Old Norse mythology is chock-full of warring gods and goddesses, and each of them has a uniquely Scandanavian name or title. Old Norse names harken back to ancient traditions, beliefs, and cultures, but where do they come from, and what do they mean?
Old Norse names vary widely depending on gender, ancestry, and parental preferences. Many incorporate runic symbols. Old Norse is a Scandanavian language that was spoken more than a thousand years ago. It influenced many modern Nordic languages, including Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian.
This article will explore the history behind Old Norse names, show examples of Old Norse first and surnames, and reveal the meanings behind some of the most popular Old Norse names.
The History Behind Old Norse Names
Old Norse was a language spoken in ancient and medieval Scandinavia. To truly understand it, you must take a gigantic leap backward in history, to a time immediately before the Viking Age. This time is the point at which the Old Norse language, religion, and mythology began to blossom into life.
Let our arrival date be 600 CE, nearly two centuries before the first major Norse-led Viking attack. We’ll be traveling not only through time but across the planet for this journey. Specifically, we’ll be visiting the coastal areas of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
These are the cradles of the Old Norse language and mythology and the home of the many warring Germanic tribes. They’re our current destination as we plummet backward across the clock. Let’s go!
The Early Old Norse Culture
Tracing the Old Norse language and culture back to its earliest origins is complicated. This type of anthropology is naturally fraught with complex variables and hard-to-find sources, but the origins of the Ancient Germanic and Scandanavian peoples are particularly mysterious.
Most of our information concerning historical events comes to us through texts, artifacts, and archaeological evidence. And while the Old Norse people left plenty of proof of their existence, they didn’t leave many books behind.
Like many other early cultures, the Old Norse shared their stories and language verbally. It was a society based on oral tradition. Storytellers were traditionally elderly community members, and their role was to share and spread ancient tales, most notably Norse mythology.
Consequently, the true origins of Old Norse mythology and religion are obscured. The Roman Empire and Ancient Greeks took little interest in the Nordic tribes. The Western historical record reflects this, as there is scant physical evidence of an Old Norse language and society until the Viking Age.
Far more is known about the Germanic tribes that occupied current Denmark, Germany, and France. By the 600s, several prominent Germanic groups, including the Angles and the Saxons, had already started to migrate onto the recently abandoned island that would become known as Angleland or England.
These tribes wouldn’t have been unable to make such a move if the Roman Empire were still intact, but a neighboring group of Germanic peoples, the Vandals, had sacked Rome more than a century beforehand. The collapse of Rome forever changed the religious and ethnic landscape of Western Europe.
Some have theorized that an influx of stolen Roman goods during this time would eventually spark the beginning of the infamous Viking Age. However, the full story is a little more complicated. Let’s jump ahead to 793 CE.
The Viking Age
The Germanic peoples and early Norsemen weren’t Vikings. Viking is a term that loosely translates to “taking to the sea in search of new trade routes and commerce.” And so, while some Norse warriors did sail, the ordinary people were likely subsistence farmers and tradesmen.
In 793 CE, Norwegian Vikings landed in England and performed their first major raid on Anglo-Saxon soil. This violent act left an indelible mark on early Europeans’ minds and spirits. Viking raiders not only looted and pillaged, but they also took slaves.
The raiders transported these enslaved people back to Scandinavia. There, the slaves were sold at commercial hubs. These stolen peoples likely functioned as a form of free labor.
Due to Nordic life’s labor-intensive nature during this time, Viking raiders may have seized slaves to help with farming tasks. They may have hoped to combat the rampant malnutrition affecting many rural Norse villages.
Vikings would continue to stalk the open seas, searching for treasure, trading, and unknown lands until the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. King Harold Godwinson defeated King Harald III, putting an end to about two centuries of raiding.
Post-Viking Age
Many people ask, “What happened to the Norse people after the Viking Age?” But the answer may not be the one you’re looking for. The Nordic peoples were finally recognized on major Western maps, which led Christian missionaries to make Scandinavia their newest theological target.
Between the 700s and 1100s, the Nordic peoples underwent a massive cultural and economic change. After centuries of raiding, they had some material wealth that could translate into political power. But they were also at the mercy of a growing Catholic presence.
In 995, the tides turned against ancient pagan beliefs. Olaf Tryggvason, later King Olaf I, defeated the polytheistic Jarl Hakkon and declared Norway to be a Christian kingdom. His efforts and declarations would have a resounding echo across Scandinavia’s future, changing its cultural landscape, including the Old Nose language and religion.
Old Norse Language
When you begin browsing through Old Norse names, you may start to notice that they look a little different from standard English names. That’s because the Old Norse alphabet (or futhark) relied on runes, which are pictographic symbols that have both an assigned meaning and a given sound.
These runes differ depending on the period. They’re generally divided into two alphabets. The oldest is called the Elder Futhark, and the newer is referred to as the Younger Futhark. The Younger Futhark contains only 66% of the characters present in the older alphabet.
Additionally, the Old Norse sources we use to study this ancient language were written in Iceland, after the Christianization of the Scandanavian peoples. As such, the majority of Old Norse texts and mythologies actually hail from post-Viking Age Iceland.
Interestingly, the influx of monotheistic European beliefs would eventually change the Nordic peoples’ language landscape, anglicizing and standardizing it into a far more Latin form. This Roman-influenced form is what we recognize today when looking at modern Germanic alphabets and languages.
Old Norse Female Names
Now that we’ve taken a brief visit to the ancient past, we can begin to appreciate Old Norse names. Listed below, you will find several Old Norse names given to females. You’ll also find a rough translation of that name, helping you learn more about Old Norse words and their meanings.
Alfrún
If you’re looking for a charming feminine Old Norse name, you may enjoy the meaning behind Alfrún. When broken down into its two primary compounds, this name means “elf secret.” That’s pretty adorable, even if the mythologic actions of the Dökkálfar (Dark Elves) aren’t so pleasant.
Bjartey
To figure out what this name means, you’ll need to separate it into its root words. There’s the Old Norse “bjartr,” which loosely translates to “bright shining light,” and there’s also the ending root, “ey,” which means island.
Are you trying to think of a perfect baby name? Bjartey means “island of bright light,” which may correctly describe the way you feel about your child.
Dís
Though Dís is often associated with Dante Alighieri’s work, it hails from Old Norse, not Italian. This name also doubles as a functional, singular word: Goddess. Still, most contemporary translations list “female deity” as the official Norse meaning of Dís.
Eirný
This Old Norse name continues to be relatively popular in Iceland. It comes from the Old Norse for “peace” (“eir”) and “new” (“ny”). As such, Eirný may most likely mean “new peace.”
Eydís
As we discussed above, dís is a term used to describe a goddess or female deity. When this term is paired with “ey,” the Old Norse expression for islands or floodplains, it nearly translates to “goddess of the island” or “female deity of the floodplain.”
Fastgærðr
Many English words and expressions come from Old Norse terms. This name combines two terms that would later go on to become standard English words. The first word is “fast,” meaning strong or speedy.
The second word is “gærðr” or “gard.” It means to enclose and protect. You can see the similarities between the words guard, guardian, and garrison in this instance. Fastgærðr, therefore, translates into “strong, quick protection.”
Frøygærðr
The first half of this feminine name refers to the goddess Freyja. In the second half, “gærðr” signifies protection. In this case, we can read Frøygærðr as “protected by Freyja.”
Parents likely named their daughters Frøygærðr to honor Freyja and appeal to the goddess’s powers over love, fertility, and death. As you may have noticed, many Old Norse names relate to Old Norse mythology.
Gauthildr
Feminine Old Norse names tend to follow specific patterns. One of the things you may find while browsing through these ancient names is that certain suffixes continue to reappear. Gauthildr contains one of these popular compound terms, “hildr.”
Hildr is Old Norse for “battle.” Though warfare may seem like a masculine activity, Nordic women were expected to be just as challenging and hardy as their male counterparts. As such, many women held first names that contained words like “blade,” “battle,” or “death.”
The first part of Gauthildr refers to Gautland or Götaland. This is a southern area of Sweden and the area known for the Goth and Visigoth civilizations. As such, Gauthildr means “battle of the Goths.”
A woman or girl with this name may have descended from Nordic warriors who fought in Götaland. Gauthildr could also be the name of a young woman whose ancestors were Goths. The Germanic tribes were always fighting and bickering amongst themselves, so it’s unsurprising to see evidence of internal antagonism, even if it does come to us via a name.
Hæimlaug
The name Hæimlaug translates to “house fire,” which is a little troubling. We can’t help but wonder if the first Hæimlaug couldn’t be trusted alone beside a cooking fire.
Perhaps the original Old Norse Hæimlaug chopped firewood to excess, resulting in a warm home that never grew cold. Your imagination can do wonders for helping you to connect to these long-gone peoples.
The Old Norse language is one of many bridges that joins our contemporary civilizations with those of the past. The ancient Old Norse word for house (“heimr”) and fire (“laug”) are very similar to home and log.
But while we can recognize these similarities among languages, the mystery of the very first girl named Hæimlaug will likely stay shrouded by time’s ceaseless passage.
Líknví
If the ancient fire-starting Hæimlaug had a mortal female enemy, it might be Líknví. That’s because the name Líknví means comfort (“líkn”) and home (“vé”). As such, this name brings to mind a kind, helpful person who acts as a source of comfort and familiarity to all around her.
Naturally, the name doesn’t make the person. Many Nordic children were named for long-dead relatives, not for their barely-present newborn personalities.
Sigunnr
Have you ever seen a crowd do The Wave? This Old Norse name might remind you of that, strangely enough. Sigunnr is a combination of the words victory (“sigr”) and wave (“unnr”). As such, this gorgeous Scandinavian girl’s name means “victory wave.”
Old Norse Male Names
Now that we’ve explored the feminine names, it’s time to discover common Old Norse male names. Many of these names have commonalities with feminine names, including repeated suffixes and prefixes. We’ve included brief translations for added clarity.
Ábiǫrn
Though the exact meaning behind this name is still up for debate, Ábiǫrn is likely a combination of “bjǫrn” (“bear”) and one of two Old Norse terms. The first potential fit is “agi,” meaning “terror.” In this chain of events, Ábiǫrn would mean “terror bear.”
However, “ái” seems to be a far more likely fit. This term translates to “grandfather.” Nordic peoples traditionally named their children after deceased relatives, so a child named Ábiǫrn may be called for a grandfather named Bjǫrn.
Baldr
Like a few other Old Norse names, this name isn’t a combination of terms. It’s a single word, and that word is “bold.” Baldr may also mean dangerous, strong, or royal. For Old Norse parents with small children, Baldr’s meaning may have changed with the passing days.
Flóki
Outside of being someone’s name, Flóki has two primary meanings in Old Norse. Firstly, it refers to small tufts of hair or fabric. Secondly, it refers to a man who is both confident and ambitious.
Flóki may just be the perfect baby name for modern parents. Children are often born with small tufts of hair, and they may grow into able-bodied, self-assured adults that feel confident in taking on the world around them. Just be sure that your little Flóki doesn’t grow into a trickster, Loki.
Hafrsteinn
The masculine Old Norse name is a combination of “hafr” (“male goat”) and “steinn” (“stone”). Translating directly, Hafrsteinn means “stone goat” or “goat of stone.”
Many Old Norse names are clearly explained, like this one, but they still feel slightly elusive. We can’t help but wonder what event inspired this particular name.
Horsæfni
If you see the word “horse” in this name, don’t worry. One of the Old Norse words for horses was “hross,” which is very similar to the first few letters in the name Horsæfni. Interestingly, this name actually features the Old English spelling for the word horse, “horsa.”
But what does “efni” mean? It’s tricky to define precisely, but “efni” refers to materials and physical matter. This definition would imply that Horsæfni means “horse substance.”
Of course, it could also mean “the substance of horses,” but that’s not much better. What a strange name!
Jófrøðr
The Old Norse peoples didn’t have access to advanced machinery or technology. What they did have access to were horses, and they worked their horses hard.
It seems that the Nordic peoples grew to respect and adore their hard-working horses, as they eventually developed the name Jófrøðr. This name is a combination of “jór,” the term for horses, and “friðr,” the expression for love and protection.
An Old Norse man named Jófrøðr may have descended from parents that kept horses. Or, he may have had a deceased ancestor named Jófrøðr. After all, the Norse were keen on respecting their dead family members. Naming your child after a deceased relative would have been seen as a valuable tribute.
Náinn
If you’re searching this article in hopes of finding the perfect baby name, you may want to skip this one. That’s because Náinn means “dead person” in Old Norse. While we’re all born to die, giving a newborn, this name does seem like bad luck, especially when you consider how high the infant mortality rate was among the Old Norse peoples.
However, the ancient Nordic peoples may not have been inherently attached to their newborn offspring. Life was hard for the Nordic tribes, and food was often scarce. The average life expectancy was about twenty years.
Children born to hunger-stricken families were sometimes abandoned in nearby forests or simply thrown into the sea. Perhaps naming your child Náinn was a means of tricking the Norse gods and goddesses, allowing your baby to thrive while the spirits believed them dead.
Rík
This is one of the more fascinating Old Norse names, primarily because it is similar to modern English. A thousand years ago or so, “rík” would have meant “rich” to the Old Norse peoples.
Similarly, the name Richard is often shortened to Rich or Rick. Both English and Old Norse share common cultural influences, most notably those of the Germanic and Latin variety.
Rúnfastr
You might look at this name and think to yourself, “Run faster?” Humorously, you’re not far off. This name is composed of two root terms, “rún” and “fast.” We’ve already addressed the Old Norse term “fast” and the meaning: Strong or quick. But what does “rún” mean?
For the Old Norse peoples, this term was pronounced more like ‘room’ than ‘run.’ It often referred to runes. The Old Norse considered language to be a gift from Odin the Allfather.
Though they could read runes and interpret their meaning, they thought of written language as something that belonged to the realm of deities, not humans. Studying runes would have been akin to learning magic, which is why the Old Norse term “rún” is primarily used to describe secrets and hidden origins.
So, Rúnfastr isn’t “run faster.” Instead, it means “strong secret” or “secret strength.”
Salbjǫrn
Have you ever gone out for drinks with friends and noticed an overly drunk bar patron getting rowdy and loud? Had they lived with the Old Norse peoples, they may have earned the name Salbjǫrn. Its literal translation is “hall bear.”
In ancient Scandinavia, the average person would have likely consumed beer, wine, and spirits in a mead hall or feasting hall. This building often consisted of a single long room outfitted with tables, chairs, and decorations. When boorish, intoxicated villagers consumed too much mead, they might roar like an angry bear. One might even call them the “bear of the hall,” or Salbjǫrn.
Snæúlfr
When attempting to pronounce this name in English, you may come up with something that sounds like “snail-ul-fur.” However, this name doesn’t have anything to do with snails, slugs, or mollusks. But it is, interestingly enough, linked to fur.
That’s because “snjǣr” is Old Norse for “snow.” Try repeating it. Do you hear the word snow? The second part of this name is “ulfr” which means “wolf.” So, Snæúlfr means “snow wolf.” That’s a name that any kid could be proud of.
Tryggulfr
Tryggulfr is a combination of “trygg” and “ulfr.” The first term means “trustworthy,” while the second translates to “wolf.” In short, Tryggulfr means “trustworthy wolf.”
That’s quite a statement, even if it is a name. Wolves are commonly associated with trickery, thievery, and violence. Trustworthy wolves were likely the first domesticated dogs. This name may have a shade of truthful historical fact to it.
Ulfr
As we mentioned above, Ulfr translates directly into “wolf.” While the Old Norse peoples kept dogs and cats as pets, they also believed that the end of the world, Ragnarok, would occur when a monster-like wolf named Fenrisúlfr would consume the sun.
This belief likely sprang from natural solar eclipses, though there’s little literary evidence to support this theory. Still, it is interesting that the Nords would opt to name a member of their community Ulfr, especially when considering their religious beliefs.
Vímundr
A boy named Vímundr might be expected to make a fine and devoted husband one day. That’s because this name breaks apart into two sections. The first, “vé,” means home or sanctuary.
The second part, “mundr,” typically means “protection,” though it can also denote a bridal gift. A man named Vímundr who lived during the Old Norse Period may have been a dowry unto himself and a home protector.
Æibiǫrn
Any Old Norse child lucky enough to bear this name would have had high expectations to live up to. That’s because Æibiǫrn is likely a combination of “ein” (“one”) and “bjǫrn” (“bear”). Ein is also translated as “alone.”
Consequently, Æibiǫrn could be “the one bear” or “the bear that is alone.” Either way, that’s quite a statement.
Old Norse Last Names
The Old Norse peoples didn’t have last names (also called surnames). Instead, they had a given name, a patronym, and a byname. The given name would have been their first name, and the patronym would have been used as a sort of surname.
Byname
A person’s byname was their alias or nickname. Greipr, for example, is a masculine byname that roughly translates to “grasper.” Valfǫðr is another male-appropriate byname, but it’s a bit less cheerful, translating to “dead father.”
You can imagine how the Old Norse peoples came up with such nicknames. Years of agricultural hardships and violent raiding likely left quite a few Nordic children fatherless. Still, children carried their father’s name with them throughout their lives via patronyms.
Patronym
The word patronym comes from the Latin “pater” and “nym.” It means “Father Name.” The Old Norse had no surnames, though they did have patronyms.
Leif Erikson, famous for potentially being the first European to arrive on North American shores, had a first name and a patronym. His first name was given to him by his parents, and it was Leif. This name is a version of the older “Leifr,” which meant “descendant.”
His patronym was Erikson. This meant that his father’s given name was Erik. Leif’s children would have all had unique first names, but their ‘surname’ would have been either Leifson or Leifdóttir, depending on their gender.
If you had been born into the Old Norse culture, what would your patronym be? And what about your byname?
Conclusion
The Old Norse language, mythology, and religion slowly vanished over a thousand years ago. However, the ancient cultures and belief systems that defined Scandinavia in the Late Bronze Age and Medieval Period continue to live on through Old Norse names.
