168 Male Viking Names & Their Meaning (Including Top 12 List) (2024)

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter Oda and I collaborated on creating a list of viking age names for girls. Not wanting to be outdone, my son Brage has been on me since then for us to create a list of male viking names.

Being named Brage, and having friends with names like Ask, Iver and Haakon, he felt he could rattle off a long list from the top of his head. However, as we sat down to create this list, we found we did have to dig through Norse mythology, turning to old sagas and both the (Younger) Prose Edda and the (Elder) Poetic Edda to find more inspiration. Our search has taken us through all the nine realms nestled in the branches of Yggdrasil.

Meaning of old male viking names

A fascinating part of a name is the inherent meaning associated with that name. Both female and male viking names usually have a quite clear, or sometimes more unclear/poetic meaning attached to them. This is a lot like reading poems from the Poetic Edda or the ancient sagas. The meaning you associate with the given few words on a line often depends on the context. Moreover, in the end, the translator will often breathe more life and poesy into it than what might seem apparent.

We both hope you will find inspiration here for a name for your son. Should you choose one of these names we would love to hear from you if you do!

Top Twelve Male Viking Names (in our opinion)

Having to pick just twelve names turned out to be a tough process for my son Brage and I. The final list is below, but some great runner-ups were: Agnar (Respected warrior), Hrafen (Raven) and Ulf (Wolf). Any name on this list though should make for a great name or maybe as a cool middle name. There are quite a few variants of names associated with bear, and wolf. Both animals were admired for their strength and cunning, in the Viking Age. There were even types of warriors, the Berserkers and the Ulfhedinn who were believed to transform in battle. Becoming, or at least ast adopting the strength and cunning of their namesake animals, the bear and the wolf, in battle.

Top Twelve List

Ask	Name of the first man, created by the Aesir god Odin the Allfather, and his two brothers Vili and Ve. Old Norse Áskr, meaning ash, like the ash tree Yggdrasil.
Brage	“Poet” or “The best” – Variant of Bragi, name of the Aesir god of poetry Bragi
Eino	“One” – From Old Norse einu/einn, meaning one. Also associated with the Einherjar (army of one). Chosen by the valkyries to live in Odins’ great hall Valhalla, preparing for the final battle at Ragnarök.
Erik	“Sole ruler” (All powerful ruler) – From Eirikr/Eirekr, Old Norse Ei- (meaning alone) and rikr (ruler). Popular in the Viking Age, like Erik the Red* and Eric Bloodaxe.
Haakon	“High Family” (Noble family) – From Old Norse Hákon, or Hákun, where há means high (or horse…) and kon/kun is family, or son.
Haldor	“Thors’ Hall” – From Old Norse Hall-þórr, where hall (or hallr), can mean hall, like a great hall, or a large flat rock, and þórr is the god Thor.
Iver	“Archerer” – From Old Norse Ifár, where if/iv means yewtree (a type of wood favored for a bow and arrow) and -ar (warrior).
Sigurd	“Victorious Guardian” – Old Norse Sig-urðr, where sig means victory and -urðr is a guardian. The name of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, killer of the dragon Fafnir.
Sindri	“Sparkling” – From the Old Norse Sindra, “to sparkle”, or “sparkling”.
Thor	The god Thor, from the Old Norse Þórr/Thórr, also means thunder.
Trym	“The Noisy One” From the Old Norse Þrymr/Thrymr, a jötun king who steals Thor’s hammer in the Thrymskvitha.
Varg	“Wolf” or “Outlaw” – From Old Norse Vargr, translating as wolf, but having a deeper meaning as someone acting like, hunting like a wolf. Wolves were revered and there was even a type of elite warriors called Ulfhednar, who fought like wolves.

Male Viking Names

This is our list of male Viking names that we hope will give you some inspiration and ideas. Please come back as I will be adding to the meanings of them for some time to come.

Starting With A

Agnar	“Respected Warrior” – From Old Norse egg (swords edge or spear point) or agi (Old Norse respect) + ar ending (Old Norse harjar, meaning warrior or battle).
Åge
Alda
Alf	‘Elf’ – From Old Norse Alfr, meaning elf, could be either a ljosalfar (Light elf) or a svartálfr (Dark elf), but as a name, it would be associated with the ljosalfr.
Amund
Arn	“Eagle” – From Old Norse Árn, meaning eagle. As it pops up here and there it seems like it might have been quite popular.
Arne	Variant of Arn, see above
Arnstein
Arnulf	“Eagle-wolf” – Based on a combination of the words Arn-, meaning Eagle, and -ulf, meaning wolf.
Arvid
Asbjørn
Asgaut
Asgeir	‘The gods spear’ – From Old Norse Ás-geirr, first part meaning gods, and the second part meaning spear. More poetically, maybe the spears Asgeir threw would be guided by the gods.
Asger	‘The gods spear’ – Variant of Asgeir.
Aslak
Atle
Audun	From the Old Norse Auð-un, where Auð means wealth, and the -un ending means friend. Rather then thinking it means Rich Friend, I belive it would mean somethinge like a friend who brings a lot into the friendship.

Starting With B

Balder	Prince” – Old Norse Baldr, or Baldur meaning prince. Also the Aesir god of light, beauty and happiness.
Bård
Birger	Helpful – based on Old Norse Birgir meaning helper, or someone who is helpful.
Bjarke	“Bear” – variant of Bjørn, Bodvar Bjarke (Warrior-bear) is found in the heroic poem Bjarkamál, from 1000 AD.
Bjarne	“Bear” – variant of Bjørn
Bjarni	“Bear” – variant of Bjørn
Bjoern	“Bear” – variant of Bjørn
Bjørn	Bear” – Old Norse Biǫrn, meaning bear (or quite literally the brown animal).
Bjørnar	Warrior-bear” – From Old Norse Biǫrn (bear) and *ar ending from harjaR (warrior).
Bodin
Bodvar	Warrior” – Bodvar Bjarke (Warrior-bear) is found in the heroic poem Bjarkamál, from 1000 AD.
Børge
Børre
Bragi	The Aesir god of poetry, from Old Norse bragr, meaning poet, or the first (best of something)
Brede	Battle axe
Brynjulf

Starting With D

Dag	Day” – From Old Norse Dágr, meanig day, and being the Aesir god and personification of day, Dágr.
Dagfinn

Starting With E

Ebbe
Egil
Egir
Einar	One-warrior” – From the Old Norse Eino (one) and *ar ending from harjaR (warrior)
Eirik
Eivind
Endre
Erlend
Erling
Espen
Even	“Lucky warrior”, derived from the Old Norse Ey-vindr, where Ey is associated with luck, or happiness, and -vindr, means winner. In modern Norwegian, ‘vindr’ has eveloved to ‘vinner’, not far off from the English winner either.

Starting With F

Finn	From the Old Norse ‘Finnr’ which was the word for the indigenous Sámi people who still live in the north of Norway, Sweden, Finland even a few in Russia.
Floki
Freyr	Lord” – Old Norse meaning ruler, master or lord. The Vanir god of fertility, peace and abundance/prosperity.
Fritjof
Frode

Starting With G

Garald
Gaute	“Man from Gautaland”. Based on the Old Norse gautr, meaning a man from the Gautaland/Götaland, a part of Sweden. However, also based on one of Odin’s many names or kennings, Gauti, as he was the god of the gauti.
Geir	“Spear”, from the Old Norse word geirr, meaning spear.
Gisli
Gorm	“God-fearing”, or possibly “He who honors the gods”. Derived from Old Norse Gouthrum, or possibly, derived from Guð-thorm (Protected by the gods).
Grim
Gudbrand
Gudmund
Gunnar	“Warrior”, based on the combination of the Old Norse gunnr, meaning battle or war, and the -ar endingcommon to many names, meaning warrior. Quite common in the Viking Age, as attestedd to by many runic inscriptions.
Gustav

Starting With H

Hakan
Hakon	Highborn – Based on the Old Norse Hákon, were há likely means high, and -kon, comes from -kyn. However, -kon could also come from -konr, meaning son. So the names’ meaning is somewhere between a highborn, from a noble family or a high/first son.
Halfdan
Hallgeir
Halstein
Halvar
Hans
Harald
Havard
Håvard
Hårek	From Old Norse Hárekr, where Há- is of uncertain meaning, while -rekr means mighty, or possibly ruler.
Helge
Helgi
Helje
Herbjørn
Herleif
Hermod
Hjalmar
Holger
Hrafen	“Raven” – From the Old Norse Hrafn/Hrafni, meaning raven. Closely associated with Odin, who was believed to sometimes appear in the form of a raven. His two ravens, Hugin and Munin, were his “eyes and ears” in the nine realms.

Starting With I

Ing	Derived from “Yngve”, another name for the god Freyr, or the proto-German ingwaz, meaning leader, or forefather. It is also one of the elder futhark runes, associated with fertility and prosperity (like Freyr).
Inge	See Ing above. A female version is Inga, however, Inge is also used as a female name in parts of Europe.
Ingolf	Derived from the Old Norse name IngulfR, where Ing (Freyr/leader) is combined with ulfr, meaning wolf. Wolves were regarded as highly intelligent and ferocious in the Viking Age. Also, Odin had two that were always by his side, Geri and Freki.
Ingvar	“Warrior of Ing”, again Ing is from Yngve/Ing, other names for Freyr, combined with -var, from the Old Norse -arr, meaning warrior.
Ivar	“Archerer” – From Old Norse Ifár, where if/iv means yewtree (which was a type of wood favored for a bow and arrow) and -ar means warrior.

Starting With J

Jarl
Jarle
Jerk
Jomar

Starting With K

Kåre	Old Norse, means “curly haired” or “curved hair”
Ketil
Kjeld
Kjetil
Knud	Variant of Knut, from Old Norse knútr, meaning knot
Knut	Knot” – Derived from Old Norse knútr, meaning knot

Starting With L

Leif

Starting With M

Magne
Magnus

Starting With N

Narve
Njal
Njord	From the Old Norse Njörðr, name of the Vanir god of seafaring and prosperity, father to Freyr and Freyja
Norrell

Starting With O

Odd
Odin
Oluf
Orm	“Snake”, based on the Old Norse Ormr, meaning snake. Sometimes the Midgard serpent, Jörmungand was refered to as simply Ormr.
Osman
Øystein
Øyvind

Starting With R

Ragnar	A combination of the Old Norse ‘regin’, meaning power, ruler or decision (possibly having the power to make decisions), and -arr, meaning warrior. Legendary Danish ruler or chieftain (if we believe the sagas) Ragnar Lothbrok bore the name.
Rangvald
Ravn	Modern variant of Hrafn, Old Norse meaning raven.
Reidar	“Defender of the home” (maybe) from Old Norse Hreiðarr, where the hreiðr likely means home, and the -arr/-ar ending means warrior.A ‘home warrior’ seems sort of odd though so the meaning might have be slightly different way back when.
Roar	“Famous warrior”, derived from Old Norse Róarr (or Hróarr), where (H)ró likely means famous, and -arr means warrior.
Rune	“Secret”, from the Old Norse rún, meaning secret. Also the name of the runes, so a name steeped in magic and deeper meaning.

Starting With S

Sigmund
Sindre	Norwegian variant of Sindri, from the Old Norse sindra, to sparkle, or sparkling.
Sondre	“From the south” or “Swimmer” (maybe), from the Old Norse Sundri, meaning south, or swimming, but this is less certain.
Stein	From the Old Norse Stæinn, meaning stone. Going a bit deeper, I believe it was understood as brave or strong. The god Thor was said to have a heart like a stone, that did not flutter when facing danger.
Steinar	“Brave/Strong warrior”, combination of ‘Stein’ (see above) and -arr, meaning warrior. A more modern translation could be a ‘stone cold warrior’.
Sten	Variant of Stein, common to Denmark and Sweden.
Stian
Stig	‘Wanderer’ – From the Old Norse Stígr, a name derived from stiga, meaning o walk or wander.
Sture
Sturla
Sune	“Son”, More common in Denmark and Sweden as a boys name, in use in the Viking Age.
Sven
Svend
Sverke	“Black spear”, from Old Norse Sverkir, combination of svart (black) and -geirr, meaning spear, fitting a warrior soul.
Sverre

Starting With T

Thorsten	‘Thor’s stone’ – From the Old Norse Þor-steinn, first part meaning Thor (the god) and steinn meaning stone. Stone could be understood as something positive, as a heart of stone actually meant brave, not like today.
Thorvald
Tjalve	From Old Norse Þjalfi, name of the boy who is Thor’s servant and brother of the girl Roskva. He goes with Thor on several adventures.
Toke	Old Norse Tóki, short form of two-part names where Thor was the first, and something starting with -k followed, like Torkel. Pronounced Tho-kee, not like ‘having a toke’.
Torben
Torbjørn
Torkel	“Thor- (or Thunder) Helmet” – combination of the name for Thor (which could also mean thunder) and -kjell, meaning helmet.
Tormod
Torodd
Tørres
Torsten	‘Thor’s stone’ – variant of Thorsten
Troels
Truls
Trym	‘Noisy one’ – From the Old Norse Þrymr, also the name of one of the jötun in the epic Poetic Edda poem Thrymskvida
Trygve
Tyrell

Starting With U

Ulf	‘Wolf’ – From the Old Norse name Úlfr, derived from the word ulfr, meaning wolf.
Ullr	From the name of Ullr, the Aesir god of hunting and skiing (sport).

Starting With V

Vebjørn	‘Battle bear’ – From the Old Norse name Vébjǫrn, where vé is likely from vér, meaning battle, and bjǫrn, meaning bear.
Vetle	“Bear-cub” – Derived from the Old Norse Vetrliðr, (rough translation, winter is getting on in age), at the end of winter, when bear cubs were born.
Vidar	“Warrior from the Forest” Name of the Aesir god Vidár, son of Odin and his avenger at Ragnarök. From the Old Norse víðr (forest) and -ar (warrior).
Vilhelm	“Determined protector” – Derived from the Old Norse Vilhjalmr. Compound of Vil, meaning will, or wish, and hjalmr, meaning helmet, or protection.

Starting With Y

Yngvar

‘Ing’s warrior’ – From the Old Norse Yngvarr, where Yngv, is derived form Ing, another name for the god Freyr, and -arr, meaning warrior. Could also be seen as meaning, a warrior dedicated to Freyr.

Featured Image Credit: James Ward (1851-1924), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons