The language of North Germany; spoken in Scandinavia, the Faroe Island, Iceland, Greenland and parts of Russia, Old Norse is the language of the Vikings or Norseman. The language had the scope of describing a range of feelings like tough and strong like Bjami; lovely and delicate like Dahlia. The language brings to imagine the picture of God Thor and his thunderous hammer. Old Norse names were given after deceased heroes or relatives anticipating that children will inherit characters of the deceased.
Old Norse baby girl names were feminine and strong, justifying the Viking Age women. Baby girls had strong names like "Vigdis" where "vig" meant battle or combat and "dis" meant goddess or names like Ragnhild were also common. Ragnhild meant an advisor or decision-maker in battle. It is noteworthy that Norse names are composed of two words that together give rise to a new meaning. The names are English forms of Old Norse but still very close to the original.
The naming was unique in the Scandinavian culture. If a relative died when the child was in a mother's womb, the child needed to bore the name of that relative. This was considered as an honor to that relative. If the honored relative and the ancestor shared a common name, then the ancestor's nickname was also attached to the baby's name. This meant that the names of babies remained the same for a long time in the families. The names of Norse Gods and Goddesses were also popular for use as first names. Norse names did not have a trend of surnames. Instead, a patronymic or metronymic system was used.
Keen on knowing the Scandinavian naming culture already? We have a list of baby girls names in Old Norse to give you an insight into the same.
NAMES | MEANING | GENDER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aasta | Love | Girl | |||
Adalbjorg | Noble protection. | Girl | |||
Adalheidis | Noble kind, of the noble sort. | Girl | |||
Alfdis | Goddess, divine woman | Girl | |||
Alfild | Old Norse - Elf; Supernatural Being; Battle; Magical Counsel | Girl | |||
Alfina | Old Norse - Elf; Supernatural Being; Battle; Magical Counsel | Girl | |||
Alvilda | Old Norse - Elf; Supernatural Being; Elf Battle; Victory; A variant transcription of Alfhild | Girl | |||
Arna | Eagle or rule | Girl | |||
Arnleif | The eagle inheritor. | Girl | |||
Arthea | A variant of Artice, meaning lofty hill' or 'follower of Thor'. | Girl | |||
Artice | Of lofty hill or the follower of Thor. | Girl | |||
Artina | A variant of Artice, meaning lofty hill' or 'follower of Thor'. | Girl | |||
Asdis | Goddess | Girl | |||
Asgerd | God's fence | Girl | |||
Astri | Old Norse - Divinely Beautiful; Fair Beautiful Goddess; Divine Beauty; Fair | Girl | |||
Audbjorg | A combination of luck and one who saves. | Girl | |||
Botilda | Old Norse - A commanding Heroine; Battle for Help | Girl | |||
Brenndah | Old Norse - Sword; Torch; Burning; Stinking Hair | Girl | |||
Brunhild | Like battle armor; Dark; Noble | Girl | |||
Dagnija | Day | Girl | |||
Dagomara | A glorious day | Girl | |||
Fraida | Someone who is beautiful and adored by all | Girl | |||
Fraya | It means a woman who is the foremost; Lady | Girl | |||
Frea | Derived from Old Norse goddess's name Freyja, it means the Lady or Mistress | Girl | |||
Freia | It refers to a woman who the Lady or Mistress | Girl | |||
Freja | Referring to a Lady or a Mistress; a Goddess of beauty | Girl | |||
Freya | In Norse mythology, Freya was the goddess of love; Lady | Girl | |||
Fridr | One who is beautiful. | Girl | |||
Fridrik | One who governs peacefully. | Girl | |||
Fridrika | Icelandic form of Fredrica, meaning peaceful ruler. | Girl | |||
Frigg | One who belongs to Iceland or one who comes from Iceland. | Girl | |||
Gerdur | Protection, a protective woman. | Girl | |||
Gerta | Germanic - Spear; Strength; Power; Old Norse - Enclosure | Girl | |||
Haldis | Teutonic - Spirit of Stone; Old Norse - Firm Helper | Unisex | |||
Halle | Halle is Heroine; A variant is Halli; It is derived from Hallr which means rock | Girl | |||
Hawke | A falcon bird of prey | Girl | |||
Helga | Blessed; Holy; A variant of Old Norse name Hella meaning Flat stone; Flag stone or Flat mountain | Girl | |||
Hjordis | "Sword goddess", from Old Norse; A variant form is Hjordos | Girl | |||
Hjordos | "Sword goddess", from Old Norse; A variant form is Hjordis | Girl | |||
Howea | Old Norse; Horse; High; Warden; Guard; Heart; Mind; Clearing in the Woods; A variation of name Howard | Girl | |||
Hulda | Loved One; Hiding; Secrecy; Sweet; Lovable; A variant transcription is Huld | Girl | |||
Huldah | Loved One; Hiding; Secrecy; Sweet; Lovable; A variant transcription is Hulda | Girl | |||
Ingrida | A beautiful woman | Girl | |||
Kolbrun | Coal or eyebrow. | Girl | |||
Live | A protector and defender of life | Girl | |||
Piper | A pipe player | Girl | |||
Pipere | One who plays the pipe | Girl | |||
Ragnild | Old Norse - Goddess or Warrior; All-knowing Power | Girl | |||
Rannveig | Old Norse - A house woman; A variant of Ranveig | Girl | |||
Ronna | Old Greek - Bearer of victory; True image; Old Norse - Well advised ruler; A variant of Rhonda; Derived From Veronica | Girl | |||
Sagga | The seeing one | Girl | |||
Shelba | A settlement of willows | Girl | |||
Sigourney | Victorious conqueror | Girl | |||
Solveiga | Strength or the sun. | Girl | |||
Steinunn | Stone or wave. | Girl | |||
Svala | Icelandic word for Swallow, the bird. | Girl | |||
Ylfa | A female wolf. | Girl | |||