What does Runa mean?
Runa comes from the Old Norse for “secret lore” or “rune.”
What does Signe mean?
Signe joins the Old Norse for “new” and “victory.”
Runa vs Signe
Which is more popular?
Runa is more popular than Signe today: about 62 US babies were given the name Runa in 2025, compared with 8 named Signe.
| Runa | Signe | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Secret lore, rune | New victory |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ROO-nah | SIG-nuh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 2000 | 1884 |
| Peak year | 2020 (70) | 1915 (67) |
| In 2025 | 62 | 8 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Runa
Signe
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Runa | Signe |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 372 | 93 |
| 2010s | 208 | 195 |
| 2000s | 44 | 186 |
| 1990s | 0 | 152 |
| 1980s | 0 | 110 |
| 1970s | 0 | 133 |
| 1960s | 0 | 189 |
| 1950s | 0 | 292 |
| 1940s | 0 | 283 |
| 1930s | 0 | 117 |
| 1920s | 0 | 269 |
| 1910s | 0 | 454 |
| 1900s | 0 | 254 |
| 1890s | 0 | 228 |
| 1880s | 0 | 48 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Runa or Signe more popular?
Runa is more popular than Signe today: about 62 US babies were given the name Runa in 2025, compared with 8 named Signe.
What is the difference between Runa and Signe?
Runa means Secret lore, rune (Norse origin), while Signe means New victory (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Runa or Signe?
In US records, Runa first appears in 2000 and Signe in 1884, so Signe has the longer recorded history.