Helga
Helga comes from the Old Norse "heilagr," meaning holy, sacred, or blessed. The masculine form is Helge. The name was common in Viking-age Scandinavia and was brought to the British Isles by Norse settlers. It is the Norse equivalent of the Slavic Olga and the English "holy." Helga has never been widely popular in the English-speaking world. The most visible bearer is Helga (the Norse name of many Viking women). In modern popular culture, Helga is associated with the Arnold's stalker Helga Pataki from the Nickelodeon cartoon "Hey Arnold!" (1996-2004), which gave the name a slightly comic charge. I find Helga has a strong, slightly heavy sound — the "H" opening is gentle, but the "lg" cluster in the middle gives it a Germanic density. The "a" ending softens it. The name has been outside the US top 1000 since 1972 and is unlikely to return soon, but it has a powerful etymology and a strong Northern-European identity. Helga is a female name of Old Norse origin that means "Holy, blessed". Strong, Norse, and a little heavy. The name sounds serious. Helgas tend to be formidable. US outside top 1000 since 1972. Well-known people named Helga include Helga (Norse name), Helga Pataki (fictional, Hey Arnold), Helga (Viking women), Helga (Norse name). Common variations and related forms of Helga include Olga (Slavic equivalent), Helge (male form), Helgi (Old Norse), Hege (modern Norwegian).