If you are looking for a name that feels powerful, ancient, and full of story, Norse mythology is one of the best places to start.
These are names that have survived over a thousand years. They belonged to gods, giants, warriors, and creatures that shaped one of the most dramatic storytelling traditions in human history. And today, many of them are making a serious comeback, not just in books and movies, but as real names for real babies.
Whether you want a name with thunder behind it or something quietly beautiful from the old Norse world, this list has you covered.
Here are 107 of the most popular Norse mythology names, with their meanings.
Names of the Norse Gods (The Aesir)
The Aesir were the main tribe of Norse gods. They lived in Asgard, ruled over the nine worlds, and showed up constantly in the great myths. These are the names most people recognize first when they think of Norse mythology. Strong, resonant, and loaded with meaning.
Every single one of these names has been carried by a real deity with a real story. They are not decorative. They meant something specific, and that meaning is still alive in the name today.
1. Odin
The Allfather. The god of wisdom, war, poetry, and death. He sacrificed one eye at the well of Mimir to gain infinite knowledge and hung himself from Yggdrasil for nine days to discover the runes. A name that carries the weight of the entire Norse cosmos.
2. Thor
The god of thunder, storms, and protection of humanity. Son of Odin and wielder of Mjolnir, the hammer that could flatten mountains. One of the most recognized names in world mythology, and now one of the most popular baby names in Scandinavia.
3. Loki
The trickster god. Son of giants but adopted into Asgard. His name is thought to mean “knot” or “close,” possibly referring to his tangled, unpredictable nature. One of the most complex characters in any mythology.
4. Frigg
Odin’s wife and the queen of Asgard. The goddess of marriage, motherhood, and foresight. She knew the fate of all beings but rarely spoke it aloud. Her name is connected to the Old Norse word meaning “beloved.”
5. Freya
The goddess of love, fertility, war, and magic. She was the most powerful of the Vanir gods and taught Odin the art of seidr, the Norse form of shamanic magic. Friday is literally named after her.
6. Tyr
The one-handed god of justice and law. He sacrificed his hand so the wolf Fenrir could be bound for the safety of all the worlds. His name means “god” in Proto-Germanic. Tuesday is named after him.
7. Baldur
The most beloved god in Asgard. Son of Odin and Frigg, known for his beauty, gentleness, and radiance. His death at the hands of a mistletoe arrow was the event that set Ragnarok in motion. His name means “lord” or “prince.”
8. Heimdall
The watchman of the gods. He stood at the Bifrost bridge guarding Asgard and could hear grass growing and wool on sheep. His name possibly means “the one who illuminates the world.” He carried the Gjallarhorn, whose blast would signal the beginning of Ragnarok.
9. Vidar
The silent god. Son of Odin, destined to avenge his father’s death by killing the wolf Fenrir at Ragnarok. His name means “wide ruler” or “forest ruler.” One of the few gods to survive the end of the world.
10. Vali
Another son of Odin, born specifically to avenge the death of Baldur. He killed Hod within one day of being born. His name is thought to mean “the chosen one” or simply to be a short form of a longer Norse name.
11. Bragi
The god of poetry, music, and eloquence. Husband of Idunn. He greeted newly arrived warriors in Valhalla with poetry. His name became the Norse word for poetry itself.
12. Hod
The blind god who unknowingly killed his brother Baldur when Loki tricked him into throwing the mistletoe arrow. His name means “battle” or “warrior.” A tragic figure in the Norse tradition.
13. Forseti
The god of justice and reconciliation. Son of Baldur. He lived in a hall called Glitnir, whose walls and roof were made of gold and silver. His name means “the presiding one” or “chairman.”
14. Ullr
The god of hunting, archery, and skiing. One of the older Norse gods, possibly predating the Aesir tradition. His name means “glory” or “brilliance.” Still used as a name in Scandinavia today.
15. Mimir
Not a god in the traditional sense, but a being of immense wisdom who guarded the well at the root of Yggdrasil. Odin sacrificed his eye to drink from Mimir’s well. His name means “the rememberer” or “the wise one.”
Names of the Norse Goddesses
Norse mythology gave women extraordinary power. The goddesses were not sideline figures. They commanded magic, love, fate, and the sea. Many of them were warriors. All of them were forces.
These names carry that feminine power forward. Several of them have already crossed into modern baby name culture and are rising fast on naming charts across the US, UK, and Scandinavia.
16. Freya
Already listed among the Aesir, but worth repeating here in the goddess section because she is the most important female figure in all of Norse mythology. Love. War. Magic. Fate. She held all of it.
17. Frigg
Queen of Asgard and the goddess of marriage and motherhood. The two F-names, Freya and Frigg, are often confused but they are distinct goddesses with different domains and different stories.
18. Skadi
The goddess of winter, skiing, and the hunt. A giantess who became a goddess after marrying into the Aesir. She chose her husband by looking only at feet. She picked the wrong god. Her name means “shadow” or “damage,” and she embodied the fierce beauty of the mountain winter.
19. Idunn
The keeper of the golden apples that gave the gods eternal youth. Without her apples, the gods would age and wither. Her name means “the rejuvenating one” or “ever young.” A name that carries the idea of renewal and life.
20. Sif
The golden-haired wife of Thor. Her hair was so magnificent that when Loki cut it off as a prank, Thor threatened to kill him unless he replaced it. Her name is connected to the Old Norse word for “in-law” or “kinship.” A name of family bonds and golden grace.
21. Hel
The ruler of the realm of the dead that bore her name. Daughter of Loki. Half her body was living flesh and half was corpse. She received all who died of illness or old age, not those who died in battle. Her name means exactly what it sounds like: the hidden place.
22. Ran
The goddess of the sea who used a great net to drag drowned sailors down to her hall at the ocean floor. Her name means “robber” or “thief.” A dramatic, powerful name for those who respect what the sea takes.
23. Sigyn
The loyal wife of Loki. When he was bound beneath the earth as punishment, she held a bowl above him to catch the venom that dripped from the serpent. Her name means “victorious girlfriend” or “victory woman.” A name of extraordinary loyalty.
24. Nanna
The wife of Baldur. When Baldur died, Nanna’s grief was so great that she died of heartbreak at his funeral and was burned alongside him. Her name means “daring” or “brave.” A name of deep love and courage.
25. Eir
The goddess of healing and mercy. Associated with medical skill in a culture where medicine was considered a form of divine power. Her name means “peace” or “clemency.” One of the gentlest names in Norse mythology.
26. Var
The goddess of oaths, agreements, and promises. She punished those who broke their vows. Her name means “pledge” or “beloved.” A quiet but fierce guardian of honesty.
27. Vor
The goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Nothing could be hidden from her. Her name means “the careful one” or “the aware one.” A name for someone who sees everything clearly.
28. Syn
The goddess who guarded the doors of Frigg’s hall and refused entry to those who were not welcome. Her name means “denial” or “refusal.” A name of firm, protective boundaries.
29. Gefjon
The goddess associated with plowing, virginity, and the island of Zealand in Denmark. She tricked a Swedish king into giving her as much land as she could plow in a day, then transformed her four sons into oxen and plowed a huge swath of land into the sea. Her name means “the giving one.”
30. Gna
Frigg’s messenger goddess who rode the horse Hofvarpnir across sky and sea. Her name is thought to mean “the towering one” or simply to represent swift movement.
Names of Norse Giants and Mythological Creatures
The giants, or Jotnar, were not just villains in Norse mythology. They were the primordial forces that existed before the gods and would outlast them after Ragnarok. Many were wise, beautiful, and complex. Several married into the Aesir.
These names are rawer and more unusual. They have not made the same crossover into modern naming culture, which makes them even more distinctive if you are looking for something truly rare.
31. Ymir
The first being in the Norse cosmos. A frost giant whose body was used to create the world. The earth was his flesh, the mountains his bones, the sea his blood, the sky his skull. His name means “the screamer” or “twin.”
32. Jormungandr
The World Serpent. Child of Loki, so large he encircled the entire earth and bit his own tail. His death and Thor’s death are intertwined at Ragnarok. His name means “the great beast of the earth.”
33. Fenrir
The great wolf. Son of Loki. So powerful the gods feared him and bound him with a magic ribbon called Gleipnir. He will break free at Ragnarok and swallow Odin. His name means “fen dweller.”
34. Surtr
The fire giant who rules Muspelheim and will set the world ablaze at Ragnarok. His name means “the black one” or “the swarthy one.” He carries a flaming sword described as brighter than the sun.
35. Thrym
The frost giant king who stole Thor’s hammer and demanded Freya as his bride in exchange. Thor disguised himself as a bride and went to reclaim it. His name means “uproar” or “din.”
36. Utgard-Loki
The king of the frost giants in Utgard. He tricked Thor and his companions in a series of challenges that were secretly illusions. His name means “Loki of the outer places,” marking him as an outsider even among giants.
37. Skrymir
A giant so enormous that Thor and his companions accidentally slept inside his glove thinking it was a hall. His name means “the big show-off” or “the boaster.”
38. Hrungnir
The strongest of all the giants, who challenged Odin to a horse race and then challenged Thor to a duel. He had a heart and head made of stone. His name means “the brawler.”
39. Garm
The hound that guards the entrance to Hel. His barking signals the beginning of Ragnarok. Similar to Cerberus in Greek mythology. His name means “the one who gnaws” or “rag.”
40. Ratatoskr
The squirrel that runs up and down Yggdrasil, carrying insulting messages between the eagle at the top and the dragon Nidhogg at the roots. His name means “drill tooth” or “bore tooth.” A mischievous little name with enormous personality.
41. Nidhogg
The dragon that gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, slowly trying to destroy the tree that holds the worlds together. His name means “the one who strikes with malice” or “corpse gnawer.” A dark, dramatic name.
42. Fafnir
Originally a dwarf who transformed into a dragon out of greed for the cursed gold of Andvari. Killed by the hero Sigurd. His name means “embracer” or possibly refers to the word for fear.
43. Jarngreiper
A name meaning “iron griper,” belonging to the iron gloves Thor needed to wield his hammer. Sometimes used as an entity name in its own right in later Norse traditions.
44. Angrboda
The giantess who was the mother of Loki’s three monstrous children: Fenrir, Jormungandr, and Hel. Her name means “she who brings grief” or “sorrow bringer.” A haunting, powerful name.
45. Bestla
The frost giantess who was the mother of Odin, Vili, and Ve. Without her, there would be no Odin. Her name’s exact meaning is uncertain but may be connected to the word for bark or strips.
Names of the Valkyries
The Valkyries were Odin’s warrior maidens. They rode across battlefields choosing which warriors would die and which would live. Those chosen for death were carried to Valhalla to join Odin’s army for Ragnarok.
Their names are some of the most striking in all of Norse mythology. Every one of them means something fierce, decisive, or vivid. They are perfect for anyone who wants a name that sounds both beautiful and absolutely serious.
46. Brynhildr
The most famous Valkyrie. Her name means “armor battle” or “battle in the mail coat.” She was punished by Odin and put to sleep in a ring of fire, waiting for the hero who could ride through the flames to wake her.
47. Sigrun
Means “victory rune.” A Valkyrie who loved the hero Helgi Hundingsbane. One of the most romantic names in the Norse tradition.
48. Gondul
Means “wand wielder” or “she who transforms with a magic wand.” One of the most mystical of the Valkyrie names.
49. Skuld
One of the three Norns as well as a Valkyrie. Her name means “debt” or “the one who shall be.” She represented the future, the thing not yet happened.
50. Göndul
A variant spelling of Gondul. The same magical meaning, slightly different form.
51. Herja
Means “the one who devastates” or “ravager.” A fierce Valkyrie name with no softness to it at all.
52. Hrist
Means “the shaker” or “the quaking one.” A Valkyrie name that evokes the trembling of the ground during battle.
53. Mist
Means simply “mist” or “cloud.” A soft-sounding name with a surprisingly atmospheric power to it.
54. Skeggjold
Means “axe age” or “wearing an axe.” A Valkyrie armed and named for her weapon.
55. Skogul
Means “high-towering” or “raging.” A Valkyrie of enormous presence.
56. Hildr
Means “battle.” Pure and direct. One of the oldest and most elemental of all the Valkyrie names.
57. Prudr
Means “power” or “strength.” Daughter of Thor and one of the Valkyries. A name that carries its meaning directly.
58. Reginleif
Means “heritage of the gods” or “legacy of the powerful.” A Valkyrie whose name announces divine inheritance.
59. Randgrid
Means “shield destroyer” or “she who destroys with a shield.” A Valkyrie whose very name is a battle tactic.
60. Radgrid
A close variant of Randgrid. Means “the one who plans in battle” or “council destroyer.”
Names of Norse Heroes and Mortals
Norse mythology was not only about gods. The heroes of the human world had their own extraordinary stories. These mortals were caught up in the affairs of gods, made impossible choices, and often died in ways that made them legendary.
Their names are grounded in a slightly different way than divine names. They feel more human, more accessible, and many of them translate beautifully into modern use.
61. Sigurd
The greatest hero of Norse mythology. He slew the dragon Fafnir, woke the Valkyrie Brynhildr, and was eventually betrayed and killed. His name means “victory guardian” or “guardian of victory.”
62. Ragnar
A legendary Norse king and warrior. His name means “warrior of the gods” or “judgment warrior.” Made enormously popular in modern culture through the television series Vikings.
63. Bjorn
Means “bear.” A name of physical power and natural strength that has been used in Scandinavia without interruption for over a thousand years.
64. Erik
From the Old Norse “Eirikr,” meaning “forever ruler” or “sole ruler.” Borne by Erik the Red, who founded the Norse colony in Greenland. One of the most durable Norse names in modern use.
65. Leif
Means “descendant” or “heir.” Leif Erikson was the Norse explorer who reached North America centuries before Columbus. A name of exploration and legacy.
66. Gunnar
Means “battle warrior” or “bold warrior.” One of the most enduring and widely used Norse hero names.
67. Ulf
Means “wolf.” A raw, direct name that was common among Norse warriors and settlers.
68. Halfdan
Means “half Danish” or “half Dane.” A name that announces mixed heritage and was carried by several Norse kings.
69. Ivar
Means “bow warrior” or “archer.” Ivar the Boneless was one of the most feared Viking warlords in history. A name with a sharp, striking sound.
70. Harald
Means “ruler of the army.” Harald Fairhair was the first king of Norway. A foundational name in Norse royal history.
71. Rolf
A shortened form of Hrolfr, meaning “famous wolf.” Rolf the Walker was the Norse founder of Normandy in France, making this a name that shaped European history.
72. Astrid
A Norse feminine name meaning “divinely beautiful” or “god’s strength.” One of the most beloved Scandinavian names of all time, still widely used today.
73. Gudrun
Means “god’s secret lore” or “divine wisdom.” The tragic heroine of the Volsung Saga, sister of Gunnar and wife of Sigurd. One of the most dramatic female names in all of Norse legend.
74. Sigrid
Means “victory wisdom” or “beautiful victory.” A royal Norse name carried by queens and noblewomen.
75. Hallgerd
Means “protected by a fence” or “enclosed garden.” A character in Njal’s Saga known for her beauty and difficult temperament. A name with real literary weight behind it.
Norse Mythology Names Inspired by the Nine Worlds
The Norse cosmos was made up of nine worlds connected by Yggdrasil, the world tree. Each world had its own name, its own character, and its own inhabitants. Several of these world names and location names from Norse mythology are being used as given names today.
They are unusual, atmospheric, and instantly evocative of the whole Norse worldview.
76. Asgard
The realm of the Aesir gods. The home of Odin, Thor, and the divine family. The name means “enclosure of the Aesir” or “the divine city.” Bold and dramatic as a name.
77. Midgard
The realm of humans. The world we live in. Its name means “the middle enclosure,” because it sits in the center of the Norse cosmos. A grounded, earthy name.
78. Valhalla
The great hall where warriors chosen by the Valkyries feasted after death. Its name means “hall of the slain.” One of the most recognized words in Norse mythology.
79. Yggdrasil
The great world tree that held all nine realms together. Its name means “Ygg’s steed,” Ygg being one of Odin’s names. An extraordinary name for someone who wants something truly unique.
80. Bifrost
The rainbow bridge connecting Asgard to the other worlds. Its name means “shimmering path” or “the trembling way.” A name of beautiful crossing and connection.
81. Niflheim
The world of ice and mist. One of the two primordial realms. Its name means “mist world” or “dark world.” A haunting name with dramatic sound.
82. Muspelheim
The world of fire. The realm of Surtr the fire giant. Its name means “world of fire” or “home of desolation.” Intense and elemental.
83. Alfheim
The world of the light elves. Described as the most beautiful of all the realms. Its name means “elf home” or “world of the elves.”
84. Svartalfheim
The world of the dark elves and dwarves, the master craftsmen who made Odin’s spear and Thor’s hammer. Its name means “home of the black elves.”
85. Jotunheim
The realm of the giants. Cold, rugged, and ancient. Its name means “giant home” or “world of the Jotnar.”
Short and Modern Norse Mythology Names
Not every Norse name needs to be five syllables long. Some of the most powerful names from Norse mythology are short, clean, and completely ready for modern use.
These are the names that parents are actually reaching for right now. They sound fresh but ancient at the same time. They sit lightly on a child and grow with them.
86. Tor
The shortened Scandinavian form of Thor. Just three letters, the same thunder.
87. Ing
From Ingvi, an old name for the god Freyr. A root name that sounds remarkably modern.
88. Sol
The goddess who drove the chariot of the sun. Her name simply means “sun.” Warm, bright, and completely usable today.
89. Mani
The god who drove the chariot of the moon. His name means “moon.” The male counterpart to Sol.
90. Dag
The god of the day. His name means simply “day.” Short, sharp, and full of light.
91. Nott
The goddess of the night. Her name means “night.” The dark counterpart to Dag.
92. Ran
Already listed under goddesses but worth noting here as one of the most striking short Norse names in modern use.
93. Ase
A feminine name derived from “as,” the Norse word for a god or divine being. A simple, beautiful name with divine roots.
94. Ve
One of Odin’s brothers, who helped create the world. His name means “sacred” or “sanctuary.” One syllable, enormous meaning.
95. Vili
Odin’s other brother and co-creator of the world. His name means “will” or “intention.” The force of purposeful action in a single syllable.
96. Urd
One of the three Norns who spun the fate of all beings. Her name means “fate” or “what has become.” She represented the past.
97. Hod
Already listed but worth repeating here as a short name with quiet power and tragic mythology.
98. Rig
The name Odin used when he walked among humans and fathered the three classes of mankind. His name means “king” in Old Irish, which crossed into Norse tradition.
99. Elli
The old woman who wrestled Thor to one knee. She was actually the personification of old age. Her name is connected to the Old Norse word for old or aged.
100. Frey
The short form of Freyr, the god of fertility, sunshine, and fair weather. His name means “lord.” One of the most usable short Norse names in modern naming.
Rare and Unusual Norse Mythology Names
These are the ones that have not made it into mainstream naming culture yet. But they should. Every single one of them has a story and a meaning that makes them worth considering. If you want a Norse name that nobody else at the school gate will have, start here.
101. Heidrun
The goat that lived on the roof of Valhalla and produced endless mead from her udder. Her name means “heather rune” or “clear secret.” Unusual, feminine, and deeply Norse.
102. Mimir
Already listed under gods but worth repeating here as a name option. Wisdom made into a name.
103. Kvasir
A being created from the combined saliva of the Aesir and Vanir gods when they made peace. He was the wisest being ever to exist. His blood was used to make the Mead of Poetry. His name means “fermented berry juice,” which understates his significance enormously.
104. Andvari
The dwarf whose cursed gold eventually led to the downfall of the Volsung heroes. His name means “the careful one.” A name of deep mythological consequence.
105. Otr
A shape-shifting man who could transform into an otter. His accidental killing by Loki set the events of the Volsung Saga in motion. His name means simply “otter.”
106. Hati
The wolf that chased the moon. Every night he ran after Mani’s chariot, and at Ragnarok he would finally catch it. His name means “the one who hates” or “enemy.” A name of relentless pursuit.
107. Skoll
The wolf that chased the sun. The counterpart to Hati. At Ragnarok he would swallow Sol. His name means “mockery” or “one who mocks.” Two hunting wolves, one sun, one moon.
What Makes Norse Mythology Names So Special
These names are not just old. They are built different from most ancient names.
They carry their meaning on the surface.
Most Norse names are compounds of two meaningful words pressed together. Thor means thunder. Brynhildr means armor battle. Sigurd means victory guardian. You do not need to look up the etymology because the name tells you directly what it is about.
They survived because of stories.
Unlike many ancient naming traditions, Norse mythology was written down in the Eddas, a collection of poems and prose that preserved the names and stories with remarkable detail. Every name on this list appears in a text that is still read today.
They are rising fast in modern naming.
Thor, Freya, Astrid, and Bjorn are all climbing the charts in the US, UK, and Scandinavia. Parents are drawn to names that feel rooted and meaningful, and Norse mythology delivers both in abundance.
The short ones are especially usable.
Sol, Dag, Frey, Tor, Ve. These names sit right alongside modern names without sounding costumey or out of place. They bring ancient meaning into everyday life without effort.
Wrapping Up
Norse mythology gave the world some of the most powerful, beautiful, and dramatic names ever created. Whether you want the thunder of Thor or the quiet wisdom of Mimir, the battle fury of a Valkyrie or the gentle grace of Idunn, there is a name in this tradition for every kind of person.
And the best part is that every single name here has a story behind it. Not just a meaning in a dictionary. An actual story, with gods and heroes and worlds at stake.
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