“Names have power,” said author Rick Riordan – and it seems as if he was absolutely correct.

Just last year, it was revealed that some monikers spell guaranteed business success for their owners – and we have seen a surge in baby names inspired by literature, famous icons, and pop culture.

Now, more than ever, parents and pet owners alike are searching for a strong, personable, and empowering name to bestow upon their little bundle of joy.

However, with so many striving for uniqueness, things can get a little more complicated; how can we find a stand-out name for our son or daughter (or cat, dog, fish, lizard, snake, or budgie) the same as everyone else?

Read more: 70 baby names inspired by feminist icons

By looking further afield for inspiration, that’s how.

Say to Denmark, maybe?

We’ve long been entranced by the Danish way of life here at Stylist; from their emphasis on hygge, to their strict rules about finishing work on time, it’s unsurprising that the Scandinavian country is famed for having a seriously high quality of life.

And let’s not forget the fact that, for the Danish, your “family” – aka your closest loved ones – always come first. They have strong support networks, insist upon eating together every evening, and cherish the concept of “togetherness” above all else.

All of which makes Denmark the perfect place to source baby name inspiration from, in our opinion.

Read more: The top 20 French baby names

A new study has been released into the most endearing Danish baby names of 2016 – and they certainly offer a Scandi-chic twist to the names trending here in the UK at the moment.

Think trendy and minimalist monikers (very reflective of the Nordic culture), with lilting and soulful vowel-heavy sounds.

Sofia and William topped the list for Danish baby girl and boy names respectively, followed by the likes of Freja, Ella, Noah, and Lucas.

You can find the full list – including all of the name meanings – below:

1. Sofia
Meaning “wisdom”

2. Freja
Meaning “lady”

3. Ella
Meaning “queen of the fairies”

4. Alma
Meaning “nurturing, soul”

5. Anna
Meaning “grace”

6. Emma
Meaning “universal”

7. Laura
Meaning “honour and victory”

8. Clara
Meaning “bright and clear”

9. Ida
Meaning “hard worker”

10. Isabelle
Meaning “devoted to God”

11. Karla
Meaning “womanly strength”

12. Maja
Meaning “of the palm tree”

13. Victoria
Meaning “victorious”

14. Alberte
Meaning “noble, bright”

15. Josefine
Meaning “may Jehovah add”

16. Sofie
Meaning “wisdom”

17. Agnes
Meaning “pure and holy”

18. Liva
Meaning “white”

19. Olivia
Meaning “symbol of peace”

20. Caroline
Meaning “strong”

1. William
Meaning “resolute protector”

2. Noah
Meaning “rest, comfort”

3. Lucas
Meaning “bright, shining”

4. Emil
Meaning “excellent”

5. Oliver
Meaning “of the olive tree”

6. Oscar
Meaning “divine spear”

7. Victor
Meaning “victorious”

8. Malthe
Meaning “powerful warrior”

9. Alfred
Meaning “elfin counsellor”

10. Carl
Meaning “strong man”

11. Frederik
Meaning “peaceful ruler”

12. Elias
Meaning “Yahweh is my God”

13. Magnus
Meaning “great one”

14. Valdemar
Meaning “renowned ruler”

15. Villads
Meaning “ready for battle”

16. Alexander
Meaning “defender of men”

17. Christian
Meaning “carrier of the cross”

18. August
Meaning “majestic dignity”

19. Johan
Meaning “God is gracious”

20. Felix
Meaning “the lucky one”

It’s safe to say that it’s an eclectic mix.

Read more: How we could all learn something from Denmark’s approach to their loved ones

Of course, if you’d prefer to choose a name based on its badass meaning, we suggest browsing through our list of baby names inspired by feminist icons.

From Virginia [Woolf] to Benedict [Cumberbatch], vintage nicknames to modern monikers, there is a vast plethora of intriguing names which can be adapted to suit babies of any gender.

Or, if you’re in the market for a cool pet name, why not check out the most popular dog and cat names of 2016?

Images: Colin Maynard