Tag Archives: Old Norse Names

Muriel, Muireall

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Meaning: “sea bright”
(MYER-ee–ul)

The name, in its original form, is Muireall (MOOR-all).

It has been in usage since at least the 15th century, when Muriel, who was the heiress of John Calder, was deposed from her ancestral lands by the Earl Argyll in 1498.

The name appears in history again as that of the name of the wife of Alexander Sutherland (1456). The records indicate her name as Muriella, which was probably a latinization.

The name is still fairly common in Scotland and the nickname of Molly is occasionally used.

In Irish, the name is rendered as Muirgheal. The name is used in France, more often in the Breton speaking areas, spelled Murielle. There is also an Old Norse form: Myrgjöl.

Blædís

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Icelandic
Meaning: “breeze goddess.”
(BLY-dees)

The name is composed of the Old Norse elements blaer meaning “breeze” and the popular feminine Norse suffix of –dis meaning “goddess.”

The name is not too common in Iceland, as of July 2007, only five women bore this name.

Sædís

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Icelandic
Meaning: “sea goddess”
(SY-dees)

The name is made up of the Norse elements sae meaning “sea” and dis meaning “goddess.”

As of 2008, approximately 147 women in Iceland bore this as a first name, and 33 had it as a middle name.

The name is also in usage on the Faroe Islands.

Tarjei

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Old Norse/Norwegian
(tar-YEYE; jei rhymes with the word eye)

The name is derived from the old Norse Torgeir, which is composed of the elements Thor, (in reference to the Norse god), and geirr meaning “spear.” Hence: “Thor’s speare.”

The name is currently very popular in Norway. Another form of the name is Terje (TARE-yeh).

The name was borne by Tarjei Vesaas, (1897-1970). He is considered to be one of Norway’s greatest writers of the 20th-century.

Other forms are Torjer and Torger.

The designated name-day is October 13.

Boel

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Gender: Female
Origin: Swedish/Danish/Norwegian
Meaning: “battle recovery; battle improvement”
(BOO-ul)

The name is derived from the Norse Bothild, which is made up of the elements bot which means “recovery; improvement” and hild, which means “battle.” Hence the name could either mean “battle recovery” or “battle improvement.”

In Sweden, the usage of the name first came to light in the region of Skåne, (on the Danish border), around the 14th century, listed as Boeld. It suddenly became incredibly popular in the middle of the 18th century.

Today the name is still in usage in Sweden, but is considered rather old fashioned and dated.

Other forms of the name include:

  • Bodil (Danish/Faroese/Norwegian)
  • Boeld (Danish)
  • Boel (Danish/Swedish)
  • Bolette (Danish)
  • Bodhild (Norwegian)
  • Bol (Norwegian: dialectical form)
  • Bóthildr (Old Norse)

Its designated name-days are June 17 (Norway) and January 26 (Sweden).