Ingrid is a feminine given name of Scandinavian origin. It is derived from the Old Norse elements "ing" meaning "girl" or "maiden," and "fríðr" meaning "beautiful." Thus, Ingrid can be translated as "beautiful girl" or "fair maid."
The name gained popularity during the Viking Age due to its widespread use among Scandinavian peoples. However, it was not until the 19th century that Ingrid became widely known outside of Scandinavia. This was largely thanks to the works of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, who used the name in his play "The Vikings at Helgeland."
Ingrid has since been adopted by many cultures around the world and is now considered a universal name. Despite its Scandinavian origins, it does not have any specific regional variations or spellings.
Some notable people with the name Ingrid include German-born American actress Ingrid Bergman, Swedish explorer and author Ingrid Betancourt, and Australian musician Ingridavia. These individuals have helped to further popularize and perpetuate the name Ingrid in various fields of endeavor.
The name Ingrid experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. It started with a consistent average of around six births per year from 1897 to 1906. There was a substantial increase beginning in 1912, peaking at 564 births in 2008. However, since then, its popularity has decreased significantly, with only 211 births recorded in 2023. Overall, Ingrid has been chosen for 27,304 babies over these years.