Choosing a name for your child, or someone you love can undoubtedly be a difficult task. If you are looking …
Choosing a name for your child, or someone you love can undoubtedly be a difficult task. If you are looking for female names inspired by goddesses or other strong women from Norse mythology, or just the Viking Age, this list will hopefully help you on your journey.
When working on this list I started with almost fifteen hundred names. Then, through a highly subjective and non-scientific process I weaned out most of them. To not make it all subjective, I finally recruited the help of my daughter Oda (her name is remarkably in the top twelve). Together we have looked at more female Viking Age names than I had ever thought I would. My son Brage and I have made a list of Viking Age names for boys as well.
Our goal has been to create a list with names that we actually liked, while not being too restrictive. We eliminated names that today are more male than female. We also removed some that have taken on some unintended meaning in our time. Finally we cut some (many) that we in good conscience didn’t want to help someone name their daughter.
Many of these are popular female names today across Scandinavia. Based on our own taste we also came up with a list of top twelve female names with strong roots in the Norse myths or Viking Age. As the Norns carve runes into the roots of Yggdrasil, deciding what the future has in hold for your child, a good name will certainly be a great gift.
I have also created a Dictionary of Norse Mythology which is much broader, covering all manner of gods, animals, jötnar, dwarves, places and more.
When choosing the top twelve female names from Norse myths and history, we had a bit of a challenge. We really ended with fifteen or sixteen names, however we finally managed to get it down to twelve. Obviously, choosing a name is highly personal so our top picks aren’t necessarily the same as yours will be.
We hope you find this list helpful and would love to hear from you if you decide to use one of them yourself.
Top Twelve List
Andora
“Thor’s Eagle” – Female version of the male Andor. An- is derived from Old Norse Árn (meaning eagle), -dor is from the Old Norse Þórr for Thor.
Dagny
“New Day”(More poetically it could be understood as New Beginning). Derived from the Old Norse Dágr, the god of the day, and -ny, meaning new.
“Battle Elf” variant – compound of Alv- (Old Norse alfr, meaning elf) and -ilde (Old Norse hildr, meaning battle).
Alvlaug
Andora
“Thor’s Eagle” – Female version of the male Andor. An- is derived from Old Norse Árn (meaning eagle), -dor is from the Old Norse Þórr for Thor.
Anveig
Asa
Short form of names starting with As/Ås, like Åsfrid, Åsbjørg etc. As- is from the Old Norse Ása. meaning ‘a god’ or one of the two tribes of gods, the Aesir.
Aslaug
“Promised to the Gods” – Compound of As- (Old Norse Ás, meaning god) and -laug, meaning promised to, or married to).
Astri
“She who is loved by the gods” – From Old Norse Ástríðr. Compund of Ás (meaning god) and -tríðr (variant of fríðr, meaning beautiful).
Astrid
“She who is loved by the gods” – From Old Norse Ástríðr. Compund of Ás (meaning god) and -tríðr (variant of fríðr, meaning beautiful).
Aud
“Prosperity/Wealth” from the Old Norse Auðr which means wealth, or abundance. Also possibly a name for a minor god, ie. a male name, but is usually seen as a female name.
Audveig
Åfrid
Ålaug
Ålov
Årlaug
Åsa
Aasa
Åsbjørg
Aasbjørg
Åse
Aase
Åsfrid
Aasfrid
Åsgerd
Aasgjerd
Åsgun
Åshild
Aashild
Åslaug
Aaslaug
Åsne
New Goddess – From Old Norse Ás-ný, where Ás is the gods, and -ný means new.
Åsny
Åsveig
Aasveig
Girl names Starting with B
Bodil
Modernized version of the Old Norse name Bóthildr. Compound of bót- (make up for/improve something), and -hildr, meaning battle.
Bolette
A variant of Bodil, which is a modernized version of the Old Norse name Bóthildr. Compound of bót- (make up for/improve something), and -hildr, meaning battle.
Brynhild
Variant of Brynhildr, more commonly used today, however still rare.
Brynhildr
From the famous valkyrie and shield maiden Brynhildr. The name is made up of bryn, meaning chain mail, and hild, meaning battle.
Girl names Starting with D
Dagny
“New Day”(More poetically it could be be understood as New Beginning). Derived from the Old Norse Dágr, the god of the day, and -ny, meaning new.
Short form of names ending on -dis. From the Old Norse Disir, the female spirits sometimes appearing as fylgjur, protectors of a person or family.
Disalv
“Spirit elf”, compound of Dis- (from the Old Norse Disír, female spirits) and -alv (from Old Norse álfr, meaning elf).
Girl names Starting with E
Edbjørg
Eibjørg
Eidis
Eir
Norse goddess of healing. Can also mean protection, or help.
Eira
Derived from Eir, the Norse goddess of healing. Can also mean protection, or help.
Eirun
Based on a compund word, derived from Eir (Norse goddess of helaing) and run (secret knowledge).
Eirunn
Based on a compund word, derived from Eir (Norse goddess of helaing) and -run (secret knowledge).
Eivor
From the Old Norse name Eyvǫr, compound of Ey- meaning island, or more likely here, treasure, and -vǫr, meaning careful, or considerate.
Elevine
Elfi
Elli
Ellida
From the Old Norse Elliði, the name of a renowned ship, meaning something like “The swift sailer”.
Ellrun
Elva
Embla
Name of the first woman in Norse myths, brought to life by the gods Odin, Vili and Ve.
Erika
“Eternal Ruler / One Ruler.” Feminine version of the Old Norse Eiríkr, it self created by combining Ei- from aiwa/aina (eternal/one) and -rikr (ruler, ie. powerful).
Variant of Gudrun, “Secret of the Gods”, derived from the Old Norse Guð-rún, where Guð– means god, and –rún means a secret, or secret knowledge possibly.
“Hall of Thor” compound name from Old Norse Hall– meaning hall, and dora, derived from –thora, the female version of Thor.
Halfrid
Halgerd
Halgunn
Hallaug
Hedda
“Bright, or Honor”, from the Old Norse Heiðr, meaning adj. bright, or noun honor. Also a common name in the Vking Age. Occurs in Norse mythology as the name Gullveig (possibly Freyja) takes after the Aesir tries to kill her.
Helfrid
Helga
“Blessed” – female form of the male name Helgi, derived from the Old Norse heilagr, meaning holy or blessed.
Helgun
“Blessed” – variant female form of the male name Helgi, derived from the Old Norse heilagr, meaning holy or blessed.
Helgunn
“Blessed” – variant female form of the male name Helgi, derived from the Old Norse heilagr, meaning holy or blessed.
Helje
Helle
“Blessed” – variant female form of the male name Helgi, derived from the Old Norse heilagr, meaning holy or blessed.
Herbjørg
Herborg
Herdis
Herfrid
Hergun
From the Old Norse Her-gunnr, where Her- means army, and -gunnr means battle.
Herlaug
Hermana
Hervor
“Army, protector”, from the Old Norse Her-vǫr, where Her– means army, and –vǫr means someone who protects others.
Hildborg
Hilde
Hildegun
Hildrun
“Battle Secret” – Coumpound, based on the Old Norse hildr (meaning battle) and -run (meaning secret).
Based on the Old Norse name Iðunn, Aesir goddess of youth, keeper of the mythical golden apples.
Inga
Ingebjørg
Ingeborg
Inger
Ingri
Ingrid
Ingunn
Ingvild
Based on the Old Norse name Yngvildr. It was a combination of Yngv-ildr, where the first ‘Yngv’ is from the god Yngve/Ing (Freyr) and the last part -ildr comes from hildr, meaning battle. However, there was also a valkyrie named Hildr. Great name for a fierce and independent girl.
Ingvor
Isfrid
Iverna
Iverine
Girl names Starting with J
Jorid
Jorun
Jorunn
Jørgina
Jørun
Jørunn
Girl names Starting with K
Kari
Kjellaug
Kjellrun
Kjerlaug
Kristhild
Kristlaug
Girl names Starting with L
Lagertha
Famously the name of the first wife of Ragnar Lothbrok. The translation is a bit challenging, but it is a compound name, from the Old Norse Hlað-gerðr. More or less directly translated, the meaning of Hlað is a decorative ribbon in a womans hair, and –gerðr, is fence, or enclosure.
Linveig
Liv
Livunn
Girl names Starting with M
Maj
Malfrid
Malmfrid
Møyfrid
Målfrid
Girl names Starting with N
Nanna
Norfrid
Norhild
Girl names Starting with O
Oda
“Prosperity” or “Happiness” – Short form of even older German female names beginning with Od- or Ot-. Derived from Old Norse auðr, meaning prosperity.
Odalfrid
Oddbjørg
Oddgun
Oddny
Oddrun
Odel
Odine
Odrun
Olaug
Olava
Olda
Oldis
Olea
Olrun
Oslaug
Girl names Starting with R
Ragnfrid
Ragnhild
Ragnhild
Ragnhilda
Randi
Rannveig
Ranveig
Reidun
Reidunn
Rigmor
Runa
Runi
Girl names Starting with S
Saga
“Story”, from the Old Norse Saga, meaning story, or moreover, a long and deeply engaging story of challenges and triumphs.
Sif
“Wife, or Bride”, from Old Norse sif, meaning wife or bride, also the name of Thor’s wife.
Sigbjørg
Sigborg
Sigdis
Sigfrid
Sigfrida
Sigfryd
Signe
“New Victory”, from the Old Norse Sigr, meaning victory, and -ny (-ne) meaning new. In later, Christian times, it came to mean blessed, so a great name either way.
Signy
Sigri
Sigrid
Sigrún
Sigun
Sigveig
Sigvor
Sigyn
Siv
A more modern version of Sif, from Old Norse sif, meaning wife or bride, also the name of Thor’s wife.
Siw
A more modern version of Sif, from Old Norse sif, meaning wife or bride, also the name of Thor’s wife.
“Secret of the Sun”, derived from a combination of the Old Norse sól, with the -run ending meaning secret.
Solvei
Solveig
Solvår
Soma
Svanfrid
Svanhild
Svanlaug
Girl names Starting with T
Thora
A female variant of the name Thor. From the Old Norse Þóra, derived from Þórr, the name of Thor, the god of thunder.
Thordis
Thorgun
Thorhild
Thoril
Thorine
Thorun
“Loved by Thor”, based on a combination of Thor’s name, and the Old Norse ending -unna, meaning ‘loved’. Naming a daughter this would possibly both be honoring Thor, and invoking his protection.
Thorunn
Variant of Thorun.
Thurid
Tone
Tora
Variant of Thora, a feminine version of Thor. Personally I would favor the longer one, including the ‘h’.
Torbjørg
Tordis
Tordun
Torfrid
Torfrida
Torgine
Torgjerd
Torgun
Torhild
Torin
Torine
Torlaug
Torun
Torveig
Tova
Tove
Trude
Turhild
Tyra
“Warrior for Thor” Based on the Old Norse Þýri, derived from Þorr (Thor).
Tyri
“Warrior for Thor” Based on the Old Norse Þýri, derived from Þorr (Thor).
Norse mythology enthusiast, Norwegian and living in Oslo next to a series of old Viking age burial mounds.I am also able to navigate and understand quite a lot of the old Norse texts and I often lean on original texts when researching an article. Through this blog I hope more people, young and old will get to know Norse mythology and the world of the Vikings a bit better. You can find me here
9 thoughts on “319 Female Viking Names (With Top Twelve List)”
Amazing site! Came here to look for my future Boxer puppy. I most certainly recommend your site to my friends. I also started research on my heritage. I was born and raised in Germany and as history has it, I may have some Viking in me. We’ll see. Again, wonderful site and thank you for your work..
Growing up, according to name books that actually HAD the Norse version of the name (A few in the 80’s and even fewer after Tyra Banks became popular with her being named after her father Tyrone) and my Norwegian family members, everyone’s told me that my name Tyra was a feminine version of týr, the God of War, Courage and Justice who gave his right hand to help chain the wolf Fenrir, and had nothing to do with my dad’s name, Thor. Is “Thor’s warrior” this a regional thing, or is it cultural shift? Two variants of the same name? I see some sites saying its after Týr and others claiming its after Þýri and this is the first place that I’ve seen that actually had the option to ask.
Came here to look for a name for my daughter thats gonna be born in january. Just hope i can persuade my wife with one of these names haha. Thanks for the awsome list.
Hi Benjamin, great to hear you appreciated the list we have created. It’s an ongoing project to update the meaning of many of them still so maybe come back again later. Best of luck convincing the wife 😉
I have been fascinated with Vikings for many years, and I live the fact that you explain things about them and the names you have on here are amazing, I’ve named family members after Vikings names and the meanings mean alot to me to understand and how to say each one, I make sure it fits the family member.
I appreciate you very much and my goal in life is to be able to come and visit the land and the one castle that’s still up from my understanding Brunanburh.
Hey Ann, great to hear from you and that you find the name list helpful. Reminds me to get back to it to add more descriptions and meanings to the list. I’m not sure if maybe the castle you are refering is actually Bamburgh Castle, but either way, if you do want to dig into Viking Age history, you might be better off visiting Norway or Denmark (personally I’m obviously required to say Norway 😉 ) and visit some sites here. I believe there is a “live” Viking Age village in Denmark you can visit as well. Visiting Norway would allow for maybe exploring some of the countryside where many of the Viking Age clans lived, giving more of a feel for the land than visiting a museum can ever do. Pwrsonally, we have a small forest behind our house here in Oslo with a long row of Viking Age burial mounds, just sitting down there and let it sink in feels to me like another great experience besides visiting museums. Hope for you that you get to go sometime!
My husband and I are both practicing Norse Pagans. Something I really like about this vlog, is that you’re delivering straight information, to the best of your knowledge and understanding. A great many posts are quick to condemn us for our faith. Keep seeking the truth, my friend. Knowledge is power. Skọl
Hello Shellie, really appreciate your feedback! Exploring Norse history and mythology is an ongoing journey, and kind encouragements like yours is great to have along the way. Being open minded, curious and caring goes a long way, rather than close minded, set in your ways in convinced of ones own beliefes.
Amazing site! Came here to look for my future Boxer puppy. I most certainly recommend your site to my friends. I also started research on my heritage. I was born and raised in Germany and as history has it, I may have some Viking in me. We’ll see. Again, wonderful site and thank you for your work..
Thanks Oliver, much appreciated! Good luck with your pup, hope you find a good strong name for it!
Growing up, according to name books that actually HAD the Norse version of the name (A few in the 80’s and even fewer after Tyra Banks became popular with her being named after her father Tyrone) and my Norwegian family members, everyone’s told me that my name Tyra was a feminine version of týr, the God of War, Courage and Justice who gave his right hand to help chain the wolf Fenrir, and had nothing to do with my dad’s name, Thor. Is “Thor’s warrior” this a regional thing, or is it cultural shift? Two variants of the same name? I see some sites saying its after Týr and others claiming its after Þýri and this is the first place that I’ve seen that actually had the option to ask.
Came here to look for a name for my daughter thats gonna be born in january. Just hope i can persuade my wife with one of these names haha. Thanks for the awsome list.
Hi Benjamin, great to hear you appreciated the list we have created. It’s an ongoing project to update the meaning of many of them still so maybe come back again later. Best of luck convincing the wife 😉
Marius
I have been fascinated with Vikings for many years, and I live the fact that you explain things about them and the names you have on here are amazing, I’ve named family members after Vikings names and the meanings mean alot to me to understand and how to say each one, I make sure it fits the family member.
I appreciate you very much and my goal in life is to be able to come and visit the land and the one castle that’s still up from my understanding Brunanburh.
Hey Ann, great to hear from you and that you find the name list helpful. Reminds me to get back to it to add more descriptions and meanings to the list. I’m not sure if maybe the castle you are refering is actually Bamburgh Castle, but either way, if you do want to dig into Viking Age history, you might be better off visiting Norway or Denmark (personally I’m obviously required to say Norway 😉 ) and visit some sites here. I believe there is a “live” Viking Age village in Denmark you can visit as well. Visiting Norway would allow for maybe exploring some of the countryside where many of the Viking Age clans lived, giving more of a feel for the land than visiting a museum can ever do. Pwrsonally, we have a small forest behind our house here in Oslo with a long row of Viking Age burial mounds, just sitting down there and let it sink in feels to me like another great experience besides visiting museums. Hope for you that you get to go sometime!
My husband and I are both practicing Norse Pagans. Something I really like about this vlog, is that you’re delivering straight information, to the best of your knowledge and understanding. A great many posts are quick to condemn us for our faith. Keep seeking the truth, my friend. Knowledge is power. Skọl
Hello Shellie, really appreciate your feedback! Exploring Norse history and mythology is an ongoing journey, and kind encouragements like yours is great to have along the way. Being open minded, curious and caring goes a long way, rather than close minded, set in your ways in convinced of ones own beliefes.