Given name · also Old Norse
Astrid
“fair”·“beautiful”·“Divine strength”
Astrid combines a compact Scandinavian form with Old Norse elements for divinity and beauty. Its twentieth-century spread beyond Scandinavia was helped by a royal bearer: Astrid, Queen of the Belgians.
Original Old NorseÁstríðr
Meaning & origin
What it means
The element-based explanation joins “god” with “fair” or “beautiful.” “Divine strength” is another interpretation, but it does not directly match the meanings of these two Old Norse elements.
Where it comes from
Astrid belongs to Scandinavian naming traditions and is built from Old Norse elements. Asta is a recorded short form, while Sassa is an affectionate Swedish form.
How it developed
The name combines áss, “god,” with fríðr, “fair” or “beautiful.” This explains the divinity-and-beauty interpretation more directly than a free translation based on strength.
The story
Astrid became more familiar in English-speaking communities during the twentieth century. The prominence of Astrid, Queen of the Belgians, who lived from 1905 to 1935, was one influence on that wider use.
Astrid through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 14,153
- 8 boys · 14,145 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 822 babies
- 2025
- 818
- #376 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +56%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 818 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 376 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 55.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (103). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 13,752 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Astrid’s family of names
Astrid has a short form in Asta. In French usage, Astrid shares a linguistic root with the Walloon form ASTRIDE. In German usage, Astrid has a conventional equivalent in the Norwegian form Astri.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Astrid has relatives in 12 languages. Lines run from its Old Norse roots to each of them.
Old Norsewhere Astrid comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 20
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 15
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Astrid
- Astrid LindgrenSwedish writer of fiction and screenplays (1907–2002)
- Astrid of Swedenqueen consort of the Belgians (1905-1935)
- Princess Astrid, Mrs. FernerNorwegian Royal; elder sister of King Harald V of Norway (1932–2026)
- Princess Astrid of BelgiumBelgian and Austria-Este Imperial and Royalborn 1962
- Astrid SNorwegian singerborn 1996
- Astrid KirchherrGerman photographer and artist (1938-2020)
- Astrid KumbernussGerman shot and discus throwerborn 1970
- Astrid Uhrenholdt JacobsenNorwegian cross-country skierborn 1987
- Astrid CleveSwedish botanist, geologist, chemist (1875-1968)
Characters named Astrid: Astrid Peth (Doctor Who character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Astrid, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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—
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