Asta

Asta is a Scandinavian feminine name derived from Old Norse Ásta, itself a short form of Ástríðr, composed of the elements áss, meaning god, and fríðr, meaning beautiful or beloved. The name has been in continuous use across the Nordic countries and remains a traditional choice in Iceland, where the accented form Ásta is standard. It gained wider recognition through the Danish-American silent film actress Asta Nielsen, one of the earliest international cinema stars. Related forms include Åsta in Norwegian and the full ancestral name Astrid.