jord

Jord is a proper noun used as a given name and a surname. In Scandinavian contexts, Jord is often derived from the Old Norse word jǫrð, meaning earth or ground, and it can symbolize steadiness or a connection to nature. The name is used as a standalone given name in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden and is also found as a surname in various cultures. In English-speaking countries, Jord is sometimes used as a shortened form of Jordan, though it remains much less common than Jordan.

Origin and related forms: Jǫrð is the historic form that underpins the modern word jord in Scandinavian languages, and it is cognate with the Norse goddess Jörð, the personification of the earth. The given name Jordan, from the river Jordan, has inspired a wide range of related names in many languages; Jord can be considered a variant or diminutive in some contexts.

Usage: The name Jord is relatively uncommon overall and tends to occur in families with Scandinavian or English-language ties. It is used across genders in some contexts, though it is more frequently masculine in Scandinavian usage. Notable bearers are limited and do not define the name’s general associations.

See also: Jordan; Jörð.