Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!
Old Norse names are rooted in Viking history and mythology, reflecting strength, bravery, and connection to the natural world. Names like Thor (thunder) and Sigrid (victory) carry meanings tied to Norse gods and legendary sagas. These names preserve the spirit of Scandinavian heritage and ancient traditions.
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dusten | Dusten: modern variant of Dustin, meaning "brave warrior," historically rich. | Old Norse | Boy | |
| Dustina | Dustina: feminine variation of Dustin, meaning brave warrior, unique name. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Dustinah | Dustinah: Unique feminine variation of Dustin, meaning "valiant fighter." | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Dustine | Dustine: Unisex name meaning "valiant fighter," derived from Dustin. | Old Norse | Unisex | |
| Dusyn | Dusyn is a rare, gender-neutral name with unclear origins and meaning. | Old Norse | Unisex | |
| Ebbe | Ebbe: Scandinavian unisex name meaning "edge of a sword." | Germanic, Old Norse, Scandinavian | Unisex | |
| Edda | Edda: Old Norse name meaning "great-grandmother" and "poetry." | Old Norse | Unisex | |
| Egils | Egils: Scandinavian masculine name meaning "edge of a sword." | Icelandic, Latvian, Old Norse, Scandinavian | Boy | |
| Ehrich | Ehrich: German name meaning "honor" or "honesty," variant of Erich. | German, Old Norse | Unisex | |
| Eicca | Old Norse, Scandinavian | |||
| Eide | Eide: Norwegian name meaning "isthmus" or "narrow land connection." | Norwegian, Old Norse, Scandinavian | Unisex | |
| Eiric | Eiric: Irish name meaning "eternal ruler," variant of Eric. | Old Norse | Boy | |
| EirÃk | EirÃkr means "eternal ruler," has Scandinavian roots, and is unique. | Old Norse | Boy | |
| EirÃkr | EirÃkr means "eternal ruler," is masculine, and has Norse origins. | Old Norse | Boy | |
| Eirny | Eirny: Unique feminine name meaning "mercy" with Norse mythology roots. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Eitri | Eitri: Norse name meaning skilled craftsman, associated with creativity and craftsmanship. | Old Norse, Scandinavian | Boy | |
| Ejnar | Ejnar: Scandinavian name meaning "warrior," popular since Viking times. | Old Norse, Scandinavian, Viking | Boy | |
| Eldgrimr | Eldgrimr: Rare Old Norse name meaning "fire helmet" or "mask." | Old Norse | Boy | |
| Eldir | Eldir: Norse name meaning "fire," symbolizing strength and uniqueness. | Old Norse, Scandinavian | Unisex | |
| Elgir | Elgir: Unique Norse name meaning "moose spear" with cultural significance. | Old Norse | Boy | |
| Eline | Eline: Feminine name meaning "torch" or "bright one" from Greek. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Enrykah | Enrykah: a unique, modern feminine name meaning "eternal ruler." | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Erickah | Erickah is a variant of Erica, rooted in Old Norse Eir. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Erickson | Erickson means "son of Eric," derived from Old Norse Eir. | Old Norse, Scandinavian | Unisex | |
| Eriqua | Eriqua: unique, modern name, possibly derived from Erica, female. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Erla | Erla: A noble, feminine name with Old Norse roots, popular in Scandinavia. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Eryc | Eryc: Unique Old Norse name meaning "eternal ruler" or "powerful." | Old Norse | Boy | |
| Erycah | Erycah: Variant of Erica, rooted in Old Norse name Eir. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Eryka | Eryka, a variant of Erica, originates from the Old Norse Eir. | Old Norse | Girl | |
| Erykah | Erykah means "eternal" in Arabic; popularized by singer Erykah Badu. | Old Norse, Scandinavian | Girl |
Old Norse refers to the ancient language of the Norse people. It was spoken in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and has since evolved into the modern Scandinavian languages. Old Norse is a North Germanic language that has left a significant historical and literary legacy.
The Old Norse language was predominantly spoken from the 8th to the 14th century. It was the language of the Vikings and was used in their sagas, eddas, and runes. After the 14th century, it began to develop into the various Scandinavian languages we know today.
Old Norse was originally used in Scandinavia and the regions influenced by the Vikings. This includes present-day Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and parts of the British Isles and Greenland. The language spread with Viking exploration and trade.
Old Norse is not spoken as a living language today. It is studied as a historical language by scholars and enthusiasts. However, its descendant languages, such as Icelandic, retain many features of Old Norse.
Old Norse had a significant influence on the English language, especially during the Viking Age. Many English words, particularly those related to governance and daily life, have Old Norse roots. The impact is most evident in dialects of English spoken in areas of Viking settlement, like the North of England.
Famous literary works written in Old Norse include the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, as well as numerous sagas like the Saga of the Volsungs. These texts are crucial sources for understanding Norse mythology and Viking history. They were composed in Iceland during the 12th to 14th centuries and have been preserved in medieval manuscripts.
Yes, it is possible to learn Old Norse today through various academic and online resources. Universities with strong programs in medieval studies often offer courses in Old Norse. Additionally, there are textbooks, online courses, and language groups dedicated to the study of Old Norse.
Old Norse is the direct ancestor of the modern Scandinavian languages, including Icelandic, Faroese, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish. While Icelandic and Faroese have retained many features of Old Norse, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish have diverged more significantly. The mutual intelligibility between these languages and Old Norse varies accordingly.
In Iceland, Old Norse, often referred to as Old Icelandic, is part of the national curriculum. Icelandic students learn about the language and its literature as part of their cultural heritage. In other Scandinavian countries, Old Norse may be offered in higher education rather than in compulsory schooling.
The runic alphabet associated with Old Norse is called the Younger Futhark. It was used for writing in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and is a reduced form of the earlier Elder Futhark. Runes were used for inscriptions on stone, wood, metal, and other materials.
