Strong and fierce, bright and confident, Sunniva is the refined edge of a sword, its prowess and omnipotence towering over many of my favorite Scandinavian names... it's just positively breathtaking. My imagined bearer of the name is tall and skinny, with long, dusty-blonde hair, diamond-blue eyes, and a soft but assertive voice, who enjoys archery and Norse mythology. But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Sunniva is one of the most awesome and imposing names I have ever come across, and I hope that it will be revered as such for generations.
Sunniva Sorby is an expeditioner, historian, guide and Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. She is best known for her membership of the first women’s team to reach the south pole in 1993.
I don't know how it's pronounced, but as I found it in the Anglo-Saxon roots alongside Godiva, I'd pronounce it sun-EYE-vah, since it has the same spelling, root, and function.
Sunniva Ørstavik is a Norwegian civil servant. She is a sociologist by education, and was secretary-general of the Norwegian Council for Mental Health from 2005 to 2010 and the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud from 2010 to 2016.
I love this name, and have so off and on. My SO likes Eva, so this could always be an option. Too bad I'm way too young to have kids, because I'd consider this!
This is a lovely name. I named my second daughter Sunniva. We live in the US, and pronounce it Sun-EE-va. I love that we can use the nicknames Sun, Eva, Eve, Neva, or Neve. It reminds me of a warm person, but very dignified. It is perfect for our daughter!
― Anonymous User 6/25/2007
4
Sungifu was a princess in Ireland, and she ran away from her father, the king, that wanted to marry her to a man that she didn't love. She floated on her boat with some of her servants to the little island on the west coast of Norway, Selje, and there she lived. There is a monastery there now, named after her.
Source: https://www.name-doctor.com/meaning/sunneva
https://anglisc.miraheze.org/wiki/Anglish_Given_Names (See Anglo-Saxon Names category)