Oslo’s eight new boroughs have received their official names after the City Council (bystyret) approved the list on Wednesday, 21 October. The vote settles the naming question ahead of a reform reducing the Norwegian capital’s 15 boroughs to eight on 1 January 2028.
The decision confirms a proposal presented on 24 September. Residents will see the names at the September 2027 local elections, when representatives to the new borough committees are chosen, Oslo municipality said.
Names of Oslo’s eight new boroughs
- Vestre Aker
- Gamle Aker
- Gamle Oslo
- Frysja
- Hovin
- Øvre Groruddalen
- Østensjø
- Nordstrand
Some existing names have been retained, while other areas will be given names rooted in Oslo’s history. As NordiskPost previously reported, Frogner will lose its administrative borough name when it becomes part of Gamle Aker. The neighbourhood itself will still be known as Frogner.
Alternative names were rejected
The decision followed political disagreement. According to NRK, the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) proposed Søndre Aker instead of Østensjø and Ljabru instead of Nordstrand. The Greens and Red Party supported identifying the boroughs by numbers alone. The Progress Party wanted Nordre Aker in place of Frysja and Østre Aker instead of Øvre Groruddalen.
The earlier consultation received 2,336 submissions from residents and local organisations. Health commissioner Oluf Ulseth, of the Conservative Party, expressed hope that the names would help unite residents of the enlarged boroughs.
The wider reform still faces a review
The borough restructuring, previously covered by NordiskPost, was approved on 17 June. Norway’s State Administrator (Statsforvalteren) will examine its legality following a challenge from the Red Party over the redistribution of funds between boroughs, NRK reported. The review concerns the June reform, not Wednesday’s separate naming vote.
