Inger is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name Ingibiorg. It translates to 'ing' meaning 'belonging to' and 'geir' signifying 'spear'. Inger was popularized during the Viking Age and has since remained a beloved name in Nordic countries.
The name Inger appears to have been quite popular among parents in the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries, with a significant spike in popularity between 1957 and 1964. During this period, the number of annual births with the name Inger increased dramatically, peaking at 138 births in 1963 and reaching as high as 174 births in 1964. This trend continued until the late 1970s, after which the popularity of the name began to decline steadily. By the early 1980s, fewer than 20 Ingers were born each year, with only eight births recorded in 1981. Overall, there were a total of 1365 births with the name Inger between 1888 and 1986.