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Runa

Girl name · 15 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Runa: 15 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2025.

Of Scandinavian origin, Runa comes from the Old Norse *rún*, meaning “secret” or “rune,” drawing on the mystical Germanic alphabet used for divination. It is the feminine form of Rune, and in Norse mythology, the name appears as a variant of Rún, a goddess associated with secret wisdom. Famous bearers include Runa Fairbridge, a British-born Australian actress known for her stage and television work, and Runa Islam, a contemporary artist whose films explore perception and reality. Though no major places are named after the name itself, Runa shares its root with the Scottish and Irish word *rún* (secret), and the name has seen modest but steady use in modern Scotland. An interesting variant is the Japanese Runa, written with characters meaning “moon” or “moon child,” offering a very different cultural resonance.