What does Runa mean?
Runa comes from the Old Norse for “secret lore” or “rune.”
What does Solveig mean?
Solveig joins the Old Norse for “sun” and “strength” or “house.”
Runa vs Solveig
Which is more popular?
Runa is more popular than Solveig today: about 62 US babies were given the name Runa in 2025, compared with 17 named Solveig.
| Runa | Solveig | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Secret lore, rune | Sun's strength |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ROO-nah | SOL-vay |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 2000 | 1909 |
| Peak year | 2020 (70) | 2021 (33) |
| In 2025 | 62 | 17 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Runa
Solveig
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Runa | Solveig |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 372 | 150 |
| 2010s | 208 | 178 |
| 2000s | 44 | 120 |
| 1990s | 0 | 65 |
| 1980s | 0 | 23 |
| 1970s | 0 | 47 |
| 1960s | 0 | 48 |
| 1950s | 0 | 25 |
| 1940s | 0 | 65 |
| 1930s | 0 | 112 |
| 1920s | 0 | 109 |
| 1910s | 0 | 110 |
| 1900s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Runa or Solveig more popular?
Runa is more popular than Solveig today: about 62 US babies were given the name Runa in 2025, compared with 17 named Solveig.
What is the difference between Runa and Solveig?
Runa means Secret lore, rune (Norse origin), while Solveig means Sun's strength (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Runa or Solveig?
In US records, Runa first appears in 2000 and Solveig in 1909, so Solveig has the longer recorded history.