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This webpage is, and will probably always be, under development. As my knowledge of Norse naming grows, I will keep revising and updating this page. At this point, I'm aware that the page is really too large, and I'm working out better methods of presentation.
Some of my sources listed names that were either hypothetical forms re-constructed based on place-name and later personal name evidence, or else doubtful interpretations from runic evidence. These have been included, but are shown with the headword in a greyed-out text, for example, Ákimann.
In the list below, I have abbreviated certain source references as follows:
- CV = Cleasby, Richard and Guðbrandr Vigfusson. An Icelandic-English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon. 1957.
- GB = Geirr Bassi Haraldsson. The Old Norse Name. Studia Marklandica I. Olney, MD: Markland Medieval Militia. 1977.
- FJ = Fellows-Jensen, Gillian. Scandinavian Personal Names in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Copenhagen. Akademisk Forlag. 1968.
- NR = Lena Peterson. Nordiskt runnamnslexikon. (Dictionary of Names
from Old Norse Runic Inscriptions). Språk- och folkminnes-institutet (Institute for
Dialectology, Onomastics and Folklore Research). Accessed 30 September 2005.
For full details on any source referenced, please see the Bibliography.
| Name |
Notes |
Source |
| Ægileif |
The first element Ægi- may be related to Old Icelandic Ægir, "the sea or the god of the sea", found in compounds as ægisandr "sea-sand" or the Icelandic place-name Ægisiða. Alternately, it may be related to Old Icelandic ægja, "to frighten, make terrible, found in compounds such as ægilikr, "terrible, awful". The second element -leif, -læif or -löf is a feminine name element derived from Primitive Scandinavian *-laibó a formation from the stem in OW.Norse leif "inheritance, legacy", but as an element in personal names "one who comes after, heir" and thus to -læifR/-lafR. Variants in -löf derive from a Primitive Scandinavian shortening of /ai/ > /a/. This name appears in Landnámabók ch. 46 for Ægileif Þórsteinsdóttir and in ch. 72 for Ægileif Hrólfsdóttir. |
GB pp. 17; FJ pp. 350; CV pp. 758 s.v. Ægir, ægja, ægilikr; NR s.v. -læif/-löf, -læifR/-lafR |
| Ærinndís, Ærndís |
The first elementes Ærn-, Ærnn-, Ærin-, Ærinn- comprise alternate forms of the OW.Norse bird-names örn, ari "eagle", or may also be related to OW.Norse arinn "hearth". The second element -dís is identical with the Old Icelandic dís, "goddess, priestess, female guardian spirit." Found in Old Swedish as Ærndis; compare with OW.Norse Arndís. Occurs in the runic nominative forms erintis and erntis. |
NR s.v. Ær(in)ndís, Ær(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -dís |
| Æringunnr |
For the first elementes Ærn-, Ærnn-, Ærin-, Ærinn- see above. The second element -gunnr (and the related forms -guðr and -gundr) is derived from Primitive Scandinavian *gunþió, < *gunþi and is identical with Old Icelandic gunnr, guðr, "war, battle." Found in Old Swedish as Ærngun; compare with OW.Norse Arngunnr. Occurs in the runic accusative form erinkuni. A short-form of names in Gunn- or -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr is Gunna. |
NR s.v. Æringunnr, Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr, Gunna |
| Æsa |
May perhaps be identical to Old Icelandic æsa, "to stir up, incite, stir up war". This name appears in Landnámabók in ch. 40 for Æsa of Svíney, the mother of Eyjólfr; Æsa Oddleifsdóttir in ch. 46; Æsa, the daughter of Ljótólfr goða in ch. 65; Æsa, daughter of Hrólfr rauðskeggr ("red-beard") in ch. 72; and for Æsa, daughter of Jarl Hákon Grjótgarðsson in ch. 99. |
GB pp. 17; CV pp. 759 s.v. æsa |
| Æsileif |
The first element Æsi- may be identical to the first element æsi-, "violently, furiously", found in Old Icelandic compounds such as æsiliga, "violently, furiously", æsiligr, "vehement". For the second element -leif see above. |
GB pp. 17; FJ pp. 350; CV pp. 759 s.v. æsi; NR s.v. -læif/-löf, -læifR/-lafR |
| Ætta |
This name is found in Old Danish as Etta and in Old Swedish as Ætta. It may represent a short form of the woman's name Ástríðr. Occurs in the runic accusative form etu. |
NR s.v. Ætta |
| Ádís, Ádísa |
The etymology of the first element Á- is uncertain, as it may come from several possible origins: < *ana-, the intensive first element, "all"; < *anu- "ancestor, forefather"; or from < *az- "point, edge" or "anxiety, fear". For the second element -dís see above. A weak side-form exists, Ádísa. Found in Old Swedish as Adis. Ádís is found in Swedish runic inscriptions as aþis, while the runic form of the weak side form is found in Östergötland, Sweden as ntisa. |
NR s.v. Ádís, Ádísa |
| Aðísla |
The feminine form of the Old West Norse masculine name Aðils. The name is derived from *Aþa-gíslaR, with the first element Að- being from either *aþa- or else from *aþal- "noble, foremost". The second element is from -gísl or its side-form -gils, and may be related to the Langobard word gísil "arrow-shaft" and also to OW.Norse geisl m. "staff", geisli m. "sun-beam"; a shaft typical of a weapon or a part of a weapon, or the second element may also be linked to OW.Norse gísl m. "hostage". Aðísla is found in Swedish runic inscriptions as oþ[is]la. |
NR s.v. Aðísla, Að-, -gísl |
| Áfríðr |
For the first element Á- see above. The second element -fríðr is from the OW.Norse adjective fríðr "beautiful" in the original sense of "beloved" and related to the OW.Norse verb frjá "to love". This name is found in Old Swedish as Afridh. Runic forms include the nominative forms afiriþ, afriþ, afriþ, af×riþ, (a)friþr, ifriþ, ifriþr and the accusative form afriþi. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
NR s.v. Áfríðr, Á-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Ágerðr, Ágærðr |
For the first element Á- see above. The second element -gerðr or -gærðr is probably derived from *-garðió and related to the second element -garðr, which is identical to OW.Norse garðr "fence, defense". A runic instance occurs in the nominative case as aker. |
NR s.v. Ágærðr, Á-, -gærðr, -garðr |
| Agata |
Christian, Agatha |
GB pp. 7 |
| Agnes |
Christian, "lamb of God" |
GB pp. 7 |
| Aldís |
The first element Al- or Ól- is derived from *alu, "protection, fortune." The second element -dís is identical with the Old Icelandic dís, "goddess, priestess, female guardian spirit." This name appears in chs. 90 and 98 of Landnámabók for Aldís Ófeigsdóttir, the mother of Valla-Brandr. A runic example is found in the nominative case as alfti. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100 s.v. dís; NR s.v. Al-, -dís, Dísa |
| Álfdís, Alfdís |
The first element Alf- is identical with Old Icelandic alfr, "elf." For the second element -dís see above. Appears in Laxdæla saga (c. 1245) as Álfdís Konallsdóttir, the wife of Óláfr feilan ("wolf-cub"). This name appears in Landnámabók for Álfdís Konálsdóttur in chs. 40 and 98; and for Álfdís Gamlisdóttir, mother of Oddr munk in ch. 55. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100 s.v. dís; NR s.v. Alfdís, Alf-, -dís |
| Aldríf |
This name is of uncertain etymology. The first element is perhaps Al- (see above). The second element may be -dríf, related to the second element in the OW.Norse feminine name Sigrdríf or Sigrdrífa, which is found as both a mythological name and as a personal name. A different opinion holds that the second element is a shortened form of Sigrdríf or Sigrdrífa. A runic example occurs in the genitive case as altrifaR. |
FJ pp. 342; NR s.v. Aldríf, Al- |
| Álfeiðr |
For the first element Alf- see above. The second element -heiðr is identical to the Old Icelandic heiðr, "heath", but usually drops the initial h in name-compounds. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 247 s.v. heiðr |
| Alhildr, Álfhildr |
For the first element Alf- see above. The second element -hildr is identical to Old Icelandic hildr, "battle" and ultimately derives from Primitive Scandinavian *heldió. Found in Old Danish as Alvild, OW.Norse Álfhildr. A runic example occurs in the genitive case as alhiltar. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342, 349; CV pp. 261 s.v. hildr; NR s.v. Al(f)hildr, Alf-, -hildr |
| Alfífa, Álfífa |
The first element may perhaps be from Alf- (see above) or from Al- (see above). The second element fífa may perhaps be identical with Old Icelandic fífa, used metaphorically in poetry as "arrow". A similar word, fífla, is found in Grettis saga meaning "a girl". |
GB pp. 7, 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 155 s.v. fífa, fífla |
| Alfrún |
For the first element Alf- see above. The second element -rún is from OW.Norse rún, itself derived from Germanic *rúnó, with an original sense of "secret, hidden knowledge". As a second element -rún should be understood as having the meaning, "she who possesses hidden knowledge". Found in West Scandinavia as a mythological name, and as the Old English name Ælfrun. A short form of names in Rún- or -rún is Runa. |
FJ pp. 8, 342, 350-351; CV pp. 504 s.v. rún; NR s.v. Rúna, Rún-, -rún |
| Álmveig |
The first element Álm- is probably identical with Old Icelandic álmr, "elm, elm-tree". The etymology of the second element -veig is unclear. It may derive from OW.Norse veig "strong, powerful," which comes from Germanic *waizó, or it may instead come from OW.Norse víg "battle" and the OW.Norse adjective vígr "competent in battle, skilled with weapons". There is a slight possibility that -veig may instead be derived from OW.Norse vé "holy place" (compare with the Gothic adjective weihs "holy"). Cleasby-Vigfusson suggests a fourth possible derivation, from Old Icelandic veig, "a strong drink, alcoholic beverage" used of beer and the Mead of Poetry. It is uncertain whether the name Álmveig was ever used of human persons, as it appears in the Hyndluljóð in the Poetic Edda. |
CV pp. 43, 690 s.v. álmr, veig; NR s.v. -væig |
| Álof, Álöf |
The feminine form of Óláfr. The first element is from *Anu-, "ancestor." For the second element -leif see above. This name is found in Landnámabók for Álöf Ófeigsdóttir in ch. 21; Álöf, the daughter of Þórsteinn rauðr ("the red") in ch. 37; Álöf Þorgrímsdóttir in ch. 40; Álöf Ingólfsdóttir in ch. 52; Álöf, the daughter of Ragnar loðbrókkr ("shaggy-breeches") in ch. 55; Álöf, the daughter of king Haraldr hárfagra ("fair-hair") in ch. 82; Álöf, the daughter of Böðvarr Víkinga-Kárason of Vörs in ch. 99; and Álöf, the daughter of Þórðr vaggagði ("squat-wiggle") in ch. 99. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 6, 342, 350; NR s.v. -læif/-löf, -læifR/-lafR |
| Alvé, Alví |
For the first element Al- see above. The second element -ví comes from the Germanic *-wíhó, derived from Germanic *-wíhaz and related to the Gothic adjective weihs "holy" - thus the sense should be "priest". A runic example is found in the nominative case as alui. |
NR s.v. Alví, Al-, -ví, -vér |
| Alvör |
For the first element Al- see above. The second element vör is the feminine form corresponding to the masculine second element -varr, from *-waró "to be vigilant" (compare to the OW.Norse adjective varr "vigilant"), derived from Germanic *-waraz or *-warjaz "defend, protect" and related to the Old Norse verb verja, "defend". |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342, 351-352 |
| Alþrúðr |
For the first element Al- see above. The second element -þrúðr is from OW.Norse *þrúðr, possibly from Primitive Scandinavian *þrúþió < *þrúþi, "strength, power, force" and also appears in the mythology as the name of the goddess Þrúðr, daughter of the god Thórr and the goddess Sif. Runic examples occur as the nominative form (a)lrþuþr and the accusative alþruþi. |
CV p. 747 s.v. Þrúðr, Þrúða; NR s.v. Alþrúðr, Al-, -þrúðr |
| Amma |
A short form of names in Arn-, Am-, or from Old Swedish amma and OW.Norse amma, "grandmother". Found later in Old Swedish as a by-name and in OW.Norse as the name of a fictional character. A runic example occurs in the accusative case as a-mu. |
NR s.v. Amma |
| Ámóða |
For the first element Á- see above. The second element is a weak side-form of -móð, from Germanic *-móðó, which becomes OW.Norse -móðr, "temprament; wrath; courage". A runic example occurs in the nominative case as omuþa. A short form of feminine names in -móð is Moda. |
NR s.v. Ámóða, Á-, -móð, -móðr |
| Arnbjörg |
The first element is Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, representing various alternate forms of the OW.Norse bird-names örn, ari "eagle". The name-element might also considered to be identical to OW.Norse arinn "hearth". The second element -björg or -borg is derived from Germanic *-bergó or else the name is derived from the OW.Norse verb bjarga "to save, to help, to deliver out of need or danger". The second element form -borg, frequently found in Swedish and Danish names, may also come from a postulated form *-burgó but may also be considered to reflect a sound development from -björg. Found in Old Swedish in several forms: Anborgh, Arnborgh, Ærnborgh, Ærinnborgh, OW.Norse Arnbiörg. Runic examples are found in the nominative case as arnburk and in the accusative case as arin:biaurk. This name is found in Landnámabók for Arnbjörg of Arnbjargarlæk in ch. 24; Arnbjörg, whose mother was Vigdís Þorsteinsdóttir in ch. 39; Arnbjörg Þórðardóttir in ch. 64; and Arnbjörg Ráðormsdóttir in chs. 86 and 95. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 66 s.v. björg; NR s.v. Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)nbiôrg/-borg, Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -biôrg/-borg |
| Arndís |
For the first element Arn- see above. For the second element -dís see above. This name is found in Landnámabók for Arndís in auðga ("the rich"), daughter of Steinólfr, in chs. 42 and 53; Arndís Styrbjarnardóttir in ch. 60; Arndís Heðinsdóttur in ch. 63; and Arndís Þórkelsdóttir in ch. 74. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100 s.v. dís |
| Arneiðr |
For the first element Arn- see above. For the second element -eiðr see above. This name is found in Landnámabók for Arneiðr, daughter of Jarl Ásbjörn skerjablesi ("skerry-blaze") in chs. 76 and 99. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 247 s.v. heiðr |
| Arnfasta |
For the first element Arn- see above. The second element -fasta represents a weak side-form of -fast/-föst, from the OW.Norse adjective fastr "firm, strong". This name is the feminine form of masculine Arnfasti. A runic example is found in the nominative case as arnfasta. |
NR s.v. Arnfasta, Arnfasti, Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -fast/-fôst |
| Arnfríðr |
For the first element Arn- see above. The second element -fríðr or -frøðr comes from *friðuR, "love, peace" or -fríðr from *friðioR, related to Gotlandic frijion, "to love" with an original meaning of "beloved" and later meaning "fair." Found in Old Danish as Arnfrith, in Old Swedish as Arfridh, Arnfridh, Ærnfridh, Ærinnfridh, Ænfridh, Ærnfridh. This name is found in Landnámabók for Arnfríðr Sleitu-Bjarnardóttir in ch. 63. A short-form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342, 348; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; NR s.v. Arn-/Ærnfríðr, Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Arngerðr, Arngærðr, Arinngærðr, Ærngærðr, Ærinngærðr |
For the first element Arn- see above. For the second element -gærðr or -gerðr see above. Old Swedish forms include Angærdh, Arngærdh, Æringærdh. Runic forms occur in the nominative case as arker, rkir, erinker. This name is found in Landnámabók for Arngerðr Þorbjarnardóttir in chs. 42 and 52; Arngerðr, sister of Skíða of Skíðadal in ch. 65; and Arngerðr Ásbrandsdóttir in ch. 98. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342, 349; CV pp. 197 s.v. Gerðr; NR s.v. Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)ngærðr, Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -gærðr, -garðr |
| Arngunnr |
For the first element Arn- see above. For the second element -gunnr see above. This name is found in Landnámabók for Arngunnr Hámundardóttir in ch. 85; and for Arngunnr, daughter of Þórsteinn drangakarl in ch. 91. A short-form of names in Gunn- or -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr is Gunna. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342, 344; CV pp. 221 s.v. gunnr; NR s.v. -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr, Gunna |
| Arnkatla |
For the first element Arn- see above. The second element -katla is a feminine form of the masculine second element -ketill or -kell, from OW.Norse ketill, originally "kettle" but meaning also "helmet" or "chieftain with helmet." This name is found in Landnámabók for Arnkatla Þórðardóttir, sister of Þórðr köttr ("cat") in ch. 38; and for Arnkatla, daughter of Þórsteinn vífill ("weevil") and Þórkatla in ch. 87. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342, 349; CV pp. 337 s.v. ketill |
| Arnlaug |
For the first element Arn- see above. The second element -laug comes from Germanic *-lauz-, identical to the Gothic verb liugan "give holy vows, enter into marriage". The name-element may then originally have the meaning, "one who is promised or dedicated (to)". Others interpret this element as possibly being related to Old Icelandic laug and Latin lavare, in an ancient sense of "bathing for religious purification". Found in Old Danish as Arløgh, in Old Swedish as Ærnløgh, and in OW.Norse as Arnlaug. Runic examples in the nominative case include a-lauk, erlyg. |
FJ pp. 350; CV pp. 374 s.v. laug def. IV; NR s.v. Arn-/Ærnlaug, Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -laug |
| Arnleif |
For the first element Arn- see above. For the second element -leif see above. This name is found in Landnámabók for Arnleif, daughter of Þórðr gellir ("yeller, screamer") in chs. 34 and 64. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342, 350; NR s.v. -læif/-löf, -læifR/-lafR |
| Arnóra, Arnþóra |
For the first element Arn- see above. The second element -þóra and -dóra is identical to the Old Icelandic Þórr, the god of thunder. The name Arnóra is found in Eiríks saga rauða, c. late 1100's, for Arnóra the daughter of Einarr of Laugarbrekka. This name also appears in Landnámabók for Arnóra Laugarbrekku-Einarsdóttir in ch. 28; Arnóra, daughter of Þórðr gellir ("yeller, screamer") in ch. 34; Arnóra Lón-Einarsdóttir and Arnóra Gunnbjarnardóttir in ch. 38; and Arnóra, daughter of Þórgeirr inn óði ("the raging") in ch. 65. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 743 s.v. Þórr |
| Arnvé |
For the first element Arn- see above. For the second element -vé or -ví see above. Runic examples include the nominative case ari, ar[ni], erinui, erin..., irinui. |
NR s.v. Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)nví, Ar(in)n-/Ær(in)n-, -ví, -vér |
| Arnþrúðr |
For the first element Arn- see above. For the second element -þrúðr see above. In Hrafnkels saga freysgoða there is an Arnþrúðr who is a foreign-born bondservant. This name also appears in Landnámabók for Arnþrúðr Arinbjarnardóttir in ch. 22. The short form for names in -þrúða is Þrúða. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342; CV p. 747 s.v. Þrúðr, Þrúða; NR s.v. -þrúðr |
| Ása |
A short form for names in Ás-, Æs- or Ós-, which are from *ansuR and related to Old Icelandic áss or óss, "a god." Found in the Anglo-Scandinavian form Asa. Occurs in Old Danish as Asa or Ose, and in Old Swedish Asa. Runic forms include nominative case aosa, asa, osa, the genitive case forms asu, osuahsu, asr, asu. The name Ása appears in the 14th century legendary saga Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar as the mother of the title character. This name also appears in Landnámabók in ch. 26 for Ása Ingjaldsdóttir, sister to Grímr Ingjaldsson and granddaughter to Hróald; and for Ása, mother of Þórunnr in ch. 92. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 18, 342; CV pp. 46 s.v. áss; NR s.v. Ása, Ás-/Æs- |
| Ásbjörg, Ásbörg |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -björg, -borg see above. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 46. 66 s.v. áss, björg |
| Ásboð?, Ásmóð |
For the first element Ás- see above. The second element is uncertain. Runic inscriptions have the accusative case forms asboþ, os-uþ A feminine second element -boð (from *-buðó) or -böð (from *-baðó) are not found in the Nordic area. The second element may instead be -móð, from Germanic *-móðó, which becomes OW.Norse -móðr, "temprament; wrath; courage". An Old Danish woman's name of Asmoth suggests that an Old Norse form of Ásmóð is likely. A short form of feminine names in -móð is Moda. |
NR s.v. Ásboð, Ásmóð, Ás-/Æs-, -móð, -móðr |
| Ásdís |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -dís see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Ásdís Bárðardóttir in ch. 29; and Ásdís Þórgrímsdóttir in ch. 48. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 46, 100 s.v. áss, dís |
| Ásfríðr |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -fríðr see above. Runic examples include the nominative case forms asfriþ, osfriþr. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
NR s.v. Ásfríðr, Ástríðr/Æstríðr, Ás-/Æs-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Ásgauta |
This name is uncertain, as it appears in runic form as the nominative case askata, although this example may instead represent the feminine name Áskatla. If the inscription is Ásgauta, then it is a feminine form of masculine Ásgautr. For the first element Ás- see above. The second element -gauta is from OW.Norse gautr, pl. gautar "inhabitant of Götland, Götlander". |
NR s.v. Ásgauta, Ásgautr, Ás-/Æs-, -gautr |
| Ásgerða, Ásgerðr |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -gerðr see above. This is a west Scandinavian name, but there are a couple of instances in Swedish runic inscriptions of Ásgerðr. Appears in Old Danish as Esgerth. Runic examples include the nominative forms asker, [askiar], askir, oskir; the genitive form askiarþ and the accusative forms eskerþi, oskarþi. Ásgerðr Bjarnardóttir appears in Gunnlaugs saga ormstungu and in Egils saga Skallagrímssonar, c. 1230, where she is mentioned as being wife to Egill Skallagrímsson and mother of Þórsteinn Egilsson. This name also appears in Landnámabók for Ásgerðr, wife of Ófeigr in ch. 21 and 89; Ásgerðr Þórðardóttir in ch. 64; and Ásgerðr, daughter of Askr inn ómálgi in ch. 89. May be present in the Anglo-Scandinavian derived place-name Asgarthcroft, c. 1523. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 24, 342, 349; CV pp. 46, 197 s.v. áss, Gerðr; NR s.v. Ásgærðr, Ás-/Æs-, -gærðr |
| Ásgunnr |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -gunnr see above. Appears in Old Danish as Asgun and in Old Swedish as Asgun. A runic form, askun appears in the nominative case. A short-form of names in Gunn- or -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr is Gunna. |
NR s.v. Ásgunnr, Ás/Æs-, -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr, Gunna |
| Ásheiðr, Æshæiðr |
For the first element Ás- or Æs- see above. For the second element -heiðr or -hæiðr see above. Occurs in the runic accusative form esiþi. |
NR s.v. Æshæiðr, Ás-/Æs-, -hæiðr |
| Áshildr |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Áshildr, wife of Óláfur tvennumbrúni ("double-brows") in ch. 97. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342, 349; CV pp. 46, 261 s.v. áss, hildr |
| Áskatla |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -katla see above. Runic examples include the nominative forms askala, askata, askatla, oskatla. |
NR s.v. Áskatla, Ás-/Æs-, -kæ(ti)ll, Kætill |
| Áslaug |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -laug see above. The name Áslaug appears in the 14th century legendary saga Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar as the grandmother of the title character. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342, 350; CV pp. 46, 374 s.v. áss, laug def. IV |
| Ásleif |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -leif see above. Appears in Orkneyingasaga (c. 1200) as the name of the wife of Ólafr Hrólfsson, the mother of Sveinn. This name also appears in Landnámabók for Ásleif Þórgilsdóttir in ch. 94. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342, 350; CV pp. 46 s.v. áss; NR s.v. -læif/-löf, -læifR/-lafR |
| Ásmoð, Ásbóð? |
For the first element Ás- see above. The second element is uncertain. Runic inscriptions have the accusative case forms asboþ, os-uþ A feminine second element -boð (from *-buðó) or -böð (from *-baðó) are not found in the Nordic area. The second element may instead be -móð, from Germanic *-móðó, which becomes OW.Norse -móðr, "temprament; wrath; courage". An Old Danish woman's name of Asmoth suggests that an Old Norse form of Ásmóð is likely. A short form of feminine names in -móð is Moda. |
NR s.v. Ásboð, Ásmóð, Ás-/Æs-, -móð, -móðr |
| Ásný |
For the first element Ás- see above. The second element -ný is from the the OW.Norse adjective nýr "new". This name appears in Landnámabók for Ásný, Víga-Sturludóttir in chs. 44 and 48; Ásný Vestarsdóttir in ch. 90; and Ásný Flosadóttir in ch. 94. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 46 s.v. áss; NR s.v. -ný |
| Ásta |
Ásta is the short form for the name Ástríðr, and is also found as a personal name. This name appears in Landnámabók for Ásta, the daughter of Guðbrandr kúla ("knob") and mother of king Óláfr in ch. 53; Ásta, whose mother was Úlfhildr and whose som was king Óláfr inn helgi ("the holy", St. Ólafr) in ch. 55. |
GB pp. 8; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 46 s.v. áss |
| Ástríðr |
The first element Ást- here is a form of Old Icelandic áss, "god, one of the Æsir". In proper names, the first element becomes Ást- before the liquid r. The second element is from -fríðr, see above. Occurs in Old Danish as Estrith and in Old Swedish as Astridh (this example is from Bohuslän) and Æstridh, OW.Norse Ástríðr. Runic examples oinclude the nominative case forms astriþ, astriþr, estriþ, istryr, ostriþ, ostriþr; genitive case estriþaR; and accusative case asriþi, osriþi. This name appears in Laxdæla saga (c. 1245) as Ástríðr of Breidafjörd, wife of Bárðr Höskuldsson. This name also appears in Landnámabók for Ástríðr slækidrengr ("slender as a youth"), the daughter of Bragi the skáld in ch. 22; Ástríðr Hrólfsdóttir in ch. 32; Ástríðr Grímsdóttir in ch. 39; Ástríðr, the wife of Arnmóðr Heðinsson in ch. 55; Ástríðr, the daughter of Þórvaldr holbarki ("braggart") in ch. 77; and Ástríðr manvitsbrekka ("hill of man's wit", i.e., paragon of wisdom), daughter of Móðólfr in ch. 78 and 85. Short forms of Ástríðr include Old Danish Etta and in Old Swedish Ætta. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 350; CV pp. 46 s.v. áss; NR s.v. Ásfríðr, Ástríðr/Æstríðr, Ás-/Æs-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Ásvé, Ásví |
For the first element Ás- see above. For the second element -vé or -ví see above. A runic example found in nominative form is -sui. |
NR s.v. Ásví, Ás-/Æs-, -ví, -vér |
| Ásvör |
For the first element Ás- see above. The second element -vör represents a feminine name element from *-waró, derived from Germanic *-waraz or *-warjaz, related to Germanic *warón "to be vigilant" (compare with the OW.Norse adjective varr "vigilant") or Germanic *warjan "defend, protect." Appears in Old Danish as Aswar. Runic forms include the nominative case [osuar] and accusative case osuar. This name appears in Landnámabók for Ásvör, daughter of Þórir Graut-Atlason in ch. 75; Ásvör Brynjólfsdóttir in ch. 77; Ásvör, daughter of Oddbjörn askasmiðr ("ship-wrignt") in ch. 90; and Ásvör Vestarsdóttir, the mother of Helgi inn svarti ("the black") in ch. 90. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342, 351-352; CV pp. 46 s.v. áss; NR s.v. Ásvör, Ás-/Æs-, -vör; NR s.v. -vör |
| ÁsælfR |
For the first element Ás- see above. The second element -ælfR is a feminine name element from *-albió-, related to masculine -alfR, from OW.Norse alfr m. "elf, a type of subterranean being". A runic example found in the accusative case is aselfi. |
NR s.v. ÁsælfR, Ás-/Æs-, -ælfR |
| Auða |
A diminuitive form of names in Auð-. A single instance of this name appears as the name of a fictional character in West Scandinavia, but a few instances are found in Swedish runic inscriptions in the nominative form auþa, the genitive form auþuR and the accusative form uþu. May be present in the Anglo-Scandinavian form Auda, c. 1245. |
FJ pp. 37-38; NR s.v. Auða, Auð- |
| AuðælfR |
The first element Auð- is occasionally written Od- and is of uncertain origin, but may be from Old Icelandic auðr, "wealth," though it is also suggested that it may be related to the poetical term auðr, "fate, destiny". For the second element -ælfR see above. Found in Old Swedish as Ødhælf. A runic example in the accusative case appears as auþelfi. |
NR s.v. AuðælfR, Auð-, -ælfR |
| Auðbjörg |
For the first element Auð- see above. For the second element -björg see above. A short form of names in Auð- is Auða. |
GB pp. 7; CV pp. 32, 66 s.v. auðr, björg |
| Auðfríðr |
For the first element Auð- see above. For the second element -fríðr see above. Appears in runic inscriptions as the possible nominarive form [auþfri...] and the genitive case auþfriþaR. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
NR s.v. Auðfríðr, Auð-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Auðgerðr |
For the first element Auð- see above. For the second element -gærðr or -gerðr see above. Appears in Old Danish as Øthgerth and in Old Swedish as Ødhgærdh. Runic forms include the nominative case auþker, [auþker], uþkiarþ and the accusative case auþkerþi. |
NR s.v. Auðgærðr, Auð-, -gærðr |
| Auðguðr |
For the first element Auð- see above. For the second element -guðr see -gunnr above. A runic example is found in the nominative form a-þkuþr. A short-form of names in Gunn- or -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr is Gunna. |
NR s.v. Auðguðr, Auð-, -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr, Gunna |
| Auðhelga |
For the first element Auð- see above. The second element -helga is related to the Old Icelandic hælga, "holy, hallowed, sanctified". A short form of names in Auð- is Auða. |
GB pp. 7; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 32, 254-255 s.v. auðr, Helgi, helga |
| Auðhildr |
For the first element Auð- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. A single instance of this name is found in the Orkneys in the early 1100's. May be present in the Anglo-Scandinavian forms Othild (1166-1176), Audhild (1208), Authild (1219). A short form of names in Auð- is Auða. |
FJ pp. 39, 342, 349; CV pp. 32, 261 s.v. auðr, hildr |
| Auðr, Auða |
Of uncertain origin, but may be from *Auðió- and Old Icelandic auðr, "wealth, riches, luck," though it is also suggested that it may be related to the poetical term auðr, "fate, destiny." Occurs in the runic nominative form ayþr. In Laxdæla saga (c. 1245) Auðr is the sister of Þórkel hvelpr ("whelp") and Knútr of Saurby, and is married to Þórðr Ingunnarson. Auðr in djúpúðga ("the deep-minded"), daughter of Ketill flatnefr ("flat-nose") and one of the original settlers of Iceland, is perhaps the best known woman with this name, and she appears in several sources, including Eiríks saga rauða, c. late 1100's, as well as being mentioned in many places in Landnámabók. A short form of names in Auð- is Auða. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 32, 66 s.v. auðr; NR s.v. Øyðr |
| Auga |
The feminine or masculine name Auga is related to the OW.Norse man's by-name Auga and with OW.Norse auga "eye". A runic inscription in the nominative case gives auka. |
NR s.v. Auga |
| Aþmiul |
Celtic name. A runic example is found in the accusative case as aþmiu.... |
NR s.v. Aþmiul |
| Name |
Notes |
Source |
| Baugeið, Baugeiðr |
The first element Baug- is identical to Old Icelandic baugr, a ring or armlet, particularly the sacred temple ring upon which oaths were made. The compound baugeiðr is specifically used for this oath. However, in this name the second element is probably actually from -heiðr see above. |
GB pp. 8; CV pp. 53-54, 117, 247 s.v. baugr, baugeiðr, eiðr, heiðr |
| Begga |
|
GB pp. 8 |
| Bera |
From the root ber, "bear" found also in berserkr. The name Bera is found in Egils saga Skallagrímssonar, c. 1230, for Bera Yngvarsdóttir, mother of Egill Skallagrímsson; she is also mentioned in Landnámabók ch. 25. Landnámabók ch. 100 states that Egill Skallagrímsson also had a daughter named Bera. A diminuitive form of this name is Birla. |
GB pp. 8; CV pp. 58 s.v. bera |
| Bergdís |
The first element Berg- is identical to the Norwegian dialect term berg, "protection, help." For the second element -dís see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Bergdís Geirsdóttir, ch. 20; and for Bergdís, the wife of Grímr Ingjaldsson in ch. 26. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100 s.v. dís |
| Berghildr |
For the first element Berg- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342, 349; CV pp. 261 s.v. hildr |
| Bergljót |
For the first element Berg- see above. The second element -ljót is thought to derive from Old Icelandic *ljótr, "giving light" but may instead be related to Old Icelandic ljótr, "ugly". This name appears in Landnámabók for Bergljót, daughter of Jarl Þórir þegjandi ("the silent") in ch. 82. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342, 350 |
| Bergþóra |
For the first element Berg- see above. For the second element -þóra see above. This name appears in Laxdæla saga (c. 1245) as Bergþóra, daughter of Óláfr Höskuldsson and wife of Þórhall goða ("priest"). This name also appears in Landnámabók for Bergþóra, daughter of Kolgrímr inn gamli ("the old") in ch. 14; and for Bergþóra Hrútssdóttir in ch. 39. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 743 s.v. Þórr |
| Berkhildr |
For the second element -hildr see above. This name appears in the legendary saga Egils saga einhenda og Asmundar saga berserkjabana, c. 1300, as the daughter of King Hertryggyr. |
FJ pp. 349; CV pp. 261 s.v. hildr |
| Birla |
Diminuitive form with the -l- second element of the OW.Norse feminine name Bera. Appears in a runic incription in the nominative case as birla. |
NR s.v. Birla |
| Birna |
May be identical with the Old Icelandic birna, "she-bear". |
GB pp. 8; CV pp. 63 s.v. birna |
| Bjargey |
The first element Bjarg- may derive from Old Icelandic bjarga, "to save, to help", or it may instead be related to Old Icelandic bjarg, "rocks, precipices". The second element -ey or -øy is of uncertain origin but may derive either from a feminine form of Primitive Scandinavian auja "happiness, luck, (luck) giver" or may be related to closely related to Primitive Scandinavian *awió "island", Old Icelandic ey, "island." The word ey is also used as a poetic circumlocution for "woman", and in poetical diction ey is personified as a goddess, the sea being her girdle, the glaciers her head-gear. This name appears in Landnámabók for Bjargey Valbrandsdóttir, wife of Hávarðr halti ("the lame") in ch. 50. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 64-65, 134 s.v. bjarg, bjarga, ey; NR s.v. -øy |
| Bjollok |
This name appears in Landnámabók for Bjollok, wife of Áslákr aurgoði in ch. 85. |
GB pp. 8 |
| Björg |
See -björg above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Björg, the daughter of Eyvindr austmann ("the easterner") in ch. 43; and Björg Ísólfsdóttir in ch. 86. |
GB pp. 8; CV pp. 66 s.v. björg |
| Böðný |
The first element Böð- or Böðv- is identical to OW.Norse böð (genitive form böðvar), derived from Germanic *baðwó "battle". For the second element -ný see above. A runic example is found in the genitive case as (b)(y)(þ)nuiaR. |
NR s.v. Böðný, Böð(v)-, -ný |
| Böðvildr |
For the first element Böð- or Böðv- see above. The second element -hildr appears frequently in women's names, sometimes without the aspirate h as in this name: see above. A diminuitive form of this name is Bolla. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 343, 349; CV pp. 261 s.v. hildr |
| Bolla |
Short form of the OW.Norse names Böðvildr, Bóthildr, Borghildr. Found in a runic inscription in the accusative case as bulu. |
NR s.v. Bolla |
| Borga |
Short form of feminine names in Borg- or -borg. The first element Borg- is an alternate form of Berg- and thus derived from the OW.Norse verb bjarga "to save, to help." The first element Borg- is sometimes assumed to be derived from OW.Norse borg "castle, fortified place". Runic forms appear in the nominative case as borha, burka. |
NR s.v. Borga, Borg-, -borg |
| Borghildr |
For the first element Borg- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. A diminuitive form of this name is Bolla. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 349; CV pp. 66, 261 s.v. björg, hildr |
| Borgunna |
For the first element Borg- see above. The second element -gunna is a weak side-form of -unnr/-uðr, which is itself a Primitive Scandinavian -ió-stem formation from the OW.Norse verb unna (O.Engl. unnan, OH.Germ. (gi)unnan) "to love". This name-element is sometimes instead thought to derive from OW.Norse unnr, from *unþi- "to wave, billow, roll, undulate". This name appears in runic form in the nominative case as burkuna. |
NR s.v. Borgunna, Borg-, -unnr/-uðr |
| Bót |
Related to Old Icelandic bót, "fee, wergeld, compensation, remedy, improvement". Bót appears in ch. 99 of Landnámabók as the ambátt or servant of Ketilbjörn. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342-343 |
| Bótey |
For the first element Bót- see above. For the second element -ey or -øy see above. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 342-343 |
| Bótfríðr |
For the first element Bót- see above. For the second element -fríðr see above. Runic forms include the nominative case bofriþr and accusative case butriþu. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
NR s.v. Bótfríðr, Bót-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Bótheiðr, Bóthæiðr |
For the first element Bót- see above. The second element -heiðr or -hæiðr is from Primitive Scandinavian *-haiðió- "brilliance, beauty", related to the OW.Norse adjective heiðr "light, clear, bright". Found in Old Swedish as Botheidh (example from Gotland). A runic example in the nominative case includes [botaiþr]. |
NR s.v. Bóthæiðr, Bót-, -hæiðr |
| Bóthildr, Bóthilda |
For the first element Bót- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. Both forms are fairly frequent in Norway after 1300. rare in Iceland, though found in Swedish and common in Danish. May be present in the Anglo-Scandinavian forms Botild (c. 1152-1200), Botilda (c. 1185-1207), Botilde (c. 1170-1249). A diminuitive form of this name is Bolla. |
GB pp. 8; FJ pp. 61, 342-343, 349; CV pp. 261 s.v. hildr |
| Bótvé, Bótví |
For the first element Bót- see above. For the second element -vé or -ví see above. Found in Old Swedish as Botvi (this example from Gotland). A runic example exists in the nominative case as botui. |
NR s.v. Bótví, Bót-, -ví, -vér |
| Brígiða |
Celtic, Brigid, Brigit |
GB pp. 8 |
| Bryngerðr |
The first element Bryn- (before a vowel Brynj-) is identical with Old Icelandic brynja, "corselet, mail-coat, byrnie." For the second element -gerðr see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Bryngerðr, mother of Friðleifr, and her great-granddaughter Bryngerðr Þjóðarsdóttir in ch. 65. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343, 349; CV pp. 85, 197 s.v. brynja, Gerðr |
| Brynhildr |
For the first element Bryn- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. This name probably came to Scandinavia with the story of the valkyrie Brunhild. The name is fairly common in Norway from the late 1100's onwards but less common in Iceland. A couple of instances are found in Denmark, in the Latinized form Brunildis. The name Brynhildr appears in the 14th century legendary saga Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar as the daughter of Budli. Also appears in the legendary saga Bósa saga og Herrauðs, c. 1300, as the name of the mother of Bosi. May be present in the Anglo-Scandinavian place-names Brunildesford (1360) and Brunildeberge (1220-1250). |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 67, 343, 349; CV pp. 85, 261 s.v. brynja, hildr |
| Busla |
The name Busla appears in the legendary saga Bósa saga og Herrauðs, c. 1300, as the name of the foster-mother of Bosi. |
|
| Name |
Notes |
Source |
| Dageiðr |
The first element Dag- is identical to Old Icelandic dagr, "day". For the second element -eiðr see above. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 348; CV pp. 94-95, 247 s.v. dagr, heiðr |
| Dagmær |
For the first element Dag- see above. The second element -mær may possibly be related to Old Icelandic mær, "maiden, girl", or to Old Icelandic mærr, "famous". The name Dagmær appears in the 14th century legendary saga Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar as the wife of King Þrándr. |
FJ pp. 350; CV pp. 94-95, 443 s.v. dagr, mær, mærr |
| Dagný |
For the first element Dag- see above. For the second element -ný see above. The name Dagný appears in the early 14th century legendary saga Þórsteins þáttr bæjarmagns as the mother of the title character. |
CV pp. 94-95 s.v. dagr; NR s.v. -ný |
| Dagrún |
For the first element Dag- see above. For the second element -rún see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Dagrún, the mother of Bersi, in ch. 90. A short form of names in Rún- or -rún is Runa. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 350-351; CV pp. 94-95, 504 s.v. dagr, rún; NR s.v. Rúna, Rún-, -rún |
| Dalla |
This name appears in Landnámabók for Dalla, sister of Þórgeirr Galtason and wife of Þórvaldr Hjaltason, in ch. 74. |
GB pp. 9 |
| Dís |
From OW.Norse dís "goddess, female god". A runic example in the accusative case appears as tisi. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 100 s.v. dís; NR s.v. Dís, -dís |
| Dísa |
See Dís above. Found in Old Swedish as Disa. A runic example is found in the nominative case as tisa. Dísa is a short-form for names in Dís- or -dís. |
CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100 s.v. dís; NR s.v. Dís, -dís |
| DísælfR |
For the first element Dís- see Dís above. For the second element -ælfR see above. Runic instances include the nominative case tiselfr and tisilfR. |
NR s.v. DísælfR, Dís, Dís-, -ælfR |
| Dómhildr |
The first element Dóm- may be related to Old Icelandic dómr, "judgement, legal sentence, fate, doom", which is also found in a number of legal terms in Old Norse. For the second element -hildr see above. |
FJ pp. 349; CV pp. 101, 261 s.v. dómr, hildr |
| Dóra |
Dóra is a short form of names with the -dóra second element, such as Halldóra. |
CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names" |
| Dóta |
Found in Old Danish and Old Swedish as Dota; compare with the Old Swedish man's by-name Dota, OW.Norse Dótta, and the Old Danish man's by-name Dotta. Of uncertain etymology. Found in the nominative case in a runic inscription as -ota. |
NR s.v. Dóta |
| Dótta |
A Danish name, probably a form of dóttir, "daughter". |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 102 s.v. Dótta |
| DóttiR |
Found in Old Danish as Dotir and in Old Swedish as Dottir. From OW.Norse dóttir "daughter". Found in runic inscriptions in the nominative case as tutiR and tu-iR. |
NR s.v. DóttiR |
| Drífa |
May be related to the Old Icelandic dríf, meaning "driven snow". |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 106 s.v. dríf |
| Droplaug |
For the second element -laug see above. The name Droplaug appears in Vápnfirðinga saga as the mother of the boys who are newphews to Hallkatla. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 374 s.v. laug def. IV |
| Drótt |
May be identical to Old Icelandic drótt, "household, a people, the king's warband". Found in Ynglingasaga ch. 20. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 107 s.v. drótt |
| Dýrfinna |
The first element Dýr- may be from Old Icelandic dýr, "deer", or else from Old Icelandic dýrr, 'dear, precious". The second element -finna is the feminine of Old Icelandic finnr, which means "Saami, Laplander." The word is often mistranslated as "a person from Finland, a Finn", and often is used to mean "sorcerer, magician, practicioner of seiðr, since the Saami were believed to be mighty magicians. This name appears in Landnámabók for Dýrfinna, mother of Þórsteinm smiðr Skeggjason ("the smith") in ch. 67. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 348; CV pp. 111-112, 154 s.v. dýr, dýrr, Finnar |
| Dýrhildr |
For the first element Dýr- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 349; CV pp. 111-112, 261 s.v. dýr, dýrr, hildr |
| Name |
Notes |
Source |
| Edda |
The name Edda is found in Rígsþula in the Poetic Edda. This name also appears in the legendary saga Bósa saga og Herrauðs, c. 1300, as the name of the daughter of King Hárekr. |
CV pp. 114 s.v. edda |
| Eðla |
May be from eðla-, related to German edel- and Danish ædel-, "noble". |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 114, 115 s.v. eðal-, eðla- |
| Eðna |
Celtic |
GB pp. 9 |
| Eðný |
For the second element -ný see above. The name Eðný appears in the legendary saga Egils saga einhenda og Asmundar saga berserkjabana, c. 1300, as the daughter of King Hákon, and in the 14th century legendary saga Hálfdanar saga Eysteinssonar as the daughter of King Hárekr. |
GB pp. 9; NR s.v. -ný |
| Eilíf |
This name is the feminine form of the man's name Eilífr/ÆilífR. The first element Ei-, Æi- has several proposed origins: the first is from Primitive Scandinavian *aiwa "always", the second is from Primitive Scandinavian *aina- "one, alone" and the third explanation sees this first element as originating as a delabialized form of the first element Ey-, Øy-. The sufix is from Primitive Scandinavian *-líbaR and OW.Norse líf "life" and is related to -læifR/-lafR. |
NR s.v. Æilíf |
| Eilína, Elína |
Christian, Helen. This name appears in Landnámabók for Elína, daughter of king Burisláv, in ch. 63. |
GB pp. 9 |
| Eirný |
The first element Eir- may be related to Old Icelandic eir, "peace, clemency". For the second element -ný see above. There was also a goddess named Eir, one of Frigga's handmaidens. This name appears in Landnámabók for Eirný Þiðrandadóttr in ch. 42 |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 123 s.v. eir; NR s.v. -ný |
| Ellisif |
Ellisif is the Nordicized version of the Russian name Elisaveta, the daughter of Jaroslav who married Norwegian king Haraldr hardrada. |
GB pp. 9; Bløndal pp. 55 |
| Embla, Emla |
This is a mythological name, found in Völuspá 17, where the creation of man is explained by the gods finding two trees, an askr (ash) and embla and from then created the first man and woman, who were then called Askr and Embla. The exact meaning of embla is unknown, though scholars have noted its similarities to almr, "elm", but the word also is used by Egil Skallagrimsson in the compound emblu-askr, which suggests that it may be related to "ash tree" instead. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 127 s.v. Embla |
| Emma |
|
GB pp. 9 |
| Engilborg, Ingilborg |
Christian. The first element Engil- is identical to Old Icelandic engill "angel", a loan-word from Latin angelus. For the second element -borg see above. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 66, 123-130 s.v. björg, engill |
| Erna |
Identical to the Old Icelandic adjective ern, "brisk, vigorous". |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 133 s.v. ern |
| Esja |
This name may possibly be related to Old Norse esja, a kind of clay. There is a mountain in Iceland named Esja. Landnámabók lists the name of a farm as Esju-berg, "Clay Berg". |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 134 s.v. esja |
| Evja |
|
GB pp. 9 |
| Eybjörg |
The first element Ey- (or before a vowel, Eyj-) is of uncertain origin but may derive from *auja, "fortune, gift." The Cleasby-Vigfusson dictionary states that while the second element -ey may be related to the word for island, from Primitive Scandinavian *awió, when it appears as the first element Ey- or Eyj- then the word comes from a different root. For the second element -björg, -borg see above. Occurs in the runic nominative form ayburg. |
NR s.v. Øyborg, Øy-, -biôrg/-borg |
| Eydís |
For the first element Ey- see above. For the second element -dís see above. Found in Old Swedish as Ødis and in OW.Norse as Eydís. Occurs in the runic accusative forms (a)utisi, aytisi. This name appears in Landnámabók for Eydís, wife of Þórsteinn goði ("chieftain"), in ch. 73. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100, 134 s.v. dís, ey; NR s.v. Øydís, Øy-, -dís |
| Eyfríðr |
For the first element Ey- see above. For the second element -fríðr see above. A short-form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
FJ pp. 348; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 134 s.v. ey; NR s.v. Fríða |
| Eyfura |
For the first element Ey- see above. The second element -fura may be related to the Old Icelandic word fura, "fir-tree". The name Eyfura appears in the legendary saga Örvar-Odds saga, c. 1250, as the mother of Angantyr. |
CV pp. 134, 178 s.v. ey, fura |
| Eyildr |
For the first element Ey- see above. The second element -hildr appears frequently in women's names, sometimes without the aspirate h as in this name: see above. |
FJ pp. 348, 349; CV pp. 134, 261 s.v. ey, hildr |
| Eyja |
See Ey- above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Eyja Ingjaldsdóttir in ch. 46. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 134 s.v. ey |
| Eylaug |
For the first element Ey- see above. For the second element -laug see above. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 134, 374 s.v. ey, laug def. IV |
| Eyvör |
For the first element Ey- see above. For the second element -vör see above. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343, 351-352; CV pp. 134 s.v. ey; NR s.v. -vör |
| Eyþóra |
For the first element Ey- see above. For the second element -þóra see . |
FJ pp. 342; CV pp. 134, 743 s.v. ey, Þórr |
| Name |
Notes |
Source |
| Falgerðr |
For the second element -gerðr see above. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 349; CV p. 197 s.v. Gerðr |
| Fasta |
Short form of feminine names in Fast-, -fast/-föst. May appear in a runic inscription in the nominative case as [fasta]. |
NR s.v. Fasta, Fast-, -fast/-föst |
| Fastgerðr |
The first element Fast- is related to Old Icelandic fastr, "firm, fast". For the second element -gerðr see above. Runic forms in the nominative case include faskr and fstkir. |
NR s.v. Fastgærðr, Fast-, -gærðr |
| Fastheiðr |
For the first element Fast- see above. For the second element -heiðr or -hæiðr see above. Runic examples are found in the nominative form fasteþr and the accusative form [fasti]þi. |
NR s.v. Fasthæiðr, Fast-, -hæiðr |
| Fastný |
For the first element Fast- see above. For the second element -ný see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Fastný Brynjólfsdóttir in ch. 76. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 145 s.v. fastr; NR s.v. -ný |
| Fastríðr |
For the first element Fast- see above. For the second element -fríðr see above. Possibly found in Old Swedish as Fastridh. A runic inscription has the nominative form fatriþ. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
NR s.v. Fastríðr, Fast-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Fastvé, Faství |
For the first element Fast- see above. For the second element -vé or -ví see above. Runic examples are found in the nominative case as fastui, [fastui] and in the accusative case as fastui, (f)astuiu. |
NR s.v. Faství, Fast-, -ví, -vér |
| Finna |
See -finna above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Finna Skaftadóttir, wife of Refr inn mikli ("the great") in ch. 27; Finna Hrútsdóttir in ch. 39; and Finna Þormóðardóttir in ch. 98. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 348; CV pp. 154 s.v. finnr |
| Fjölmóð, Fiölmóð |
Compare to the OW.Norse name of a masculine fictional character, Fjölmóðr; also compare with the Continental Germanic feminine names Filomuot, Felemoda, and the masculine name Filimuth. The OW.Norse name may be interpreted as "courageous " (from fjöl- "full-, exceedingly-" and móðr "emotional; courageous; wrathful"). In Runic Swedish this name may be understood as a variation of names formed with a second element in -móð or -móðr and a personal name element Fiöl-, Fjöl- corresponding to Continental Germanic names in Filu- (< Germanic *felu- "full-, exceedingly-"). A runic example is found in the accusative case as fiul:muþ. A short form of feminine names in -móð is Moda. |
NR s.v. Fiölmóð(r), -móð |
| Fjörleif |
The first element Fjör- may perhaps be related to Old Icelandic fjör, "life, vitality". For the second element -leif see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Fjörleif Eyvindardóttir in ch. 72-73. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 154 s.v. fjör; FJ pp. 158; NR s.v. -læif/-löf, -læifR/-lafR |
| Fjötra |
The name Fjötra appears in the legendary saga Gautreks saga, c. late 1200's, as the name of one of the daughters of ridiculously ignorant family. The name may be related to Old Icelandic fjöturr, "fetter, shackle". All the names in this family rhyme (Totra, Fjötra, Hjötra, Snotra) and it is unlikely that any except Snotra were used outside of fiction or nicknames. |
CV pp. 154 s.v. fjötra, fjöturr |
| Folka |
Short form of feminine names in Folk-. A runic example occurs in the genitive case as fulku. |
NR s.v. Folka, Folk- |
| Folkvé, Folkví |
The first element Folk- is from OW.Norse folk "group of people, a group of warriors." For the second element -vé or -ví see above. Runic examples occur in the nominative case as fulkui and fulukui. A short form of feminine names in Folk- is Folka. |
NR s.v. Folkví, Folk-, -ví |
| Frakokk |
This name appears in Orkneyingasaga (c. 1200) as the name of the wife of Ljótr the Renegade of Sutherland. Frakkok was the daughter of a farmer living in the Orkneys, one Moddan. The name may perhaps be related to Old Icelandic frakka a loan word from Old English franca, a type of spear, or to the man's name Frakki. |
CV pp. 169 s.v. frakka, Frakki |
| Freydís, Frøydís |
The first element Frey- or Frøy- derives from Primitive Scandinavian *fraujaR "lord". As with other words in the Scandinavian languages this word became a god's name (OW.Norse Freyr; Old Danish, Old Swedish Frø), the name first element Frey- or Frøy- means in part "lord", but also signifies the god. The OW.Norse form of this name is Freydís. Found in a runic inscription in the nominative form frau×tis. The name Freydís is found in Eiríks saga rauða, c. late 1100's, and in Grænlendinga saga (1382-1395) for the daughter of Eiríkr rauðr. Freydís was memorable, but not likable. She stands out historically as the first European ax-murderess in the New World. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. |
FJ pp. 343; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100 s.v. dís; NR s.v. Frøydís, Frøy-, -dís |
| Freygerðr |
For the first element Frey- see above. For the second element -gerðr see above. Occurs in Old Danish as Frøgerth and in OW.Norse as Freygerðr. Runic forms include the nominative case frukaþr and the genitive case fraikirþaR. This name appears in Landnámabók for Freygerðr Hrafnsdóttir in ch. 38. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343, 349; CV pp. 197 s.v. Gerðr; NR s.v. Frøygærðr, Frøy-, -gærðr |
| Freygunnr |
For the first element Frey- see above. For the second element -gunnr see above. Runic examples include nominative case fraykun and frykuþr. A short-form of names in Gunn- or -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr is Gunna. |
NR s.v. Frøygunnr/-guðr, Frøy-, -gunnr/-guðr/-gundr, Gunna |
| Freylaug |
For the first element Frey- see above. For the second element -laug see above. A runic example occurs in the nominative case as fraylaug. |
NR s.v. Frøylaug, Frøy-, -laug |
| Fríða |
A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr. The first element Frið- comes from OW.Norse friðr (< Primitive Scandinavian *friðuR) "love, peace", which as a name-element may mean "protection, defense". Found in Old Danish as Fritha and in Old Swedish as Fridha, with the OW.Norse form being Fríða. May be found in a runic inscription in the nominative case as ...[e]þa and occurs in the accusative case as friþu. Cleasby-Vigfusson notes that names in Frið- were only rarely used in the Viking Age: possibly they became more popular with the advent of Christianity. |
FJ pp. 343; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 173 s.v. fríðr; NR s.v. Fríða, -fríðr |
| FriðælfR |
For the first element Frið- see above. For the second element -ælfR see above. Runic examples are found in the nominative case as [fr(in)þelfr] and in the accusative case as [friþelfi]. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
NR s.v. FriðælfR, Frið-, -ælfR, Fríða |
| Friðgerðr |
For the first element Frið- see above. For the second element -gerðr see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Friðgerðr Illugadóttir in ch. 34; Friðgerðr, daughter of Kjarvalr, an Irish king, in ch. 64. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343, 349; CV pp. 197 s.v. Gerðr; NR s.v. Fríða |
| Frosthildr |
A hypothetical Anglo-Scandinavian formation. The first element Frost- is related to Old Icelandic frost, "frost". For the second element -hildr see above. May be present in the Anglo-Scandinavian place-name Frostildehau (c. 1175). |
FJ pp. 87, 343, 349; CV pp. 174-175, 261 s.v. frost, hildr |
| Name |
Notes |
Source |
| Gauthildr |
The byname gautr was originally a Swedish name element, meaning "Goth, man from Gautland, Gotlander." The Cleasby-Vigfusson dictionary notes that the masculine name Gautr is a poetical name for Óðinn, and suggests that it may mean "father". For the second element -hildr see above. |
GB pp. 10; FJ pp. 348-349; CV pp. 193, 261 s.v. Gautr, hildr |
| Geira, GæiRa |
The feminine form of the name element Geir-, which is identical to the Old Icelandic geirr, "spear." A short form of feminine names in GæiR-. Occurs in the runic nominative forms [kaira] and kera. Occurs in Old Danish as Gera and in OW.Norse as Geira. Found in Landnámabók. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 196 s.v. geirr, Geira; NR s.v. GæiRa, GæiR- |
| Geirbjörg |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -björg see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Geirbjörg Bálkadóttir in ch. 19, 25, 53. A short form of feminine names in GæiR- is Geira. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 66, 196 s.v. björg, geirr |
| Geirdís |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -dís see above. A short-form for names in -dís is Dísa. A short form of feminine names in GæiR- is Geira. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 100, 196 s.v. dís, geirr |
| Geirhildr |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. Possibly found in Old Danish as Gerhild. Occurs in OW.Norse as Geirhildr. Occurs in the runic nominative form gaiRilt(r). This name appears in Landnámabók for Geirhildr Flókadóttir in ch. 2; Geirhildr fjölkunnig kona (witch) in ch. 68; and another Geirhildr in ch. 69. A short form of feminine names in GæiR- is Geira. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343, 349; CV pp. 196, 261 s.v. geirr, hildr; NR s.v. GæiRhildr, GæiR-, -hildr |
| Geirlaug |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -laug see above. Found in Old Danish as Gerløgh and in OW.Norse as Geirlaug. Runic examples include nominative case gaiRlauk and accusative case kaiR[l]a[uk]. This name appears in Landnámabók for Geirlaug Þórmóðardóttir in ch. 20. A short form for Geirlaug is Geira. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV pp. 196, 374 s.v. geirr, laug def. IV; NR s.v. GæiRlaug, GæiR-, -laug |
| Geirlöð |
For the first element Geir- see above. The second element -löð is identical to Old Icelandic löð, "bidding, invitation". A short form of feminine names in GæiR- is Geira. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 196, 404 s.v. geirr, löð |
| Geirný |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -ný see above. This name appears in Landnámabók for Geirný, mother of Skáld-Hrafn in ch. 95. A short form of feminine names in GæiR- is Geira. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 196 s.v. geirr; NR s.v. -ný |
| Geirríðr |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -fríðr see above. Occurs in OW.Norse as Geirríðr. A runic nominative form is kairkiRiþ-r. This name appears in Landnámabók for Geirríðr Bægifótsdóttir in ch. 30; Geirríðr, the sister of Geirröðr, who married Björn Bölverkson blindingatrjóa ("peg-pole") in ch. 34; Geirríðr, daughter of Þórólfr bægifótr ("limp-leg"); and Geirríðr, whose mother was Þórkatla Ófeigsdóttir, in ch. 40. A short form of feminine names in GæiR- is Geira. A short form of names in Fríð-, -fríðr is Fríða. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343, 350; CV pp. 196 s.v. geirr; NR s.v. GæiRfríðr, GæiR-, -fríðr, Fríða |
| Geirunnr |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -uðr or -unnr see above. Occurs in the runic accusative form kaiR[uni]. |
NR s.v. GæiRunnr, GæiR-, -unnr/-uðr |
| Geirvé |
For the first element Geir- see above. For the second element -vé or -ví see above. Runic examples include the nominative forms kairui, [kai]Rui and possibly the accusative form (a)iRku. |
NR s.v. GæiRví, GæiR-, -ví, -vér |
| Gerðr |
The name Gerðr is from Primitive Scandinavian *garðior, or may be related to Old Icelandic gerðistún, "garden". May be a feminine form of the masculine name Garðr. It is found as the name of a goddess or giantess with whom the god Freyr falls in love in the Poetic Edda, but is also found as a human name in 10th century Iceland, where it is recorded in Landnámabók for Gerðr, daughter of Kjallakr inn gamli ("the old") in ch. 27 and 32; Gerðr Böðvarsdóttir in ch. 55; and Gerðr Óláfsdóttir in ch. 97. Occurs only in place-names from Norway and Denmark. Also see the second element -gerðr above. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 100, 349; CV pp. 197 s.v. Gerðr |
| Gilla |
Found as Old Swedish Gilla. This name is a short form of the woman's name Gillaug. A runic example has the nominative form kila. |
NR s.v. Gilla, Gillaug |
| Gillaug |
Found in Old Swedish as Gilløgh. The origin of the first element is uncertain: it may perhaps represent an assimilated form of the woman's name Ginnlaug, or it also may have developed from the woman's name GæiRlaug. Continental Germanic names in Gil- are assumed to be derived from Gísl-, but such assimilation seems to first appear late in Scandinavia. It is also possible that names in Gil(l)- are borrowings of Celtic name-elements; compare with OW.Norse Gilli, Gillikristr. For the second element -laug see above. There are a number of runic occurrances, including nominative case gilok, giluk, kilauh, kilauk, (k)ilauk, [kilaum], kilnuk, [kilok], kiluk and genitive case kilaua and kilauhaR. |
NR s.v. Gillaug, -laug |
| Ginna |
The first element Ginn- is of uncertain etymology. It may derive from a Continental Germanic name, perhaps relted to the OW.Norse verb ginna "to deceive, to enchant"; compare with the OW.Norse mythological character Ginnarr. Found in Old Swedish Ginna. Short form of the woman's name Ginnlaug. There is one runic example in the nominative case, kina. |
NR s.v. Ginna, Ginnlaug |
| Ginnlaug |
For the first element Ginn- see above. A short form of this name isGinna. Runic examples include the nominative forms |kinlauh, |kinla-h, kinluk, the genitive forms kinlauhaR, kinlau-aR and the accusative form ki---uku. |
NR s.v. Ginnlaug, Ginn-, -laug |
| Gísla |
Found in Old Danish as Gisla. This name is either a short form of Gíslaug or the feminine equivalent to the man's name Gísli. A runic inscription has the nominative form kisla. |
NR s.v. Gísla, Gíslaug, Gísli |
| Gíslaug |
The first element Gísl- may be related to the Langobard word gísil "arrow-shaft" and also to OW.Norse geisl "staff", geisli "sun-beam"; thus "a shaft typical of a weapon or a part of a weapon". The name may also be linked to OW.Norse gísl "hostage". For the second element -laug see above. Found in Old Swedish as Gisløgh and in OW.Norse as Gíslaug. Runic examples include the nominative forms kislauh, kisl(a)uig, kislauk, [kislauk], [k-sluk], [-]islauh. |
NR s.v. Gíslaug, Gísl-, -laug |
| Gjaflaug |
The first element Gjaf-, Giaf- or Gef- is derived from Germanic *Geba-, compare with the OW.Norse verb gefa "to give" and OW.Norse gjöf "gift", related to the stem in gjafari and gjafmildr. For the second element -laug see above. A runic example occurs in the nominative case as kiafluk. Appears as the name of two women in Laxdæla saga (c. 1245), Gjaflaug Arnbjörnardóttir, wife of Þórleikr Höskuldsson, and Gjaflaug Kjallaksdóttir, wife of Björn inn austræni ("the easterner"). Gjaflaug Kjallaksdóttir is also mentioned in Landnámabók in ch. 32 and 40. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 202, 374 s.v. gjöf, laug def. IV; NR s.v. Giaflaug, Gef-/Giaf-, -laug |
| Gjaflöð |
For the first element Gjaf- see above. For the second element -löð see above. |
GB pp. 9; FJ pp. 343; CV pp. 202, 404 s.v. gjöf, löð |
| Greilöð |
For the second element -löð see above. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 404 s.v. löð |
| Grélöð, Grélaða |
For the second element -löð see above. In Eiríks saga rauða Grélaða appears as the wife of Earl Þórsteinn hausakljúfr ("skull-splitter"). This name appears in Landnámabók for Grélöð, whose mother was Gróa Þórsteinsdóttir, in ch. 36; and for Grélöð, daughter of Jarl Bjartmar in ch. 47. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 404 s.v. löð |
| Gríma |
The first element Grím- is related to Old Icelandic gríma, "mask", and may refer to a helm which masks the face, also Grímr was one of the names of the god Óðinn. This name appears in Landnámabók for Gríma Hallkelsdóttir in ch. 22 and ch. 28. In Laxdæla saga (c. 1245) Gríma is the name of a Hebridean witch who practices deadly magic against Þórðr Ingunnarson and Kari Hrútsson, and is eventually put to death for her crimes by Óláfr pái ("peacock"). |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 216 s.v. gríma |
| Grímhildr |
For the first element Grím- see above. For the second element -hildr see above. The name Grímhildr appears in Grænlendinga saga (1382-1395), as the wife of Þórsteinn of Lysufjord. |
FJ pp. 349; CV pp. 216, 261 s.v. gríma, hildr |
| Gróa |
Found in Old Danish as Gro, in Old Swedish as Groa, and in OW.Norse as Gróa. This name appears in the Poetic Edda as the name of the mother of the giant Örvandil (the constellation Orion), and it is also found as a human name. May be related to Swedish groda or Norse gro, "toad, paddock", or may perhaps be related to OW.Norse gróa, "to grow, to be healed of wounds". Runic examples include nominative case krua and kRrua. This name appears in Landnámabók for Gróa Þórsteinsdóttir and Gróa the daughter of Óláfr feilan ("wolf-cub") in ch. 36; Gróa Dala-Kollsdóttir in ch. 39; Gróa Þórólfsdóttur in ch. 47; Gróa Herfinnsdóttir in ch. 63; Gróa, wife of Flóki in ch. 65; Gróa in snarskyggna ("the swift-eyed") and Gróa Þórvarðsdóttir in ch. 65; Gróa Hafþórsdóttir in ch. 67; Gróa, the daughter of Þórðr illugi ("evil-mind") in ch. 83 and 84; and Gróa Vestarsdóttir in ch. 85. This name also appears for three characters in Laxdæla saga (c. 1245): Gróa Geirmundardóttir, who drowned with her father Geirmundr gnýr ("the noisy"); Gróa Dala-Kollsdóttir; and Gróa, daughter of Þórsteinn rauðr ("the red") and an ancestress of the Norse Earls of Orkney, who also appears in Eiríks saga rauða. |
GB pp. 9; CV pp. 216-217 s.v. gróa, Gróa; NR s.v. Gróa |
| Gudda |
Gudda is a short form for Guðrún. |
CV pp. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names" |
| GuðælfR |
The first element Guð- and its side-form Goð- are derived from Germanic *guða "god, god-like being" and are related to Old Icelandic guð, goð, "god, the gods." The oldest form of this first element lies in the root goð, and Cleasby-Vigfusson mentions that even in late Christian poetry words in guð- were made to rhyme with o, suggesting that the pronunciation should still be as if the first element were goð-. In Iceland the pronunciation underwent further change, so that | |
