Holding steady.
Popularity of Inger since 1888
Babies named Inger per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 10 |
| 1890s | 47 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 66 |
| 1920s | 53 |
| 1930s | 30 |
| 1940s | 23 |
| 1950s | 106 |
| 1960s | 627 |
| 1970s | 342 |
| 1980s | 58 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Inger is a Scandinavian given name with roots in Old Norse mythology, combining the god Yngvi (also known as Freyr) with the element fríðr for a meaning of 'beautiful' or 'protection.' It saw its peak American popularity in 1966, ranking 720 that year, but it has since become infrequent, never ranking in the top 1000 in recent decades. The name has been in consistent use since at least 1888, the earliest recorded year in the U.S. data. Its trajectory is stable but low, with no revival in the 1960s decade. Primarily used in Nordic countries, Inger remains a distinctive choice, often associated with a modest but enduring presence in naming history.
Inger is a feminine given name of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name Ingiríðr, composed of the elements Ing (referring to the Norse god Yngvi) and fríðr 'beautiful, beloved'. It is a common name in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In modern usage, it may also be a short form of Ingeborg.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Inge
Sibling names for Inger
Names that share Inger's style, for a brother or sister.
