721 Old Norse Baby Names That Celebrate History

Many immediately think of Norse mythology when considering Old Norse baby names. Old Norse names, dominant in Scandinavian and Viking history, range from strong, robust, and tough to delicate and lovely. Parents often named their children after their deceased hero or relative, hoping they would inherit the same traits, virtues, or personalities as the ones whose names they bore. If a relative died when the child was in the womb, giving the child the name of that particular relative was mandatory. If the honored relative or ancestor had a common name, the ancestor's nickname or by-name would also be attached. Hence, names remained almost the same in the families for long periods. Names of Norse gods, goddesses, and mythical beings were also common as first names. For instance, Thor was a well-liked name, symbolizing the god of thunder and might. Another example is Freya, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility (1) (2). In Norse culture, names connected to animals were also very popular. It wasn't uncommon to find Vikings with names like Orm, which meant 'serpent,' or Ingolf, which meant 'wolf.' A patronymic or metronymic system was used. An individual's family name was commonly formed by uniting their father's first name with a gender-specific suffix. This method was used to determine a person's paternal lineage. For example, a man named Johannes Andersen denoted that he was the son of Ander, whereas the name Maria Olofsdatter denoted that she was the daughter of a man named Olofs. This form of naming provided a simple and straightforward approach to establishing lineage-based family connections. We bring you an extensive collection of Old Norse names with meanings from the language of Norse Sagas, mythology, and the Viking Age. Most of these names are still used in Scandinavia, but in anglicized form and with a different pronunciation. Keep scrolling!

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Name		Gender	Meaning
Oliver		Boy	Olive; Olive tree planter; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
Rowan		Boy	Red-haired; Little redhead; Descendant of Ruadhán; River in paradise
Freya		Girl	A noble woman
Eric		Boy	Eternal ruler
Oscar		Boy	God's spear; Friend of deer
Alivia		Girl	Olive tree; Descendant of the ancestor
Erick		Boy	Eternal ruler; Powerful ruler
Odin		Boy	Inspiration; Frenzy; Rage
Corey		Boy	Cauldron; Curly-haired; Maiden
Astrid		Girl	Godly strength; Divine beauty
Erik		Boy	Eternal ruler
Kaison		Boy	Calf; Pollen; Warrior
Colby		Boy	From a coal town; From a dark town
Gunnar		Boy	Bold warrior
Haley		Girl	Hay clearing; Clearing in the woods
Ronald		Boy	Ruler's counsel; Ruler's advice
Drake		Boy	Dragon; Serpent
Dustin		Boy	Thor's stone
Crosby		Boy	Residing by the sign of the cross; Shrine of the cross
Gustavo		Boy	Staff of the Gods
Freyja		Girl	Lady
Bjorn		Boy	Bear
Gary		Boy	Enclosure; Spearman; Watchful
Truett		Boy	Dry resinous wood; River bend
Branson		Boy	Burning sword; Son of Brandr
Frida		Girl	Peace; Beautiful; Beloved
Arlette		Girl	Noble warrior; Army inheritance; Warrior legacy
Leif		Boy	A descendant; Heir
Ronnie		Boy	Rule's advice; Ruler's counsel; True image; Bringer of victory
Ollie		Boy	Ancestor's descendant; Olive; Olive tree; All guard
Ralph		Boy	Wolf counsel
Erika		Girl	Sole ruler; Eternal ruler; Ever powerful; Heather
Erica		Girl	Forever strong; Everlasting ruler; Heather
Brent		Boy	Holy one; From a steep hill; Sword; Warrior
Kaycen		Unisex	Enclosure; Yard; Town; Calf
Bryn		Girl	Hill; Mound; Meadow bridge
Caysen		Unisex	Calf yard
Oskar		Boy	God's spear; Deer's friend
Kacen		Boy	Descendant from the vigilant one; Noble heart; Calf
Olin		Boy	Ancestor's descendant; From a low lying area; Motion
Fynn		Boy	Fair; Blessed; Person from Finland
Ivar		Boy	Bow warrior; Army; Yew tree
Arvin		Boy	Copious; Abundant; Rich; Eagle friend
Oden		Boy	Inspiration; Frenzy; Rage
Thor		Boy	Thunder
Ragnar		Boy	Army; Counsel; Judgement
Hoyt		Boy	Someone who lives high or on a hill; Stick
Ronaldo		Boy	Ruler's counsel; Ruler's advice
Broderick		Boy	Son of Rhydderch; Descendant of Bruadar; Brother
Caison		Unisex	Calf
Roscoe		Boy	Forest of the roebuck; Deer forest; Doe wood
Skylee		Unisex	Cloud; Scholar; Boomerang; Narrows
Iver		Boy	Bow warrior; Army; Yew tree
Truitt		Boy	Dry resinous wood; River bend; Trust; Loyalty; Boar
Ellia		Girl	Torch; Shining light; Other; My God is Yahweh
Von		Unisex	Hope; Expectation; Yahweh is gracious; Little
Halston		Boy	Rock; Stone
Brandt		Boy	Fire; Torch; Sword
Valkyrie		Unisex	Chooser of the slain
Skai		Unisex	Cloud
Olivier		Boy	Olive tree; Ancestor's descendant; Planter of olive trees; All cautious
Darby		Boy	Deer park; Deer settlement; Son of Diarmuid or Dermot
Rye		Boy	An island meadow; At the river; To clear
Elli		Girl	Old age; My God is an oath
Runa		Girl	Rune; Secret lore; Moon
Brayton		Boy	Broad; Farmstead
Eira		Girl	Snow; Mercy
Brant		Boy	Fire; Torch; Sword
Sven		Boy	Boy; Lad; Young man
Tyr		Boy	God; Deity
Olyvia		Girl	Olive; Olive tree; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious
Olga		Girl	Holy; Blessed; Invioilable
Juel		Unisex	Christmas; God's peace; Peaceful pledge; Valuable object
Olen		Boy	Ancestor's descendant
Roel		Boy	Famous land; Famous wolf; Famous ruler
Tova		Girl	Good; Pleasing; Beautiful thunder; Beloved Thor
Astra		Girl	Star; Divine strength; Weapon
Arik		Boy	Lion of God; Eternal ruler; Powerful; Brave
Rogue		Boy	Arrogant; Haughty; Excess; Exuberance
Boe		Boy	To live
Eivin		Unisex	Good fortune and victor
Aric		Boy	Ever ruler
Olliver		Boy	Olive; Olive tree; Ancestor's descendant; All cautious; Elf warrior
Ron		Boy	Song; Joy; Ruler's advice; Ruler's counsel
Dusty		Boy	Thor's stone
Rune		Boy	Secret; Happy
Espen		Boy	God's bear; Divine bear
Hilda		Girl	Battle
Rorik		Boy	Famous ruler
Aiva		Unisex	Yew tree; Army; Warrior; Quince
Wayland		Unisex	Battle; Brave; Small wood grove; Craft
Rony		Boy	My song is my joy; Ruler's counsel
Einar		Boy	One army; One warrior
Ericka		Girl	Ever ruler
Torben		Boy	Thor's bear; Thunder bear
Erickson		Boy	Son of Erik; Ever ruler
Skyleigh		Unisex	Cloud; Boomerang
Thora		Girl	Thunder Goddess
Jomar		Boy	Famous horse; God increases
Nari		Unisex	Woman; Narrow; Lily; Thunder; From Nazareth

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are some famous people with Old Norse names?

One of the popular individuals with Old Norse names includes Leif Erikson, the pioneering explorer who became the first European to discover North America (3). Another notable figure is Ingrid Bergman, a renowned 20th-century actress who embodies beauty and grace. Thor Heyerdahl, an adventurer and ethnographer, achieved fame through his adventurous spirit and curiosity, exemplified by his Kon-Tiki expedition exploring ancient cultures (4).

2. What are some Old Norse baby names inspired by mythology?

Old Norse baby names inspired by mythology include Sif, denoting bride or kinswoman, and associated with Siv, the wife of Thor in Norse mythology. Idun, derived from the goddess of spring and immortality, signifying youth and rejuvenation, embodies everlasting beauty.

3. Which is a gender-neutral Old Norse baby name?

One beautiful gender-neutral Old Norse name is Auðr, which means 'wealth' or 'fortune.' It is a unique choice that can be embraced by children of any gender, carrying a sense of prosperity and abundance.

4. What do Old Norse baby names signify or symbolize?

Old Norse names typically embody mythological and natural elements and connotations relevant to warfare. For instance, Bjorn, meaning 'bear,' signifies strength, courage, and resilience. Arna, meaning 'eagle,' represents grace, might, and natural wonder. Freya, meaning 'lady,' derived from the goddess of love and beauty, embodies passion, fertility, and the power of femininity.

Infographic: Folkloric Old Norse Baby Names With Meanings

Old Norse baby names are like whispers from a distant and captivating era. These names often draw inspiration from mythical creatures, powerful gods, and nature's elements, reflecting the beliefs and values of an ancient society. Check out this infographic and discover names for your little ones that tell a story of honor, valor, and the deep connection between humans and their surroundings.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team