Randi

Meaning of Randi

Randi began life in the fjords as a contracted form of the Old Norse Ragnfríðr—regin “the gods’ counsel” paired with fríðr “beloved, fair.” Norwegian speakers still voice it as RAHN-dee, while American parents usually opt for the brisker RAN-dee. Crossing the Atlantic in the early-twentieth century, the spelling with an “i” distinguished the name from the nickname Randy and gave it a clearly feminine badge; by the 1950s it was enjoying a respectable mid-table run in U.S. birth charts before starting a long, gentle slide that statisticians keep recording with stoic accuracy. Today, Randi sits just outside the top 900—familiar enough to avoid puzzled looks, yet uncommon enough to feel individual. The blend of mythic roots and breezy modern sound lets the name straddle two worlds: it nods to Viking sagas on one side and to American pep on the other. Parents seeking a brief, spirited choice with quietly venerable pedigree may find Randi an under-appreciated contender.