Sunniva is a Norwegian feminine given name derived from the Old English name Sunngifu, meaning "sun gift" from the Old English elements sunne "sun" and giefu "gift". The name is primarily used in Norway and is associated with a legendary saint from the 10th century. According to the legend, Saint Sunniva was an Irish or English princess who fled her homeland to avoid a forced marriage and was shipwrecked on the Norwegian island of Selja. She and her companions were killed by local inhabitants, and her story was later recorded in the Latin hagiography Acta sanctorum in Selio (after 1170), which was used by the Icelandic monk Oddr Snorrason in his saga of King Olaf Tryggvason.Etymology and VariantsThe name is a Scandinavian adaptation of the Anglo-Saxon Sunngifu (composed of sunne "sun" and giefu "gift"). Cognate forms include Icelandic Sunneva and Sunna, Medieval Scandinavian Sunnifa, Swedish Synnöve, and the Norwegian variant Synnøve. The Norwegian diminutive Synne is also used as a standalone given name.Historical and Cultural SignificanceSunniva is venerated as the patron saint of the Diocese of Bjørgvin (Bergen) and all of Western Norway, often alongside her brother Alban, whom tradition identifies with the British martyr Saint Alban. Her legend, enshrined in the Seljumanns Saga or Albani þáttr ok Sunnifu, contributed to the Christianization of Norway and made the island of Selja a pilgrimage site. Today, the name remains popular in Norway, though less common internationally.Notable BearersNotable namesakes include the legendary saint herself and various contemporary Norwegian women, but none as internationally prominent.Meaning: "sun gift"Origin: Old English SunngifuType: First name (feminine)Usage Regions: Norway