Find out how popular the first name Lige has been for the last 33 years (from 1974 to 2006) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Lige by gender

Based on the last 33 years of data, Lige is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2006, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Lige.

The history of the first name Lige

The given name Lige has its origins in Old Norse and Old Germanic languages, tracing back to the early medieval period around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *līką, which means "body" or "form." This root word is also found in related words like the Old English līc and the Old Norse lík, both meaning "body" or "corpse."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lige can be found in the Old Norse Prose Edda, a collection of ancient Norse mythology and legends compiled in the 13th century by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson. In this text, Lige appears as a minor character, a giant or jötunn, mentioned in the context of various mythological stories.

During the Viking Age, from the late 8th to the late 11th century, the name Lige was also used among Scandinavian and Germanic peoples. It is believed to have been a relatively uncommon name, primarily used in Iceland, Norway, and parts of what is now Sweden and Denmark.

One notable historical figure who bore the name Lige was Lige Skjalge, a Norwegian chieftain and legendary hero who lived in the late 10th century. He is mentioned in several Norse sagas, including the Heimskringla, where he is depicted as a brave warrior and loyal supporter of King Olaf Tryggvason.

In the 12th century, a Danish nobleman named Lige Eriksen is recorded as having participated in the Crusades and fought alongside King Valdemar I of Denmark during the Baltic Crusades against the pagan Wends.

Another historical figure with the name Lige was Lige Magnusson, an Icelandic chieftain and lawspeaker who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He is mentioned in the Sturlunga saga, a collection of Icelandic sagas that chronicle the events and conflicts of the Sturlung era in Iceland.

During the Middle Ages, the name Lige also found its way into various Germanic languages and dialects, including Old English, Old Saxon, and Old Dutch. However, it remained relatively obscure and was primarily confined to Scandinavian and Norse-influenced regions.

While the name Lige has its roots in ancient Norse and Germanic cultures, it has largely fallen out of use in modern times, with few recorded instances of individuals bearing this name in recent centuries. Nonetheless, it remains an interesting part of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Norse and Germanic peoples.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Lige was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lige, please contact us.

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