Astrid

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Astrid

Gender: Feminine
Language: Swedish, Norwegian, Norse
Etymology:
Astrid is the modern form of Asrithr, a Scandinavian name meaning “God Beauty” from “ass” (god) and “frith” (fair).

Alternatively, the Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names (1977, 3rd. ed.) says it is analogous to an Old Germanic name Ansitruda, meaning “God Strength.”

History:
Astrid was royal name in Scandinavia during the early middle ages. It was the name of the mother of King Olaf Trygvesøn and also belonged to the wife of St. Olaf.

Though it never quite died out, Astrid was strongly revived in Scandinavia at the very end of the 19th century.

Astrid was popularized by Princess Astrid Bernadotte (born 1905), a daughter of Prince Carl of Sweden, who married King Leopold III of Belgium in 1926, was killed in a car accident in 1935.

It was very popular in Scandinavia in the early part of the 20th century, and still remains in use today.

Pronunciation: ah-strid.

Diminutives:
Swedish: Asta, Astri, Sassa.

Alternates: Astra, Astrithr.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002)
Swedish author.

Royalty:
Astrid Sophie Bernadotte (1905-1935)
A queen of Belgium.
Princess Astrid Glücksburg (1932-)
A daughter of King Olaf V of Norway.
Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este (1962-)
A daughter of King Albert II of Belgium.

Singers and Entertainers:
Astrid Varney (1918-)
Swedish-American opera singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.004 % named Astrid

Popularity of Astrid:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1904: N/A
1905: 926th most popular.
1906: N/A
1907: 725th most popular.
1908: 848th most popular.
1909: 960th most popular.
1910: N/A
1911: 958th most popular.
1912: 794th most popular.
1913: 809th most popular.
1914: 829th most popular.
1915: 791st most popular.
1916: 928th most popular.
1917-1990: N/A
1991: 968th most popular.
1992-1993: N/A
1994: 920th most popular.
1995: 741st most popular.
1996: 785th most popular.
1997: 891st most popular.
1998: 988th most popular.
1999: 947th most popular.
2000: N/A
2001: 989th most popular.
2002: 991st most popular.
2003: N/A
2004: 935th most popular.

In Norway...
1890-1899: 13th most popular.
1900-1909: 2nd most popular.
1910-1919: 5th most popular.
1920-1929: 8th most popular.
1930-1939: 5th most popular.
1940-1949: 13th most popular.
1950-1959: 16th most popular.
1960-1969: 42nd most popular.

1995: 76th most popular.
1996: 81st most popular.
1997: 65th most popular.
1998: 62nd most popular.
1999: 91st most popular.
2000: 82nd most popular.
2001: 62nd most popular.
2002: 96th most popular.
2003: 78th most popular.
2004: 82nd most popular.
2005: 77th most popular.

In Sweden...
1998: 93rd most popular.
1999: 95th most popular.
2000: 81st most popular.
2001: 89th most popular.
2002: 81st most popular.
2003: 76th most popular.
2004: 73rd most popular.
2005: 68th most popular.

In Denmark...
1996: 46th most popular.
1997: 47th most popular.
1998: 43rd most popular.
1999: 45th most popular.
2000: 46th most popular.
2001: 46th most popular.
2002: 36th most popular.
2003: 41st most popular.
2004: 73rd most popular.
2005: 68th most popular.

In France...
1900-1960: N/A
1962: 181st most popular.
1970: 148th most popular.
1980: 177th most popular.
1990: 187th most popular.
1992: 181st most popular.
2000: N/A

Selected Sources:
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is

Meilleurs Prenoms (www.meilleursprenoms.com/) for French stats.
Statistics Sweden (www.scb.se) for Swedish stats.
Statistics Norway (http://www.ssb.no) - for Norwegian stats.
Danmarks Statstik (www.dst.dk) - for Danish stats.
Svenska Namn (http://www.svenskanamn.se) - It’s in Swedish.
Statistics Norway (www.ssb.no) - In English and Norwegian.