Egil as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Egil

What is the meaning of the name Egil ?

The baby name Egil is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈeɡɪl/ (EH-gil).

Egil is Norse in Origin.

Egil is a Scandinavian masculine name from Old Norse Egill. Most scholars derive it from egg, "edge (of a sword), blade," with the diminutive -ill, yielding "little edge" or "sharp one"; others connect it to Proto-Germanic *agiz "awe, terror," giving a sense of "formidable."

The name is prominent in medieval Icelandic literature, notably borne by the 10th-century warrior-poet Egill Skallagrímsson, whose saga preserved the name in Iceland and spread awareness across Scandinavia. It has remained in regular though modest use in Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden, with revivals during 19th-20th century interest in the sagas. Forms and variants include Egill (Icelandic, Faroese), Egil (Norwegian, Danish, Swedish standard), and Egils (Latvian). Related Germanic names built on the same root include Egon, Egbert, and Eginhard. Overall, Egil carries connotations of keenness, martial prowess, and poetic skill.