When looking for inspiration to choose the baby’s name, anything goes. And although it sounds unlikely, the names of some Ikea products inspire many parents, especially those who love Scandinavian culture.
Names like Malm, Billy, TobÃas or Stig became some of the favorites of parents from the Nordic countries born after the nineties. Some of them are gender-neutral names, so they were adopted for both boys and girls.
This year, given the baby boom produced in Norway after the pandemic, the Ikea subsidiary in that country has launched a campaign to help future parents find the name for their offspring that will be born in the coming months. To do this, it has drawn up a catalog with more than 800 names that it has given to its furniture and products since 1948.
Where do the names of Ikea come from?
The naming formula used by the Swedish giant is very curious. The names are selected from a huge database, and their origin depends on the product category. For example:
- To designate tables, chairs or shelves, the firm uses child names such as Alex, TobÃas or Billy.
- For curtains and other textile objects, girls’ names such as Ofelia, Matilda, SofÃa or Ritva.
- For the beds, sofas or armchairs, he is inspired by names of places such as the Orje bed, a city near Oslo, or the Melby armchair.
- Names of Swedish lakes and rivers are used to designate bathroom items, such as the Bolmen stool, which is a lake located in the south of Sweden.
- For outdoor furniture, names of Scandinavian islands.
Ikea helps you get inspired
Ikea claims that a baby boom has occurred in Norway in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and that tens of thousands of new births are expected in 2022. This continues the trend of 2021, when more than three thousand more births were registered than the previous year.
For this reason, thanks to the fact that it has been looking for original names for more than 70 years, it has launched a campaign aimed at parents who are stuck or are looking for inspiration to find the name they will give their baby . “Here you will find more than 800 names for boys and girls. From the popular Ivar to rarer names like Moalie,” says the brand.
It is a strategy that seeks to enhance the image of the brand locally, and why not, also internationally, since many parents seek inspiration in the Nordic names for girls and boys for their strength and sound.
A catalog with more than 800 names
Within the framework of the campaign, Ikea Norway has created a specific website that can be accessed from any country in the world to consult the list of names in alphabetical order and with the description of each product and the year it was created.
For example, we find some names:
- With the letter A:
Abel – Sociable, loves night visits (1980)
Ada – The Ray of Light in the Room (1969)
Adam – Happy and Colorful (1968)
Adla – Extremely thirsty for coffee (1999)
Adrian – Stable and Keep the Others Up (1982)
Agne – Familiekjær (2007)
Agnes – Everything goes so much easier when Agnes is in the room (1957)
Agneta – Elegant and Comfortable (1965)
Aida – Nice and blushes easily (1958)
- With the letter B:
Balder – First Class Quality That Always Impresses (1953)
Bambi – Playful and Childish (1955)
Barry – Health in Brighter Times (1987)
Bea – Versatile and Nice (1998)
Beata – Who Doesn’t Like To Stress (2010)
Beatrice – Harmonious (1986)
Belinda – Down to earth and real (1993)
Bengt – A little bit of herself (1984)
Benita – Sometimes Appreciates a Little Praise (1999)
Benjamin – A Smart Supporter (1987)
- With the letter C:
Caesar – Keeps Others Up, Even When It’s Heavy (1990)
Camilla – Artistic and Colorful (1973)
Carin – Someone you want to enjoy all your life with (1952)
Carina – Always see people from their best side (1955)
Carl – I like to occupy a space in the room with those closest to me (1975)
Carlo – He has many talents and many facets (1958)
Carlos – Practical, both day and night (1980)
Carlton – Relaxing Personality That Gives You New Energy (1963)
Carmen – Ever Present (1963)
Cato – Helpful and Hardworking (1965)
- With the letter D:
Dafne : I need to rest after dinner (1960)
Dagmar : Creative and Colorful (1966)
Dagny – Always Meets You in the Middle (2012)
Dan – Simple, Faithful and Friendly (1961)
Dana – There’s Always Room for an Extra in Life (1970)
Daniel – Sneakerhead, has something for every occasion (1980)
Danielle – Has a Prosperous Future (1985)
Danilo – A bit exclusive, but very sociable (1975)
Daphne – Full and direct, fits in any room (1964)
Dave – Mistress Home Office (2007)
If you want to see more names with these letters and all the others , go to the catalog created by IKEA (you can choose to see it in Spanish thanks to Google Translator -in the top menu-).
Emma, Irene, Laila, Olivia, Paula, Amalia, Julia, Vera… are some of the girl names that we can find in their catalog and that we have also seen among the most popular and trending for newborns in Spain.
As for boy names, there are also favorites like Alex, Aron, Marco, Martin, Carlos, Daniel Hugo or Leo.
