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 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. Through a highly subjective and non-scientific process I weaned out most of them. To not make it all subjective, I 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.
Top Twelve Female Names from the Viking Age
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.
“Warrior for Thor” Based on the Old Norse Þýri, derived from Þorr (Thor).
Vilde
Short form of Alvilde, which is derived from Alfhildr. Compound name from Alfr (Elf) and -hildr (battle). Should go well with an Elven warrior.
Vår
Derived from Vár, the name of an Aesir goddess associated with oaths and pledges. Can also mean spring (season) or woman.
Alphabetical list of female Viking Age names
Starting with A
Aldis
Alfhild
“Battle Elf” – Compound of Alf- (Old Norse alfr, meaning elf) and -hild (Old Norse hildr, meaning battle).
Alfrida
Alvdis
“Elven Spirit” – From Old Norse Álfdís, compound of Álf- (meaning elf) and -dís (meaning woman or spirit/deity).
Alvfrid
Alvida
Alvilda
Alvilde
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
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
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
Starting with B
Bjørgun
Bodil
Bolette
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.
Starting with D
Dagfrid
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.
Dagrun
“The Days Secret” – Derived from the Old Norse Dágr, the god of the day, and -run, meaning secret.
Disa
Disalv
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
Elevine
Elfi
Elli
Ellida
Ellrun
Elva
Embla
Name of the first woman in Norse myths, brought to life by the gods Odin, Vili and Ve.
Erika
Erikka
Erna
Evina
Evine
Eydís
Eyrun
Eyvor
Starting with F
Fredrikke
Freja
Variant of the name of the Old Norse Vanir goddess of beauty and fertility.
Freya
The name of the Old Norse Vanir goddess of beauty and fertility.
Frida
Frøy
Variant of the name of the Old Norse Vanir goddess of beauty and fertility.
Frøya
Variant of the name of the Old Norse Vanir goddess of beauty and fertility.
Frøydis
A name combining Frøy, from the Old Norse Frøyja, goddess of beauty and fertility, and -dis, the Old Norse spirit deities.
Starting with G
Gerd
Gerda
Gjøa
Gro
Gry
Gudrun
Gullaug
Gullveig
The name of a mysterious woman mentioned in the Poetic Edda poem Voluspá. She brings gold, but also greed and insatiable desire among the Aesir. Possibly she was another form of Freyja, but that is speculative. Gull- means gold, and -veig is understood here as meaning strength.
Gunhild
Gunnlaug
Gunnveig
Gunnvor
Gunveig
Gunvor
Gunvord
Guri
Gurina
Gurine
Guro
Gyda
Starting with H
Haddy
Halbjørg
Haldis
Halfrid
Halgerd
Halgunn
Hallaug
Halldis
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
Herlaug
Hermana
Hervor
Hilda
Hildborg
Hilde
Hildegun
Hildegunn
Hildrun
“Battle Secret” – Coumpound, based on the Old Norse hildr (meaning battle) and -run (meaning secret).
Hildur
Hjørdis
Hulda
Starting with I
Idun
Based on the Old Norse name Iðunn, Aesir goddess of youth, keeper of the mythical golden apples.
Idunn
Based on the Old Norse name Iðunn, Aesir goddess of youth, keeper of the mythical golden apples.
Inga
Ingebjørg
Ingeborg
Inger
Ingri
Ingrid
Ingun
Ingunn
Ingvil
Variant of Ingvild (see below) where the -d is dropped.
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
Starting with J
Jorid
Jorun
Jorunn
Jørgina
Jørun
Jørunn
Starting with K
Kari
Kjellaug
Kjellrun
Kjerlaug
Kristhild
Kristlaug
Starting with L
Lagertha
Linveig
Liv
Livunn
Starting with M
Maj
Malfrid
Malmfrid
Møyfrid
Målfrid
Starting with N
Nanna
Norfrid
Norhild
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
Starting with R
Ragnfrid
Ragnhild
Ragnhild
Ragnhilda
Randi
Rannveig
Ranveig
Reidun
Reidunn
Rigmor
Runa
Runi
Starting with S
Saga
Sif
Sigbjørg
Sigborg
Sigdis
Sigfrid
Sigfrida
Sigfryd
Signe
Signy
Sigri
Sigrid
Sigrun
Sigrún
Sigrund
Sigrunn
Sigun
Sigveig
Sigvor
Sigyn
Siv
Siw
Snefrid
Snøfrid
Sol
From Old Norse Sól, goddess of the sun. It also means sun, even to this day in all the Scandinavian languages.
Solfrid
Solgun
Solrun
“Secret of the Sun”, derived from a combination of the Old Norse sól, with the -run ending meaning secret.
Solvei
Solveig
Solvor
Solvår
Soma
Svanfrid
Svanhild
Svanild
Svanlaug
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
Thorgunn
Thorhild
Thoril
Thorild
Thorill
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. Personally I would favor the longer one, including the ‘h’.
Torbjørg
Tordis
Tordun
Torfrid
Torfrida
Torgine
Torgjerd
Torgun
Torhild
Toril
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).
Starting with U
Udna
Ulvhild
“Battle wolf”, from the Old Norse úlfr, meaning wolf, and -hildr, meaning battle.
Una
Short variant of Unna, see below.
Unni
Unn
“Loved”. From the Old Norse, ‘unna’, to be loved. Could also be connected with one of the daughters of Ran and Aegir, Unnr, meaning ‘Frothing Wave’.
Unna
“Loved”. From the Old Norse, ‘unna’, to be loved. Could also be connected with one of the daughters of Ran and Aegir, Unnr, meaning ‘Frothing Wave’.
Unnlaug
Unnveig
Starting with V
Valbjørg
Valborg
Valdine
Valdis
Valfrid
Valgjerd
Vebjørg
Vedis
Velaug
Venhild
Veni
Venil
Vidrun
Vigdis
Vigdís
Vigunn
Vilbjørg
Vilborg
Vilde
Short form of Alvilde, which is derived from Alfhildr. Compound name from Alfr (Elf) and -hildr (battle). Should go well with an Elven warrior.
Vilfrid
Vilgjerd
Vilgun
Vilrun
Based on a compund word, from Vil (will or wish) and run (secret). Maybe the name for someone keeping, or granting a secret wish.
Vivil
Vår
Derived from Vár, the name of an Aesir goddess associated with oaths and pledges. Can also mean spring (season) or woman.
Vaar
Derived from Vár, the name of an Aesir goddess associated with oaths and pledges. Can also mean spring (season) or woman.
Vårin
Derived from Vár, the name of an Aesir goddess associated with oaths and pledges. Can also mean spring (season) or woman.
Vårun
Derived from Vár, the name of an Aesir goddess associated with oaths and pledges. Can also mean spring (season) or woman.
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.
2 thoughts on “319 Female Viking Names (With Top Twelve List)”
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.
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.