Find out how popular the first name Swede has been for the last 1 years (from 2022 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Swede by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Swede is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Swede.

The history of the first name Swede

The name Swede has its origins in the Old Norse language, spoken by the Scandinavian peoples during the Viking Age, approximately between the 8th and 11th centuries AD. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse word "Svía," which referred to the people who inhabited the region known today as Sweden. This name was likely used to distinguish individuals of Swedish descent or those who had ties to the Swedish kingdom.

Historically, the name Swede was closely associated with the Vikings, a seafaring Norse people known for their exploration, trading, and raiding activities across Europe and beyond. During this period, individuals bearing the name Swede may have been warriors, merchants, or explorers who ventured out from their Scandinavian homelands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Swede can be found in the Old Norse sagas, which were literary works that recounted the tales and legends of the Viking Age. These sagas often featured characters with names that reflected their cultural and geographic origins.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Swede. One such individual was Swede Momsen (1858-1935), an American submarine pioneer and naval officer who made significant contributions to the development of early submersible technology. Another was Swede Risberg (1894-1975), an American baseball player who was part of the infamous "Black Sox Scandal" in 1919.

In the realm of entertainment, Swede Savage (1916-1973) was an American actor known for his roles in Western films during the mid-20th century. Swede Carlson (1906-1999) was a Swedish-American actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career.

Swede Olmstead (1901-1983) was an American football player and coach who played for the Canton Bulldogs in the early years of the National Football League. He later went on to coach at various collegiate and professional levels, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.

It is worth noting that while the name Swede has its roots in the Viking Age and Scandinavian culture, it has been adopted and used across various regions and cultures over time, transcending its original geographic and ethnic associations.

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 Swede was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!