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