Norse Female

A quick word of advice on choosing names

When thinking of a name it is a good opportunity to try to think about the backstory of your character, for instance, are you the sort of character whose parents are likely to give a name like Gala (beautiful voice) or Halfrida (half-beautiful), are your family rich or poor؟ If your family are poor, it is unlikely that you will have a name akin to Freyja (noblewoman) or Jorunn (chief's love).


Next thing to consider is what role you intend to have during living history, and whether you would prefer a more warlike name such as Hildegard (warrior-woman) and Bodil (warrior), or a more passive name such as Solveig (house-woman) or Mildri (mild and lovely). Alternatively, a religious name could help to add depth to your character, as well as being a good opportunity to include religious roles.

But do note that although Viking women did not normally fight in battle, it was not unheard of for young, unmarried girls to raid as well, but it was generally accepted that married women were too precious to waste in battle (although the sagas include a few examples of women who refused to just give up the raiding lifestyle). Moreover, with the men often away for long periods of time raiding and trading, it was often necessary for the women and children in a village to band together to fight off raiding parties from other villages.

Name Meaning
Aegileif, Anrid, Asvor, Asvora saga names, meanings not given
Andras breath
Anselma protected by God
Arna eagle
Arnbjorg eagle protection
Arndis eagle spirit
Arnora light eagle
Ase, Asta tree
Ashild, Ashilde, Ashilda God-fighting
Aslaug devoted to God
Astrid, Asta, Astra, Astred, Astryr, Astrud divine strength
Aud, Auda wealthy
Audhild, Audhilde, Audhilda wealthy warrior woman
Bera spirited
Bergdis spirit protection
Bergthora spirit of Thor
Bjork meaning unknown
Bodil, Bodile, Bodilla fighting woman
Botilda directing heroine
Brenda, Bren sword
Brita, Britta, Brit from Britain
Bryngerd saga name, meaning not given
Brynhild, Brynhilde, Brunhilda, Brunhild, Brunnehilde armoured fighting woman
Brynja dark
Dagny joy of the Danes
Dahlia, Dalr from the valley
Dalla saga name, meaning not given
Disa, Diss spirited
Edda, Eda poetry
Eir peace
Eldrid fiery spirit
Elin saga name, meaning not given
Ellisif consecrated to God
Erica, Erika, Ricci, Rika forever strong
Freya, Freyja, Freydis noblewoman
Frida, Frieda beautiful
Frikka, Frika peaceful ruler
Gala, Gale lovely voice
Geirbjorg, Geirrid saga names, meanings not given
Gerd, Gerda, Gerdie, Garthf protection, enclosure, protected space
Grima feminine form of Grim
Guro, Gudrid divinely inspired wisdom
Gunhilde, Gunnhild, Gunhilda, Gunnhildr battle-maid
Guri lovely
Gyda, Gytha, Guthr warlike
Haldana half-Dane
Haldis, Halldis firm helper
Haldora, Halldora half-spirited
Halfrid, Hallfrid, Halfrida half-beautiful
Halla, Hallfrid, Hallgerda half-protected
Haralda army ruler
Hekja, Herdis, Hlif, Hrefna, Hrodny, Hyrna saga names, meanings not given
Helga, Helge holy
Hildegunn, Hildigunn warrior-woman
Idona, Idun, Iduna, Idunn active in love
Ingeborg, Injerd, Ingibjorg under the protection of Ing
Ingemar of the sea
Ingrid, Ingrit, Ingrida beauty of Frey
Ingunn loved by Frey
Jarngerd, Jofrid, Joreid saga names, meaninsg not given
Jorunn chief's love
Kelda fountain
Kirsten Christian
Kolfinna saga name, meaning not given
Lene, Line distinguished
Liv life
Ljotunn, Lopthaena saga names, meanings not given
Maeva, Melkorka saga names, meanings not given
Magna strong
Magnild, Magnilde, Magnilda strong fighter
Maria not Norse, but name turns up in several sagas
Marianne bitter grace
Mildri mild and lovely
Norberta, Njorthrbiartr heroic
Norna, Norn fate
Oda, Odd point
Oddfrid beautiful point
Oddny new point
Oddveig, Oddnaug pointed woman
Olga holy
Otkatla saga name, meaning not given
Ragnfrid, Ragni, Randi lovely, goddess
Ragnild, Ragnilde, Ragna, Ragnhild goddess, warrior
Rana, Rania nobility
Ranveig, Rannveig, Ronnaug house-woman
Reidun lovely in the nest
Rona, Runa mighty strength
Ronalda strong
Saehild, Saeunn, Skalm, Steinunn, Steinvorr saga names, meanings not given
Sigrid, Sigrath conquering advisor
Sissel without sight
Siv kinswoman
Solveig house-woman
Svanhild, Svanhilde, Svenhilda, Svenhilde Swan, warrior
Thjodhild, Thjodhilda, Thorarin, Thorfinna, Thorhalla, Thorkatla, Thorunn, Thorunna, Torunn, Thurid saga names, meanings not given
Thorberta, Thorbiartr, Torberta brilliance of Thor
Thorbjorg protected by Thor
Thordis, Thordissa, Thoridyss, Thordia spirit of Thor
Thorgerd protection of Thor
Thorgunna, Torgunna, Thorgunn fighter of Thor
Thorhild, Thorhilda maiden of Thor
Toril Thor-inspired fighting woman
Torne, Torny, Torney new
Torunn love of Thor
Tove good
Tine pure
Trude, Truda strong
Uald ruler
Unn, Unne love
Vaetild, Vaetilda, Valdis, Velaug, Vigdis, Villborg saga names, meanings not given
Valda ruler
Valgerd ruling protection
Yule born during Yule



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