Norse God Names
The gods of the Vikings were a rough, clever, doomed family. Odin gave an eye for wisdom, Tyr gave a hand to bind a wolf, and every one of them knew Ragnarok was coming. Their names, recorded in the Icelandic Poetic Edda and Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, still sound as strong as they did a thousand years ago.
This list covers more than 100 figures from Norse mythology: the Aesir and Vanir, the goddesses of Frigg’s court, the giants they battled, the Valkyries and Norns, and the wolves, ravens and serpents around them. Spellings are simplified from Old Norse (Baldr, Freyja, Idunn). For names Norse people actually gave their children, see our Viking names, Viking boy names and female Viking names.
The Aesir: gods of Asgard
The Aesir were the main family of gods, led by Odin and living in Asgard. Most of them had a clear job: war, law, poetry, watchfulness.
| God | Role | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Odin | All-father; wisdom, war, poetry and death | Gave an eye to drink from Mimir’s well |
| Thor | Thunder and protector of humankind | The hammer Mjolnir |
| Tyr | Law, justice and single combat | Lost his hand binding Fenrir |
| Baldr | Light, beauty and goodness | Killed by a mistletoe dart |
| Heimdall | Watchman of the gods | Guards the rainbow bridge Bifrost |
| Bragi | Poetry and eloquence | Runes carved on his tongue |
| Hodr | Blind god | Tricked by Loki into killing Baldr |
| Vidar | Silence and vengeance | Will kill Fenrir at Ragnarok |
| Vali | Vengeance | Born to avenge Baldr, grown in a single day |
| Ullr | Winter, skiing and archery | Travels on skis or snowshoes |
| Forseti | Justice and reconciliation | Son of Baldr; settles all disputes |
| Hermod | Messenger of the gods | Rode Sleipnir to Hel to plead for Baldr |
| Hoenir | Gave humans spirit and sense | Sent to the Vanir as a hostage |
| Mimir | Wisdom and counsel | His head still advises Odin |
| Vili | Creator of the world | Brother of Odin |
| Ve | Creator of the world | Brother of Odin |
| Borr | Father of Odin | Son of Buri |
| Buri | First of the gods | Licked out of the ice by a cow |
| Magni | “Strength,” son of Thor | Will inherit Mjolnir |
| Modi | “Courage” or “wrath,” son of Thor | Survives Ragnarok |
| Meili | Brother of Thor | Named only briefly in the Eddas |
Norse goddesses
Snorri lists the goddesses (Asynjur) alongside the gods, and several of them are known only from a single line. Their names make lovely, uncommon mythology girl names.
| Goddess | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Frigg | Queen of Asgard; marriage and foresight | Knows all fates but never tells |
| Sif | Wife of Thor | Loki cut off her golden hair |
| Idunn | Youth and renewal | Keeper of the golden apples |
| Nanna | Wife of Baldr | Died of grief at his funeral |
| Saga | Storytelling, possibly history | Drinks daily with Odin |
| Eir | Healing | Considered the best physician |
| Gefjon | Plowing and prosperity | Plowed the island of Zealand from Sweden |
| Fulla | Handmaid of Frigg | Keeper of Frigg’s secrets |
| Sjofn | Turns hearts toward love | One of Frigg’s circle |
| Lofn | Permission to love | Allows forbidden unions |
| Var | Oaths and promises | Punishes those who break them |
| Vor | Wisdom, awareness | Nothing can be hidden from her |
| Syn | Refusal and defense | Guards the doors of the hall |
| Hlin | Protection and comfort | Shields those Frigg wishes to save |
| Snotra | Wisdom and courtesy | Her name means “clever” |
| Gna | Messenger of Frigg | Rides the flying horse Hofvarpnir |
| Sol | The sun | Drives the sun’s chariot, chased by a wolf |
| Bil | Follower of the moon | Travels with Mani |
| Jord | The earth | Mother of Thor |
| Rind | Mother of Vali | Possibly a giantess or earth goddess |
| Skadi | Winter, skiing and the hunt | Giantess who married Njord |
| Gerd | Giantess of the earth | Wooed by Freyr |
| Thrud | “Strength,” daughter of Thor | Also the name of a Valkyrie |
The Vanir: gods of fertility and plenty
A second family of gods, linked to fertility, wealth and magic. After a war with the Aesir the two sides made peace and exchanged hostages, which is how Njord, Freyr and Freyja came to Asgard.
| God | Role | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Njord | The sea, wind and seafaring wealth | Father of Freyr and Freyja |
| Freyr | Fertility, peace and good harvests | Rides the golden boar Gullinbursti |
| Freyja | Love, beauty, war and magic (seidr) | Chariot pulled by cats; claims half the slain |
| Nerthus | Earth goddess | Described by the Roman historian Tacitus |
| Kvasir | Wisdom | His blood became the mead of poetry |
| Hnoss | “Treasure” | Daughter of Freyja |
| Gersemi | “Treasure” | Second daughter of Freyja |
| Od | Freyja’s husband | His long absences made her weep tears of gold |
| Gullveig | Mysterious sorceress | Burned three times, sparking the Aesir–Vanir war |
Giants, primordial beings and powers of nature
The jotnar weren’t simply villains. Gods married them, drank with them and descended from them. The world itself was built from the body of the first giant.
| Name | Who they were | Story |
|---|---|---|
| Ymir | The first giant | The world was made from his body |
| Audhumla | The primeval cow | Fed Ymir and freed Buri from the ice |
| Bestla | Giantess, mother of Odin | Daughter of Bolthorn |
| Bolthorn | Giant, grandfather of Odin | Taught Odin nine mighty songs |
| Nott | Night | Rides the horse Hrimfaxi |
| Dagr | Day | Rides the shining horse Skinfaxi |
| Mani | The moon | Brother of Sol, chased by the wolf Hati |
| Aegir | The sea | Brews ale and hosts feasts for the gods |
| Ran | Sea goddess | Catches drowned sailors in her net |
| Kari | The wind | Brother of Aegir |
| Surtr | Fire giant of Muspelheim | Will set the world ablaze at Ragnarok |
| Thrym | King of the frost giants | Stole Mjolnir; Thor dressed as a bride to get it back |
| Thiazi | Storm giant | Kidnapped Idunn; father of Skadi |
| Hrungnir | Giant with a heart of stone | Killed by Thor in a duel |
| Hymir | Sea giant | Thor fished for the world serpent from his boat |
| Suttungr | Giant who owned the mead of poetry | Odin stole it from him |
| Utgarda-Loki | Giant king of illusions | Tricked Thor with impossible contests |
| Angrboda | Giantess of the Iron Wood | Mother of Fenrir, Jormungandr and Hel |
| Farbauti | Giant, father of Loki | Name means “cruel striker” |
| Laufey | Mother of Loki | Loki is often called “Laufeyjarson” |
Loki, his family and the creatures of the Nine Worlds
Loki is counted among the gods but born of giants, and his children are the monsters that bring about Ragnarok. These names are favorites for dogs, horses and fantasy characters; see also names that mean wolf and our dragon names.
| Name | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Loki | Trickster and shape-shifter | Both helper and enemy of the gods |
| Sigyn | Loki’s loyal wife | Holds a bowl to catch venom over him |
| Narfi | Son of Loki and Sigyn | Also spelled Nari |
| Hel | Ruler of the realm of the dead | Half living, half corpse |
| Fenrir | Monstrous wolf | Will swallow Odin at Ragnarok |
| Jormungandr | The world serpent | Encircles Midgard, biting its own tail |
| Sleipnir | Odin’s eight-legged horse | Child of Loki |
| Nidhogg | Dragon | Gnaws the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil |
| Ratatoskr | Squirrel | Carries insults up and down Yggdrasil |
| Hati | Wolf | Chases the moon |
| Skoll | Wolf | Chases the sun |
| Garmr | Hound | Guards the gates of Hel |
| Huginn | Odin’s raven | “Thought” |
| Muninn | Odin’s raven | “Memory” |
| Geri | Odin’s wolf | “Greedy one” |
| Freki | Odin’s wolf | “Ravenous one” |
| Gullinbursti | Freyr’s boar | “Golden bristles” |
| Tanngrisnir | One of Thor’s goats | “Teeth-barer” |
| Tanngnjostr | One of Thor’s goats | “Teeth-grinder” |
Valkyries and Norns
The Valkyries chose who would die in battle and carried the chosen to Valhalla; the three Norns sat at the well beneath Yggdrasil and shaped every life. Both make fierce female warrior names.
| Name | Meaning | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Urd | “What has become” | Norn of the past |
| Verdandi | “What is becoming” | Norn of the present |
| Skuld | “What shall be” | Norn of the future and a Valkyrie |
| Brynhild | “Armor-battle” | Valkyrie of the Volsung saga |
| Hild | “Battle” | Valkyrie who revives the fallen each night |
| Gondul | “Wand-wielder” | Valkyrie in the Hakonarmal |
| Mist | “Mist, cloud” | Serves ale in Valhalla |
| Hrist | “Shaker” | Serves ale in Valhalla |
| Sigrun | “Victory rune” | Valkyrie beloved by the hero Helgi |
| Svipul | “Changeable” | Named in the Darradarljod |
| Geirskogul | “Spear-battle” | Valkyrie in the Voluspa |
| Reginleif | “Heir of the gods” | Serves the einherjar |
| Kara | Possibly “wild, stormy” | Said to be Sigrun reborn |
How to pick a Norse god name
- Choose the story you want to carry. Baldr, Freyr and Forseti stand for goodness and peace; Loki and Fenrir are fun but chaotic.
- Simplify the spelling. Old Norse letters like ð and þ become d and th in English: Óðinn becomes Odin, Þórr becomes Thor.
- For pets, look at the animals. Odin’s wolves Geri and Freki or ravens Huginn and Muninn are perfect for pairs.
- Try the quieter goddesses. Eir, Saga, Idunn and Sif are short, soft and genuinely ancient.
- Compare other pantheons. Our Greek god names and Egyptian god names pages are useful if you’re building a themed set.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the most powerful Norse god?
Odin, the All-father, ruled the gods and knew the most, while Thor was the strongest in battle.
Is Loki a god or a giant?
Both. Loki was born to the giants Farbauti and Laufey but became Odin’s blood-brother and lived among the Aesir.
What is the difference between the Aesir and the Vanir?
The Aesir (Odin, Thor, Tyr) were associated with war, order and rule, while the Vanir (Njord, Freyr, Freyja) were tied to fertility, wealth and magic. After fighting a war, the two tribes made peace.
Who is the Norse goddess of love?
Freyja is the goddess of love and beauty, though she also rode to battle and claimed half the slain. Sjofn and Lofn were minor goddesses of love in Frigg’s circle.
Where do we learn the names of the Norse gods?
Mainly from two 13th-century Icelandic sources, the Poetic Edda and Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, plus skaldic poems, runestones and place names.