UK girl's name
Solveig
A feminine Scandinavian name meaning "the wife of the sun".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Solveig is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Solveig popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Solveig. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Solveig ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Solveig.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Solveig as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Solveig mean?
Solveig is a Norwegian feminine given name derived from the Old Norse words "sól" meaning "sun" and "veig" meaning "strength" or "power." The name gained popularity in Norway and other Scandinavian countries during the Viking Age, around the 8th to 11th centuries.
The earliest recorded use of the name Solveig can be traced back to the Icelandic sagas, which were written in the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the most famous references to the name is in the play "Peer Gynt" by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, where the character Solveig represents the ideal of pure and unwavering love.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Solveig. One of the earliest was Solveig Unbundinsdóttir (c. 950-1020), an Icelandic chieftain's wife and a prominent figure in the Icelandic sagas. Another notable Solveig was Solveig Gunbjørnsdotter Rustenbjørg (c. 1440-1505), a Norwegian noblewoman and landowner.
In more recent times, Solveig Paulson (1906-1995) was a Norwegian-American actress and dancer who appeared in several Hollywood films during the 1930s and 1940s. Solveig Certo (1915-2004) was a Swedish sculptor and ceramist known for her public art installations in Sweden and the United States.
Solveig Gunbjørnsdotter Rustenbjørg (c. 1440-1505), a powerful Norwegian noblewoman, is considered one of the wealthiest and most influential women of her time in Norway. She inherited vast landholdings and played a crucial role in the management of her family's estates and business interests.
The name Solveig has endured as a popular choice in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Norway, where it continues to be associated with strength, resilience, and the beauty of the sun. Its historical roots and literary references have contributed to its lasting appeal and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Solveig over time
The chart below shows babies named Solveig registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Solveig, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Solveig by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Solveig was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5581 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5742 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #5545 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Solveig
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Solveig: questions and answers
How popular is the name Solveig in the UK right now?
In 2021, Solveig was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Solveig most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Solveig in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Solveig?
A feminine Scandinavian name meaning "the wife of the sun".
How many people are called Solveig in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Solveig across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.