After Nordic names or Norse mythology names for your little warrior? Hereās the ultimate list of Viking names and Norse baby names for the perfect fit.
If you love a unique baby name or are into your history, Norse baby names are a great place to start.
While we usually associate the term āNorseā with Vikings, it generally means Norwegian or Scandinavian people, particularly in ancient times.
Nonetheless, the Viking reference does give rise to some pretty badass Nordic names.
With imagery of warriors, mythical creatures, and religious connotations, these old Norse names will make your little boy or girl stand out.
In this article: š
- Popular Viking names
- How did Vikings name their children?
- What are old Norse names?
- What are good Viking names?
- What is a Viking girl name?
- What are some Norse names and meanings?
- What is the rarest baby name?
Popular Viking names
Curious what the most popular VIking names are?
Well, youāll probably recognize a few of these old Norse names:
- Astrid: Meaning ābeautifulā.
- Erik: Meaning āabsolute rulerā.
- Freya: Meaning ānoblewomanā.
- Garth: Meaning āyardā.
- Hallie: Meaning ādweller at the meadow by the manorā.
- Jensen: Meaning āson of Jenā.
- Khristopher: Meaning ābearing Christā.
- Kirsten: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Linnea: Meaning ālinden treeā.
- Mia: Meaning ābrightā.
How did Vikings name their children?
First up, a quick history lesson.
Many Viking children were named after their parents for their family name ā so Thor, as the son of Odin, would be known as Thor Odinson.
As for first names, ancient Vikings named their children much in the same ways we do in the modern Western world.
Inspired by ancestors, seasons, personality traits, and even alliteration for a bigger brood (yup, like the Kardashians!) were all used to name Viking babies.
What is Viking word for baby?
The Viking word for a young baby seems to have been lost in time, but we do know that they called children a word close to the Germanic bjor or the Scottish bairn, meaning āchildā.
What are old Norse names?
Letās dive straight in with some inspiring Viking baby names and their meanings.
You may even recognize a few that are still popular today, as some have been modernized for our English-speaking tongues.
Old Norse names for girls
Letās start with some beautiful and powerful Norse names for girls.
- Aina: Meaning āforeverā.
- Ć
se: Meaning āgoddessā.
- Berit: Meaning āexalted oneā.
- Eula: Meaning āwell-spokenā.
- Frey: Meaning ānoblewomanā.
- Fraya: Meaning ānoblewomanā.
- Gertrud: Meaning āspearā.
- Gro: Meaning āgrowā.
- Inga: Meaning āIngās protectionā.
- Ingeborg: Meaning āIngās strongholdā.
- Ingemar: Meaning āof the seaā.
- Inger: Meaning āIngās protectionā.
- Ingmar: Meaning āof the seaā.
- Ingo: Meaning āIngās protectionā.
- Karyna: Meaning āpureā.
- Keerstin: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kristyn: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Krystyna: Meaning ābearing Christā.
- Linea: Meaning ālinden treeā.
- Linnae: Meaning ālinden treeā.
- Linnaea: Meaning ālinden treeā.
- Lynea: Meaning ālinden treeā.
- Lynnea: Meaning ālinden treeā.
- Mea: Meaning ābrightā.
- Norna: Meaning āwhisperā.
- Olga: Meaning āholyā.
- Olia: Meaning āholyā.
- Rayne: Meaning āqueenā.
- Raynee: Meaning āqueenā.
- Sigrid: Meaning āvictorious horse riderā.
- Silia: Meaning āblind oneā
- Siriana: Meaning ābeautiful victoryā.
- Solveig: Meaning ādaughter of the sunā.
- Thora: Meaning āthunderā.
- Thurid: Meaning ābeautiful Thorā.
- Thyra: Meaning āhelpfulā.
- Tora: Meaning āthunderā.
- Treena: Meaning āpureā.
- Trina: Meaning āpureā.
- Trinette: Meaning āpureā.
- Valkyrja: Meaning āchooser of the fallenā.
- Vivica: Meaning āwar fortressā.
Old Norse names for boys
Now letās hear it for the boys ā strong, mighty Viking male names:
- Anders: Meaning ābraveā.
- Bergen: Meaning āmeadow between the mountainsā.
- Bergin: Meaning āmeadow between the mountainsā.
- Birger: Meaning ākeeperā.
- Booth: Meaning ālived in a barnā.
- Carlson: Meaning āfree settlementā.
- Carr: Meaning āswampā.
- Denmark: After the Scandinavian country.
- Ericson: Meaning āson of the eternal rulerā.
- Erikson: Meaning āson of the eternal rulerā.
- Garald: Meaning āspear rulerā.
- Guss: Meaning āmagnificentā.
- Gustav: Meaning āstaff of the godsā.
- Haakon: Meaning āhigh sonā.
- Hagan: Meaning āyouthfulā.
- Hakan: Meaning āhigh sonā.
- Hans: Meaning āGod is graciousā.
- Haroldo: Meaning āarmy rulerā.
- Heraldo: Meaning āarmy rulerā.
- Jansen: Meaning āson of Janā.
- Janson: Meaning āson of Janā.
- Jens: Meaning āGod is graciousā.
- Joran: Meaning āfarmerā.
- Jorn: Meaning āfarmerā.
- Joron: Meaning āboar waveā.
- Jurgen: Meaning āfarmerā.
- Karlson: Meaning āson of Karlā.
- Kristopher: Meaning ābearing Christā.
- Kristophor: Meaning ābearing Christā.
- Krystof: Meaning ābearing Christā.
- Krzysztof : Meaning ābearing Christā.
- Larson: Meaning āson of Larsā.
- Latham: Meaning āfrom the barnā.
- Norell: Meaning āfrom the northā.
- Osman: Meaning āGodās protectionā.
- Osmin: Meaning āGodās protectionā.
- Osmund: Meaning āGodās protectionā.
- Steffen: Meaning ācrownā.
- Waddell: Meaning āgoā.
Gender-neutral old Norse names
Many Viking names were gender-neutral or are considered unisex in modern days, so here are some nonbinary Norse baby names to browse:
- Bo: Meaning āto resideā.
- Boden: Meaning āshelterā.
- Bodie: Meaning āshelterā.
- Bodin: Meaning āshelterā.
- Boe: Meaning āto resideā.
- Crosbie: Meaning āat the crossā.
- Crosby: Meaning āat the crossā.
- Dag: Meaning ādayā.
- Denby: Meaning āfrom Denmarkā.
- Denney: Meaning āfrom Denmarkā.
- Dennie: Meaning āfrom Denmarkā.
- Denny: Meaning āfrom Denmarkā.
- Eino: Meaning āoneā.
- Jorey: Meaning āfarmerā.
- KĆ„re: Meaning ācurly-hairedā.
- Karmen: Meaning āsongā.
- Ker: Meaning āfrom the swampy placeā.
- Kerr: Meaning āfrom the swampy placeā.
- Kersten: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kiersten: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kierstin: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kierstynn: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kirstine: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kirstynn: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kyrstin: Meaning āfollower of Christā.
- Kjarr: Meaning āswampā.
- Lambert: Meaning ābright landā.
- Leif: Meaning ādescendantā.
- Lief: Meaning āheirā.
- Nels: Meaning ācloudā.
- Randi: Meaning āshield.
- Troels: Meaning āThorās arrowā.
- Trygve: Meaning ātrustworthyā.
- Tyrell: Meaning āstubbornā.
- Wayde: Meaning āgoā.
What are good Viking names?
The Vikings were around between the 8th and 11th centuries and chose their names based on the gods or mythical animals.
Some even had ābynamesā, which could mean āson or daughter ofā, or some even refer to personal qualities and possessions, such as Asgot with the Mighty Sword.
What is a good name for a Viking boy?
As Viking men traveled more often than women, weāre more likely to see Viking male names, such as:
- Arne: Meaning āeagleā.
- Garold: Meaning āspear rulerā.
- Harald: Meaning ālord and rulerā.
- Njal: Meaning āgiantā.
- Ćdger: Meaning āwealthy spearā.
- Skarde: Meaning ācleft chinā.
- Sten: Meaning āstoneā.
- Sune: Meaning āsonā.
- Thordis: Meaning āspirit of thunderā.
- Torsten: Meaning āThorās stoneā.
What is a Viking girl name?
As with many other cultures, for example, with Japanese baby names, old Norse names tend to give boys more powerful, warrior-like characteristics.
Viking girl names, meanwhile, follow the classic diminutive pattern of small and timid characteristics, such as:
- Aelfsi: Meaning āone who is like an elf or nymphā.
- Anitra: Meaning āgraceā.
- Estrid: Meaning āgod and beautifulā.
- Frida: Meaning āpeaceā.
- Helga: Meaning āsacredā.
- Ingrid: Meaning āIngās beautyā.
- Kareena: Meaning āpureā.
- Lidwina: Meaning āpeopleās friendā.
- Sif: Meaning āwife and brideā.
- Tove: Meaning ādoveā.
- Trine: Meaning āpureā.
However, just like Celtic baby names, there are a few female Viking baby names for the aspiring warrior princess.
What is a badass name for a girl?
If you can picture your little girl killing it on the football field or leading the boardroom, youāll want to give her one of the bravest Viking baby names.
Try one of these for a beautiful, heroic moniker:
- Birget: A variant of the Westernized Bridget, this means a āprotecting womanā.
- Bodil: Meaning āfighterā, for the little girl who never gives up the fight.
- Diss: Perfect for little ones with a lot of character, Diss means āone who is spiritedā.
- Gerrie: A versatile name that can be lengthened to Geraldine, in Norse, this means āthe one who rules with the mighty spearā.
- Hilda: This derivative of Brunhild relates to the Visigothic legend, and literally means āfighterā.
- Olaug: If youāve already got little ones renowned for tearing up the house, this epithet could be perfect for your next baby girl! Olaug means āthe destroyerā ā great for kids who love to draw on the walls.
- Signe: Meaning ānew victoryā, so your little valkyrie will always be successful in every endeavor.
- Turid: Keep one eye on the weather on the night of your babyās birth. If itās a thunderstorm, you may want to consider naming her Turid ā which means āmaster of thunderā.
- Valkyrie: After the mythical female Viking warriors.
Whatās a cool Viking name?
Now for some cool Viking names to give your little one confidence and power:
- Ari: Meaning āeagleā.
- Aristide: Meaning ābestā.
- Beret: Meaning āexalted oneā.
- Eilert: Meaning āedge of a swordā.
- Frode: Meaning āwisdomā.
- Gudrun: Meaning āsecret loreā.
- Herold: Meaning āarmy rulerā.
- Meya: Meaning ābrightā.
- Rayna: Meaning āqueenā.
- Roar: Meaning āfamous spearā.
- Rune: Meaning āsecretā.
- Signa: Meaning ānew victoryā.
- Siri: Meaning ābeautiful victoryā.
- Stefan: Meaning ācrownā.
What are some Norse names and meanings?
If youāre after a Viking name with a specific meaning, weāve got you covered.
Take a peek and see which of these Nordic names takes your fancy.
How do you say raven in Norse?
We love this lilting Viking baby name for girls.
Ravens were important in Norse mythology, representing the eyes of Odin and acting as messengers of the gods.
- Revna: Meaning āravenā.
What name means warrior in Norse?
Warriors were also key in Norse and Viking culture, so there are lots of Viking warrior names to choose from:
- Brynjar: Meaning āarmored warriorā.
- Einar: Meaning ālone warriorā.
- Herleif: Meaning ādescendent of warriorsā.
- Ivar: Meaning ābow warriorā.
- Iver: Meaning ābow warriorā.
- Ragnar: Meaning āwarriorā.
What is bear in Norse?
There are powerful Viking names that mean bear for boys and girls, to inspire your little cub with strength and protection:
- Bjarne: Meaning ābearā.
- BjĆørn: Meaning ābearā.
- Orsola: Meaning ālittle she-bearā.
- Sula: Meaning ālittle she-bearā.
- Ursa: Meaning ābearā.
- Ursala: Meaning ābearā.
- Ursula: Meaning ābearā.
- Yrsa: Meaning ābearā.
What Norse name means life?
Thereās just one notable Norse name that means life ā itās short, sweet, and still popular in Scandinavian countries today:
- Liv: Meaning ālifeā.
What is the Norse word for wolf?
Wolves are another common component of Norse mythology, so there are a few Viking names meaning wolf that you may already know:
- Fenris: Meaning āmythical wolfā.
- Rafe: Meaning ācounsel of the wolfā.
- Rolf: Meaning ācounsel of the wolfā.
- Ulf: Meaning āwolfā.
- Ulfhild: Meaning ābattle wolfā.
- Ulrika: Meaning āwolf powerā.
What Norse name means fire?
Fans of Marvel may know a name similar to this one:
- Logi: Meaning āfireā.
What is the rarest baby name?
If youāre looking for something of a more rare Norse name, be prepared to have trouble with the spelling!
Many Viking baby names use diacritics (accents or punctuation marks above letters), so be mindful of this, too.
You can choose names such as:
- Ć
ge: Meaning āancestorā.
- Arkyn: Meaning āeternal son of the kingā.
- Askild: Meaning āgodsā helmetā.
- Cuyler: Meaning āarcherā.
- Dagny: Meaning āa new dayā.
- Destin: Meaning ādeterminedā.
- Egil: Meaning ārespectā.
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- Geir: Meaning āspear manā.
- Gorm: Meaning āhe worships Godā.
- Gudbrand: Meaning ādivine swordā.
- Gunhild: Meaning āfightā.
- Gunnar: Meaning āarmyā.
- Haldor: Meaning ārock of Thorā.
- Halfdan: Meaning āhalf Danishā.
- Halvar: Meaning ādefender of the rockā.
- Hjalmar: Meaning āhelmet-wearing fighterā.
- Jarl: Meaning ānoble manā.
- Knud: Meaning āknotā.
- Narve: Meaning āenclosedā.
- Odine: Meaning āwild and eagerā.
- Osmond: Meaning ādivine protectionā.
- Sigrun: Meaning āclose friendā.
- Svend: Meaning āworkerā.
- Toke: Meaning āThorās helmetā.
- Uhtred: Meaning āpre-dawn counselā.
- Viggo: Meaning ābattleā.
So take your pick from these powerful, strong Norse and Viking baby names for your little vikingr.
Want to chat about your baby name choices with other moms-to-be? Join us on Peanut!.