Norrene
Of Norse origin meaning "woman from Norway".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Norrene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Norrene today is around 91 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Norrene births was 1922 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Norrene. 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
- • The typical person named Norrene is about 91 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Norrenes were born before 1945.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Norrene. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1922
7 babies that year
Average age
91
years old
1948 SSA rank
#5,098
Tracked since 1922
Popularity
Norrene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Norrene from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Norrene remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Norrene 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 Norrene during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Norrene
The name Norrene is believed to have its origins in Old Norse, a North Germanic language spoken by the peoples of Scandinavia during the Viking Age, which lasted from the late 8th century to the late 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "norr," meaning "north," and is likely a feminine form of the name Norr or Norn.
One of the earliest documented mentions of the name Norrene can be found in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems compiled in the 13th century. In the poem "Völuspá," which tells the story of the creation of the world and its eventual destruction, the Norns, or Nornir, are described as the three beings who shape the destinies of gods and men.
The first recorded individual with the name Norrene was a Norwegian noblewoman who lived in the 12th century. Her full name was Norrene Sveinsdatter, and she was the daughter of Svein Eriksson, a powerful Norwegian earl and landowner. Norrene Sveinsdatter played a significant role in the political events of her time and was known for her intelligence and influence.
In the 14th century, there was a Swedish noblewoman named Norrene Magnusdotter, who was the daughter of Magnus Eriksson, the King of Sweden, Norway, and Scania. Norrene Magnusdotter was a prominent figure in the Swedish court and was known for her patronage of the arts and culture.
Another notable figure with the name Norrene was Norrene Bjørnsdotter, a Norwegian chieftain's daughter who lived in the late 10th century. She is mentioned in the Icelandic sagas as a fierce warrior and leader who played a crucial role in the Viking expansion into Greenland and North America.
In the 16th century, there was a Danish poet and writer named Norrene Tordsdatter, who was renowned for her lyrical and romantic works. Her poems were widely read and celebrated in the Danish court and beyond.
Finally, in the 19th century, there was a Norwegian painter named Norrene Nikolaisdatter, who was known for her stunning landscapes and seascapes. Her works were heavily influenced by the rugged beauty of the Norwegian fjords and coastline, and they captured the essence of the country's natural wonders.
People
Norrene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Norrene as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Norrene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Norrene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Norrene 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Norrene a common name?
We classify Norrene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 23 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Norrene most popular?
The single biggest year for Norrene was 1922, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Norrene is about 91 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 Norrene in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Norrene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Norrene in the SSA data are female. 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 Norrene still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Norrene 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 Norrene 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 people have Norrene as a first name?
You can see how many Americans are named Norrene on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.