The Poetic Edda and Prose Edda are a compilation of poetry and prose written in Medieval Icelandic, many of its stories are taken from much older sources going all the way back to the beginning of the Viking age.

The origin of the name is debated, it has been suggested to be from an Old Norse source meaning “great-grandmother” or that it is related to the Norse, óðr  (poetry). A most likely etymology is that is it a Norse corruption of the Latin, credo (creed).

The eddas are considered Iceland’s oldest piece of literature.

Currently, Edda is the 326th most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

The name is from a Russian diminutive form of Sophia. Among Russian-Jews, the name was often used as a Russian cognate for the Yiddish, Shayndel, though the two names are not etymologically related.

Sonia could also be from the Hindi word sona सोना  meaning “gold.”

In South Eastern Europe and Northern Europe, the name has been used as an independent given name since at least the turn of the 20th-century.

In the English-speaking world, the name was popularized by a 1917 eponymous novel by Stephen McKenna.

Currently, Sonja is the 297th most popular female name in Germany, (2011)

Other forms of the name include:

• Soňa (Czech/Slovak)
• Sonia (English/Italian/Portuguese/Romanian/Spanish)
• Sonya (English/Russian)
• Sonja Соња (Croatian/Dutch/Estonian/Finnish/German/Icelandic/Macedonia/Polish/Scandinavian/Serbian/Slovene)
• Sonje (German)
• Szonja (Hungarian)

The name is borne by Norwegian figure skater and actress, Sonja Henie (1916-1969).

The name is from the Turkish meaning “quick.”

It is currently the 292nd most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

The name is borne by Turkish actress, Ceyda Ateş (b.1987)

The name is a compound of Anne and Marie. Originally, the name was used by Catholic families, usually in honour of the Virgin Mary and her legendary mother St. Anne. Its usage spread to German-speaking countries and became especially common in Bavaria.

Currently, Annemarie is the 361st most popular female name in Germany, (2011). Its South Slavic form of Anamarija is currently the 48th most popular female name in Croatia (2010) and the 79th most popular in Slovenia, (2010).

• Anamarija Анамарија (Croatian/Macedonian)
• Annemarie (Dutch/English/French/German/Limburgish/Scandinavian)
• Amrei (Bavarian/Swiss-German)
• Annamirl (Bavarian)
• Annamaria (Italian)
• Anna Maria (Polish/Romansch)
• Ana María (Spanish)

The name was originally a short form of Regina, Georgina or Luigina, but has been used as an independent given name in Italy, Greece, the English and German-speaking world.

It has been borne by several actresses, including Gina Lollobrigida (b.1927) and Geena Davis (b.1956).

Currently, Gina is the 327th most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

A masculine form is Gino.

It could be from the name of a Greenlandic solar diety and according to legend, she is constantly fleeing from her brother Annigan (the moon god) due to an old disagreement. The reason behind their fight varies from legend to legend.

It could also be Scottish, a feminine form of Malcolm.

In Polish, it is from the word for raspberry and is occasionally used as a given name. It received a negative opinion from the Polish Language Council, but this has not banned the name from usage. It was the pseudonym of a few famous Polish women, one being Malina Michalska (b.1916 née Maria Michalska) a famous dancer and Polish-German actress, Malina Ebert (b.1976) née Monika. It is the word for raspberry in several other Slavic languages, such as Czech, Slovak and Bulgarian.

Mălina is Romanian name derived from the Romanian word mălin meaning bird cherry tree. The name was borne by Romanian singer, Mălina Olinescu (1974-2011).

In addition, the name could also be Scandinavian, an elaborated form of Malin.

Currently, Malina is the 272nd most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

The name comes directly from the Kurdish word for bird’s nest.

It is currently the 307th most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

The name is a feminine form of Inge or Ing, which is an Old Germanic name of uncertain meaning. It was the name of an ancient Germanic god of which very little is known.

In addition to Scandinavia, Inga has experienced prevalent usage in other countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands and Russia.

Currently, Inga is the 341st most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

Other forms of the name include:

• Inga Инга (Belarusian/Bosnian/Croatian/Dutch/Estonian/Faroese/Georgian/German/Icelandic/Latvian/Lithuanian/Polish/Russian/Scandinavian/Serbian/Slovene)
• Inge (Danish/Dutch)
• Inia (Danish)
• Inka (Finnish)
• Inken (Frisian)
• Iηgá (Sami)
• Ingara (Norwegian: archaic)

Inge is rarely ever used as a masculine form and is occasionally used as a female form in Scandinavia, pronounced (IN-ge).

Common male forms are Ingi and Ingo.

In Sweden, Inga’s designated name-day is October 25. In Norway it is December 17 and in the Swedo-Finnish calendar it is June 20.

Inga is also the name of a genus of tropical trees and shrubs.

The name was and is borne by Swedish stage actress and opera singer, Inga Åberg (1773-1837); Swedish actress Inga Tidblad (1901-1975); Swedish actress Inga Landgré (b.1927); American actress Inga Swenson (b. 1932); American femininist author Inga Muscio (b.1966); Russian Olympic Speed-Skater Inga Artamonova (1936-1966); Bosnian-Australian politician Inga  nee Dosen Peulich (b.1964); Australian anthropologist, author and historian Inga Clendinnen (b.1934) and Danish Opera Soprano Singer Inga Nielsen (1946-2008)

The name comes from an epithet for the goddess Artemis as she was believed to have been born on the island of Delos.

It has also been used as a contracted form of Cordelia.

In the English-speaking world, the name came into usage during the 18th-century.

Currently, it is the 276th most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

Other forms of the name include:

• Delia (Czech/English/German/Greek/Italian/Romanian/Slovak/Spanish)
• Délia (French/Hungarian/Portuguese)
• Délie (French)

The name comes directly from the Greek word for victory.

It was borne in Greek mythology by the goddess and personification of Victory, her Roman counterpart being Victoria. She was the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Cratos (Strength), Bia (Force) and Zelus (Zeal). She was believed to fly around battlefields on a chariot awarding glory and fame to victors.

Coincidentally, Nike can also be a Nigerian name meaning, “cherished.”

The name has experienced usage in modern Greece, Russia, Israel and Germany. In Germany, her popularity may be due to Nike Wagner (b.1945) the great-granddaughter of Richard Wagner.

It is currently the 323rd most popular female name in Germany, (2011).

The Russian and Belarusian form is Nika Ника.

It is also the name of the shoe company which was named for the Greek goddess.