named.)
Michael also insists the name means “Viking princess.”
Not surprisingly, this doesn’t help the name.
But a very different Viking is about to change everything.
DRAGON RIDERS of BERK
British author Cressida Cowell published How to Train Your Dragon in 2003. Sequels followed, with a dozen books released, the final in 2015.
The books follow Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, an awkward boy growing up in the Viking village of Berk. He’s clever and capable, but not in the way Viking warriors are expected to be, and so he’s having a rough time when we first meet him.
But then he meets a dragon named Toothless and everything changes.
In the third book, Hiccup meets a ferocious swordfighter named Camicazi. She’s as brash and fearless as Hiccup is cautious and thoughtful, and the two become unlikely friends.
The book inspired a 2010 animated adaptation. Hiccup remains the main character, along with Toothless, the dragon he befriends. Camicazi is there, too. Only she’s been renamed Astrid.
There’s an immediate jump in the name’s use. And by 2013, the baby name Astrid returns to the US popularity charts at #981.
How to Train Your Dragon hasn’t slowed down since, and the name Astrid has soared, too.
Movie sequels followed in 2014 and 2019. Animated series Dragon: Riders of Berk and Dragons: Defenders of Berk debuted on Cartoon Network in 2012. Other animated series have followed.
Now a live action version of the original movie is in production, expected in 2025. Nico Parker, known for her role in The Last of Us, will co-star as Astrid.
SCANDI COOL with PLENTY of STRENGTH
Strong, brief, and nickname-proof, the baby name Astrid has become a mainstream favorite in the US.
Scandi parents choose nicknames like Asti and Sassa, but chances are an American Astrid won’t shorten her name.
Astrid appeals to parentsseeking something distinctive and interesting, feminine but frills-free, changing from misunderstood import to mainstream favorite.
Right now it remains an intriguing option for a daughter. Familiar, powerful, and yet fresh and different, too.
LOL, Photoquilty – one of the language blogs I follow just wrote a post wishing that we would all learn the International Phonetic Association’s universal alphabet. And I find myself muttering under my breath ALL the time about excessive use of apostrophes. It’s funny what we notice, isn’t it?
But I still haven’t found the right term for Astrid/Astird.
SophieGray, I didn’t realize she was a character in White Oleander. I’ll put it on my list of things to read. Or watch. Or hey, maybe both!
And Allison, I agree – the photographer Astrid was one of my earliest exposures to the name. (I’m sure I heard of Pippi’s author first.) And she did make the name forever cool to me.
Darn that Michael Scott!
When I was about 14 I was watching a Beatles documentary, and I was completely taken when I heard about Astrid Kirchherr, the hipster girl with a cool name. Even then, I thought the name had great potential and still do. I like it so much, the “ass” thing went completely unnoticed. I don’t know if that would be enough to deter me from using it, I’d probably have to ask a bunch of kids and adults what their first reaction is. I love what you said, Lola, that’s a lovely description of the name.
I’ve never actually met an Astrid, though I would love to. Like others, she is bright, airy and ‘tinkly’ (sp?) to me, though still very strong.
I have a really strong association with her as the protagonist in White Oleander; I’ve seen the movie (she’s played by Alison Lohman), but I think it was based on a book, which I haven’t yet read.
She is very, very seldom heard down hear in Australia, and I’d be charmed to meet a little one bearing the name!
Oh wow, I’m so excited someone else actually know what an eggcorn is! 😀
Oh Meg, I’m sorry! If it is any consolation, my husband veto’d Gareth after watching the UK version of The Office. (He’s the original Dwight. Don’t get me wrong, I love Dwight. I’m just not naming any future *children* Dwight!)
Photoquilty, you have sent me on a hunt to figure out what Astird actually is – it’s not a spoonerism, an eggcorn or a malapropism … anyone know?
JNE, you’re right – even without The Office, I can imagine some inventive tweeny bopper figuring out that nasty nickname. Now? It’s all over!
Smisar, I haven’t seen Fringe, but that is a FAR better association for poor Astrid.
And Lola, I do find Astrid light without being at all lightweight – a nice combination!
I love Astrid. Love it.
It would be my #1 choice for a girl except for the fact that my husband has been swayed away from it by the Micheal Scott’s Astird vs Astrid mix up. I’m very sad I won’t be able to use it now.
This name is also being heard in recent pop culture on the show Fringe. Astrid is the lab assistant for the FBI. A much better association, IMO, than the one from the Office.
Ass turd. Unfortunately, Michael Scott’s spoonerism (isn’t that what that’s called?) as left me unable to see this name without realigning the I and the R in my head. I didn’t love it before, but I also didn’t find it laughable. Now it’s a joke forevermore. Even if I don’t “turd” the ending, there’s still an “ass” in front. My husband has a lot of Scandinavian blood, but this name simply doesn’t make the cut. 🙁
I knew an Astrid in High School. She was an student teacher (meaning she was nearing graduation and close to getting her own teaching degree) and was a co-trainer with us in the Color Guard/Pom squad (we flipped between jr. & sr. years). She was a lovely woman, a bit quiet but sweet, polite and just overall nice. So much so that the name has always left me with that impression. An Astrid would be polite, kind, sweet and caring. Weird, no?
But yeah, I do like Astrid. My Swedish GF, Yvonne said if one of her boys had been a girl, she would have named her Astrid, after her mother. And that suprised me, I hadn’t known her lovely mother’s name (she was always Mrs Nork to me)! So there’s another lovely assocation I have.
It reminds me of starlight, bright & delicate. Astrid’s a lovely name with a somewhat unfortunate turn that could be made. I think if you’re the confident sort, it’s a name you could easily use on your daughter because it’s likely she’ll be confident like you. A shy one, having shyer girls, yeah, it might work better in the middle. It would lighten up almost anything it’s paired with! But then there’s those who are confident who have shy kids (or vice versa): the unexpected… Yeah maybe middle material for me. But Astrid definitely gets a :thumbsup: so pretty! 😀
For me, this is one of those names that will always be linked to a particular person. The association is not all bad, but it’s not an overly-positive one either. Trying to put that aside, the name has a great history. When I first heard it, it made me think of outer space (Astroid?) and stars, not royalty (I didn’t know its history when I met the Astrid I know, which was also my first encounter with the name). Beyond that, I’m not altogether in love with the sound; the -id ending is kind of abrupt in my ear. But the name is unique and interesting; it wouldn’t be so bad to meet another Astrid – change up my feelings for the name, perhaps?
But honestly, The Office’s fun at the name’s expense had me laughing until I cried. I’d have some concern that a clever 6th or 7th grader, might just be evil enough to torture an adolescent Astrid with that simple letter inversion. Not obvious enough to completely avoid using the name, but it would have to be a consideration.