Fjord
A Scandinavian name meaning a long, narrow inlet of the sea.
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Fjord. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Fjord today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fjord births was 2020 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fjord. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Fjord. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
2020
9 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2021 SSA rank
#11,200
Tracked since 2020
Popularity
Fjord: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Fjord by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Fjord during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 15 | 0 | 15 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Fjord
Fjord is a name that originates from the Norwegian language and is derived from the Old Norse word "fjǫrðr," which means "inlet" or "waterway." The name's origins can be traced back to the Viking era, when Norse seafarers navigated the intricate fjords along the Scandinavian coastline.
The first recorded use of the name Fjord can be found in ancient Norse sagas and chronicles, where it was often used as a descriptive term to identify geographical features. Over time, it became a popular name among coastal communities in Norway, reflecting their close connection to the sea and the majestic fjords that dotted the landscape.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Fjord was Fjord Haraldsson, a Norwegian chieftain who lived in the 9th century. He was renowned for his seafaring prowess and his ability to navigate the treacherous fjords along the western coast of Norway.
In the 11th century, a famous Viking explorer named Fjord Eriksson embarked on a legendary voyage to Greenland and is believed to have been the first European to set foot on the North American continent. His daring exploits and the tales of his voyages through uncharted fjords have been celebrated in numerous sagas and historical accounts.
During the medieval period, the name Fjord gained popularity among the nobility and ruling classes in Scandinavia. One notable figure was Fjord Magnusson, a Norwegian earl who lived in the 13th century and played a pivotal role in the consolidation of royal power under the reign of King Haakon IV.
In the 16th century, Fjord Thorvaldsen, a renowned Norwegian sculptor, was born and went on to become one of the most celebrated artists of the Neoclassical period. His works, often depicting Norse mythology and legends, can be found in museums and public spaces throughout Europe.
Another notable bearer of the name was Fjord Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer who led the first successful expedition to the South Pole in 1911. His remarkable achievement and his ability to navigate through treacherous polar fjords cemented his place in the annals of exploration history.
Throughout the centuries, the name Fjord has maintained its strong connection to the coastal regions of Norway and the rugged beauty of the Norwegian fjords. While its popularity may have waxed and waned over time, it remains a proud testament to the enduring legacy of the Vikings and the maritime heritage of the Norwegian people.
People
Fjord + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fjord as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Fjord: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fjord?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fjord going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Fjord a common name?
We classify Fjord as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fjord most popular?
The single biggest year for Fjord was 2020, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fjord is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Fjord in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Fjord a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fjord in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Fjord still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Fjord in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Fjord can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Fjord?
See how many Americans are named Fjord on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.