Soren

Søren and Sören are Scandinavian and German masculine names which are derivative of an Old Roman family name “Severus” from the Latin meaning “stern”. The Severan Dynasty ruled the Roman Empire from 193-235 A.D. and let it be said, they were a “stern” and ruthless dynasty during a period of general disorder involving political upheaval, military challenges and general civil unrest. The name Severan wasn’t exactly popularized among the Germans and Scandinavians thanks to these lackluster Emperors, but rather that credit can probably go to a 5th century saint, Severinus of Noricum (c. 410-482), who parked himself along the shores of the Danube in the kingdom of Noricum (present day Austria). He must have impressed the Germanic/Scandinavian tribes who dwelled there at the time, especially after he benevolently gave comfort and aid to folks following the brutal invasions by Attila the Hun. Aside from this pious saint, there were no less than 30 saints who went by some form of this old Latin name. It certainly takes a certain amount of “sternness” in one’s religious belief system to successful lead a saintly life. In terms of Scandinavian usage, Søren is most famously borne by Danish philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855). Kierkegaard’s writings were cultural exposés dealing with the role of the individual when faced with choices against a backdrop of Christian ethics. His work paved the way to the philosophy of existentialism. Ironically, we can’t find the name Soren on any of the ranking charts today in Scandinavia, but it is (pretty lowly) ranked in Germany, France and the United States. In Sweden they consider Sören old-fashioned and old-manish by today’s naming standards.