This week’s entry, we shall explore the names of the vikings!
The language of the Vikings was Old Norse, a Northern Germanic language which boasted its own alphabet: runes!
The most closely related modern languages are Icelandic and Faroese, followed by Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Frisian and even English.
There really was not much to Old Norse naming conventions, names were either composed of compounds referencing warfare or the gods, or were names taken directly from religion and nature. The Norse did have an interesting surname system, where every child was known by their father’s (and sometimes even their mother’s) first name followed by the suffix of -son or -dóttir (depending on their gender of course). Hence Eiríkr son of Ðorir might be known as Eiríkr Ðorirsson.
When you think of the Vikings, you will probably evoque names like Brynhilda, Hagar, Helga and Bertha. These names might be completely unrevivable, lacking any redeeming qualities whatsoever. However, many Anglophone take for granted how much of an impact Old Norse has had on our language and yes even baby names. In fact, in the U.S. top 1000, Viking names abound! Examples include:
- Oliver # 98
- Oscar # 131
- Erick # 190
- Erik # 232
- Axel # 264
- Finn # 343
- Dane # 368
- Gunner # 400
- Waylon # 478
- Gunnar # 551
Females:
- Emma # 2
- Ella # 14
This is even more evident in the British top 100:
- Oliver # 2
- Oscar # 30
Female
- Ella # 12
- Freya # 27
- Emma # 31
- Matilda # 43
Of course, in the Scandinavian countries, the influence 0f their earliest ancestors is especially striking. Their top names for example:
Denmark
Female
- Freja # 1
- Emma # 2
- Mathilde # 11
- Frida # 19
- Liva # 21
- Signe # 22
- Nanna # 29
- Astrid # 32
- Ella # 38
- Asta # 43
- Liv # 46
Male
- Oliver # 5
- Gustav # 11
- Oscar # 13
- Aksel # 47
- Asger # 49
Faroe Islands
Female
- Bjarta # 3
- Vár # 8
- Bjørk # 9
- Lív # 10
- Fríða # 14
- Ása # 19
- Bára # 20
- Tóra # 32
- Brá # 36
- Eydna # 44
- Halla # 45
- Lý # 50
- Rannvá # 54
- Annfríð # 65
- Ásgerð # 68
- Bergtóra # 71
- Brynhild # 72
- Dagny # 74
- Estrid # 87
- Eyðna # 88
- Eyðrit # 89
- Freja # 90
- Frida # 91
- Gerda # 95
- Gisleyg # 96
- Gunnbjørg # 97
- Gunnrið # 98
Iceland
Female
- Guðrún # 7
- Helga # 11
- Hildur # 18
- Tinna # 21
- Hekla # 22
- Embla # 23
- Sigrún # 25
- Freyja # 26
- Katla # 27
- Sóley # 28
- Birta # 29
- Ásdís # 32
- Emma # 35
- Sunna # 36
- Sigríður # 37
- Ingibjörg # 38
- Hrafnhildur # 40
- Arna # 41
- Bryndís # 42
- Auður # 44
- Þórdís # 47
- Kolbrún # 48
- Ragnheiður # 49
- Brynja # 50
- Ásta # 51
- Þórunn # 52
- Sólveig # 52
- Hafdís # 52
- Ólöf # 57
- Birna # 60
- Unnur # 60
- Steinnun # 60
- Inga # 63
- Dagný # 66
- Berglind # 66
- Guðný # 69
- Matthildur # 69
- Eydís # 74
- Dagbjört # 76
- Hulda # 76
- Aldís # 76
- Hrefna # 80
- Iðunn # 81
- Arndís # 81
- Þóra # 84
- Edda # 89
- Laufey # 89
- Herdís # 89
- Eyrún # 92
- Elva # 92
- Þórey # 95
- Harpa # 99
- Diljá # 99
Males
- Arnar # 8
- Guðmundur # 9
- Sigurður # 13
- Ólafur # 17
- Einar # 18
- Gunnar # 19
- Dagur # 22
- Bjarki # 24
- Óskar # 24
- Brynjar # 26
- Ólíver # 27
- Björn # 28
- Sindri # 29
- Arnór # 29
- Helgi # 35
- Elvar # 37
- Hákon # 38
- Kári # 40
- Atli # 42
- Þorsteinn# 42
- Baldur # 45
- Birgir # 45
- Birkir # 45
- Hilmar # 49
- Egill # 51
- Halldór # 53
- Ragnar # 53
- Árni # 55
- Haukur # 56
- Gísli # 58
- Axel # 60
- Bjarni # 62
- Fannar # 63
- Hlynur # 63
- Sveinn # 66
- Sævar# 67
- Ásgeir# 69
- Sölvi# 69
- Eyþór# 69
- Guðjón # 69
- Ari # 73
- Óðinn #73
- Jökull # 76
- Þórður# 77
- Björgvin # 81
- Tryggvi # 82
- Eiður #82
- Haraldur # 85
- Snorri # 87
- Heiðar # 87
- Bjartur #91
- Rúnar #91
- Hrafn # 91
- Hrafnkell # 92
- Kolbeinn # 96
- Breki # 97
- Logi # 99
Norway
Female
- Emma # 1
- Ingrid # 9
- Vilde # 13
- Tuva # 19
- Frida # 22
- Ella # 24
- Mathilde # 25
- Tiril # 40
- Ingeborg # 52
- Signe # 59
- Sigrid # 60
- Erle # 63
- Alva # 65
- Astrid # 70
- Solveig # 94
- Liv # 96
Males
- Oliver # 2
- Aksel # 25
- Sondre # 27
- Eirik # 31
- Erik # 32
- Håkon # 36
- Trym # 40
- Ole # 43
- Oskar # 45
- Sigurd # 52
- Odin # 53
- Sindre # 55
- Oscar # 61
- Ola # 65
- Sverre # 68
- Vetle # 69
- Olav # 77
- Brage # 80
- Vegard # 85
- Eskil # 89
- Birk # 99
- Håvard # 100
Sweden
Females
- Ella # 3
- Emma # 4
- Alva # 5
- Saga # 21
- Matilda # 25
- Tuva # 32
- Astrid # 33
- Tyra # 49
- Freja # 52
- Signe # 53
- Siri # 55
- Stina # 57
- Liv # 63
- Frida # 67
- Ellie # 69
- Hilda # 82
- Ingrid # 84
Male
- Oscar # 3
- Erik # 9
- Axel # 10
- Gustav # 20
- Arvid # 23
- Viggo # 26
- Olle # 35
- Sigge # 71
- Vidar # 75
- Loke # 81
- Hjalmar # 86
- Svante # 93
The Norse often used names from religion, e.g. (children could be named for gods), from relatives (a son may be named for a father or grandfather) or sometimes even attributes characteristic of an animal (Hrafn-Raven).
Below is a list of Viking names compatible in modern society, note, many of these names are still in usage in Iceland and even in some Scandinavian countries.
Cool Norse Alternatives to Popular Names
Instead of Addison==============Adis
Instead of Bailey===============Beyla
Instead of Brynn/Brianna============Brynja
Instead of Delaney================Daney
Instead of Elizabeth==============Ellisif
Instead of Emma================Edda
Instead of Freya================Frigga
Instead of Harper===============Harpa
Instead of Hayden===============Hedin
Instead of Hayley===============Halla
Instead of Katherine/Kate/Caitlin====================Katla
Instead of Matilda===========================Hilda
Instead of Owen=======================Odin
Instead of Regan===================Ragna
Instead of Sydney=================Signy
Female Names Compatible with English
- Dalla
- Dylla
- Esja
- Finna
- Halldora
- Hallerna
- Jolinn
- Ketiley
- Loa
- Mabil
- Nauma
- Randalin
- Runa
- Thora
- Thorvia
- Tola
- Totra
- Valka
- Verun
Cool Old Norse Nature Names
Male
- Ari (eagle)
- Billi (blade)
- Brand (burnt)
- Finnbjorn (Finnish bear)
- Frosti (frost)
- Grein (branch)
- Orm (Snake; Worm)
- Ottar (Otter)
- Steinar (stone rock)
- Thorstein (Thunder Stone; Thor’s Stone)
Female
- Dagny (new day)
- Drifa (snowdrift)
- Embla (Elm)
- Jora (Wild Boar)
- Sandey (Sand-luck)
- Steina (stone)
- Svana (swan)
- Svala (swallow)
Male Names Compatible with English
- Atli
- Audun
- Brodir
- Erlend
- Grai
- Kol
- Mundi
Cool Mythological Names Compatible for Modern Society
- Balder
- Billing
- Dagur
- Delling
- Frey
- Gunther
- Hagen
- Loki
- Wayland
Female
- Aurinia
- Eisa
- Elli
- Gersemi
- Idun (pronounced like Eden)
- Mardoll
- Mist
- Nanna
- Rossweisse
- Sif
- Sinmara
- Skadi
- Sol
Sources
Amazing list! Thank you so much for putting this together.
Do you think Nanna could work, really? It’s what most people I know call their Grandmothers. But if it could work in America, awesome!
To me, it has a similar feel to Emma, so I don’t see why not.
My friends name is Nana..sounds more like Nah-Nah. i like it!
Life is tough enough without sticking your kid with a name you think is “cool” or “different”…….
my comment of course is for people other than those of icelandic or norse or viking descent. if you are a crazy American in Pittsburgh that wants to do something different…….it’s not such a good idea.
However when you are naming your child in honor of your ancestors or heritage or country it is wonderful …
My favorite names from your list and my list are Ella, Emma and Matilda for sure and for boys Oliver :)_
Even in Norway some of these name you don’t hear so much. I’d be strange to hear an American with the name Solveig 🙂
I know americans with names like these (Sven) and are perfectly fine. The kids learn how to work there names and it is awesome.
I grew up around a strong Scandinavian community and many third generation Norwegian or Swedish kids I knew had these names. I never found it weird.
I love this list! My husband and I have been looking into old Norse names to go with our Greek names. I love this.
Really like Skaði, or Sol…
This list of names has been really helpful:)