Norse God Names: Origin and Meaning of First Names from the Edda

The Origin of the Names: The Poetic and Snorra Edda

When Norse god names are mentioned, linguists and historians rely primarily on the Edda. This is not a single book, but rather two different Icelandic works from the 13th century: the Poetic Edda (a collection of older mythological poems) and the Snorra Edda (a textbook for poets, composed by Snorri Sturluson). Both works recorded oral traditions in writing that reach back to the Viking Age and earlier.

The names of the divine families—the Aesir and the Vanir—originate from Old Norse. For many of these names, the underlying word root can be clearly identified and translated. For other names, the exact meaning has been lost over the centuries or continues to be a subject of controversy in Germanic studies. Ambiguity is by no means rare with mythological names; rather, it is part of their long history.

Norse God Names from A to Z

Here you will find a selection of names from Norse mythology, arranged alphabetically. For each name, we provide context regarding its linguistic origin and meaning.

• Balder (also Baldur): The frequently cited translation "lord" or "prince" is a widespread interpretation. Another linguistic derivation links the name to the Old English word for "bold" or the Old Norse term for "shining day." A single blanket meaning would be too imprecise here. In mythology, Balder is the god of light.
• Bragi: This name is documented to derive from the Old Norse word bragr, which means "poetry" or "the foremost." Accordingly, Bragi is the god of poetry. In Scandinavian, the G is pronounced as a soft fricative, whereas in German it is usually pronounced as a hard G.
• Eir: The Old Norse root of this short name reliably means "mercy," "protection," or "peace." Eir is mentioned in the Snorra Edda as the goddess of healing; in other sources, the name appears as a designation for a Valkyrie.
• Forseti: The name goes back to the Old Norse word for "chairman" or "presiding one." In mythology, Forseti is the god of justice who mediates disputes. In modern Icelandic, "forseti" is the regular word for "president."
• Freya (also Freyja): This name is documented as the Old Norse word for "lady" or "noblewoman." Freya belongs to the Vanir family of gods and is regarded as the goddess of love. The spelling with Y and A is the most common in the German-speaking area today.
• Freyr: The male counterpart to Freya. The Old Norse root reliably means "lord." Freyr is the brother of Freya and is considered the god of weather and fertility.
• Frigg: The name traces back to an Indo-European root; the Old Norse meaning is documented as "the beloved" or "the wife." Frigg is the wife of Odin. In literature, she is often confused with Freya, but linguistically they are two distinct names.
• Gefion (also Gefjon): The frequently cited translation "the giver" (from Old Norse gefa for "to give") is a widespread interpretation and not the full story of the name. Other research considers a connection to words for "sea." She is a goddess associated with agriculture.
• Heimdall: The name is widely translated as "the one who illuminates the world." However, only the first element of the name, heim ("world" or "home"), is certain. The older linguistic meaning of the syllable -dall has not been definitively clarified. He is the guardian of the gods.
• Idun (also Idunna): The often-mentioned translation "the rejuvenator" or "the ever-young" is one interpretation. The exact linguistic derivation from Old Norse is assessed differently in research. She is the keeper of the apples that preserve the youth of the gods.
• Loki: The older meaning of this name family has not been definitively clarified. A connection is frequently drawn to the Old Norse word loki ("knot") or logi ("fire"), but this remains an unconfirmed interpretation. Loki is one of the best-known and most ambivalent figures of the Edda.
• Nanna: There are various interpretations for this name. The frequently cited translation "the daring one" is only one of them. Other linguists trace its origin to the Old Norse word for "mother" or to Germanic nursery language (baby talk). Nanna is the wife of Balder.
• Odin: The name of the chief god goes back to the Old Norse word óðr. The documented meaning encompasses concepts such as "inspiration," "mind," but also "frenzy" or "rage." In the South Germanic region, this name corresponds to Wodan or Wotan.
• Saga: In Old Norse, this name reliably means "the seeing one" or "the tale" (related to the German word "Sage"). Saga is mentioned in the Edda as a goddess who drinks with Odin from golden cups.
• Sif: The Old Norse root reliably means "kinship" or "relative by marriage." In mythology, Sif is the wife of the thunder god Thor and is famous for her golden hair.
• Skadi: The older linguistic meaning of this name is unclear. A widespread interpretation draws a connection to the Old Norse word skaði ("harm" or "damage"), while another sees Skadi as the namesake for the region of Scandinavia. A definitive meaning cannot be established. She is the goddess of hunting and winter.
• Thor: The name goes directly back to the Old Norse word þórr; the meaning "thunder" is reliably documented. Thor is the thunder god. In German, the name is pronounced with a hard T, and the H is silent.
• Tyr: The Old Norse root týr simply means "god." Historically, the name is linguistically related to the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter. Tyr is the god of battle and law.
• Ull (also Ullr): This name goes back to the Old Norse word ullr; the documented meaning is "glory" or "splendor." In mythology, Ull is considered an outstanding archer and skier.
• Vidar: The name is composed of the Old Norse words víðr ("wide") and arr ("warrior" or "ruler"). The documented meaning is "the wide ruler." Vidar is a son of Odin and is regarded as the silent god.

Spellings and Everyday Suitability in the German-Speaking Area

If you are considering an Old Norse name, you should consider how it works in everyday modern life. In their original form, many names from the Edda contain Old Norse special characters such as ð, þ, or æ. In the German-speaking area, these characters are transcribed: Þórr becomes Thor, and Freyja usually becomes Freya.

An important aspect is how the name pairs with the last name. Many Norse god names are very short and monosyllabic (such as Sif, Tyr, Ull, or Eir). These names often sound particularly harmonious when combined with a multisyllabic last name. With a very short last name, a monosyllabic first name can sound abrupt. In such cases, a longer middle name might be considered to balance the rhythm.

Also keep in mind how familiar the name is: names such as Thor, Freya, or Odin are widely known today and rarely need to be spelled out. If you choose rarer names such as Forseti, Skadi, or Bragi, you should be prepared for having to explain the spelling or pronunciation more frequently.

How to Proceed

To find out which name suits you best, you should first narrow down your options. Write down the names from the Edda that both of you spontaneously like. Then say them out loud in combination with your last name. That way, you will quickly notice whether the rhythm works and whether there are any stumbling blocks in pronunciation.

To make this process easier, you can use the HeyName app. There, you can connect your devices via an invitation. When you rate first names independently of each other as "Favorite," "Maybe," or "Not a match," the names that both of you marked as a favorite will appear directly as joint matches. In the app, you can also filter specifically by country of origin or see how the first name looks together with your last name or a potential middle name. This allows you to discuss your shortlist together in a structured way.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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