250+ Viking Names and Old Norse Names

Choosing names for your characters can be as fun as it is frustrating. If you’re crafting historical fiction or a fantasy epic inspired by Vikings, you’ll want to choose names that resonate with the era and culture. 

Norse names, those used by Scandinavians during the Viking Age (around the 9th to 11th centuries), offer a treasure trove of inspiration. Many are still in use today, echoing through the ages with a timeless appeal. 

This guide will help you navigate the world of Norse names, providing you with over 250 options to bring your inspiration.

If your novel includes other characters that need mystical names, check our our other articles: dragon names, gnome names, demon names, and witch names.

Famous Viking Names

Here are some of the most famous Vikings from history and literature, along with a glimpse into their stories:

Ragnar Lothbrok

Ragnar Lothbrok, a figure shrouded in myth and legend, was a 9th-century Viking hero and ruler. 

Famous for his raids on Francia and England, he is said to be the father of many renowned Viking warriors, including Björn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. 

Ragnar’s story culminates in a dramatic death in a snake pit, a fitting end for a legendary Viking.

Björn Ironside

Björn Ironside, son of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, was a Viking chieftain known for his adventurous spirit and daring raids. He led expeditions across the Mediterranean Sea and into Francia, leaving his mark on the Viking world. 

Björn is also credited with establishing the House of Munsö, a powerful Swedish dynasty.

Ivar the Boneless

Ivar the Boneless, another son of Ragnar Lothbrok, was a formidable Viking leader and strategist. He played a pivotal role in the Great Heathen Army that invaded England in the 9th century, leaving a trail of conquest in his wake. 

Ivar’s reputation as a skilled warrior and cunning strategist cemented his place in Viking history.

Erik the Red

Erik the Red, a Norwegian Viking with a fiery spirit, earned his name for his red hair and perhaps his temperament. Banished from Iceland, he ventured westward and established the first Norse settlement in Greenland. 

Erik’s legacy extends through his son, Leif Erikson, the famed explorer who reached North America.

Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red, was a Norse explorer who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and reached North America, centuries before Columbus. 

He established a Norse settlement at Vinland, believed to be coastal North America, marking a significant chapter in exploration history.

Rollo

Rollo, a Viking chieftain of Norwegian or Danish origin, led his forces to conquer parts of Francia in the 10th century. Through a treaty with the French king, he became the first ruler of Normandy, a region that would play a crucial role in European history. 

Rollo’s descendants include William the Conqueror, who later claimed the English throne.

Sweyn Forkbeard

Sweyn Forkbeard, a powerful Viking king of Denmark, set his sights on England and successfully conquered it in 1013. This victory made him the first Norse king of England, a testament to his military prowess and ambition.

Cnut the Great

Cnut the Great, a Viking ruler of Denmark, England, and Norway, is considered one of the most powerful figures in Viking history. Known for his wise and just rule, he fostered peace and prosperity throughout his kingdom. 

Cnut’s reign marked a period of stability and growth in the Viking world.

Harald Hardrada

Harald Hardrada, a Norwegian king with a warrior’s spirit, sought to conquer England in 1066. However, his campaign ended in defeat and his death at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, just weeks before the Norman Conquest. 

Harald is often remembered as the last great Viking king.

Olaf Tryggvason

Olaf Tryggvason, a king of Norway with a zeal for exploration and conquest, is credited with bringing Christianity to Norway. 

He was a skilled warrior and a fervent leader, leaving a lasting impact on the religious and cultural landscape of his kingdom.

Male Viking Names

Need a name for your stoic warrior or cunning merchant? This list provides a range of options for male Vikings, from common to more unique:

• Agnar: Edge of the sword
• Alf: Elf
• Alrik: All-powerful ruler
• Anvind: Against the wind
• Arne: Eagle
• Asbjorn: Divine bear
• Asgeir: God’s spear
• Asmund: Divine protector
• Audun: Deserted
• Bard: Poet
• Birger: Helper
• Bjorn: Bear
• Bo: The resident
• Borgar: Fortress dweller
• Brandr: Sword
• Brynjar: Warrior in armor
• Dag: Day
• Ebbe: Boar
• Egil: Terror
• Einar: Lone warrior
• Eldar: Fire warrior
• Eric: Eternal ruler
• Erling: Noble descendant
• Finn: Sami
• Floki: Hero
• Frode: Wise and learned
• Geir: Spear
• Gorm: Worships God
• Gunnar: Battle
• Halfdan: Half-Danish
• Hallvard: Rock guardian
• Harald: Army ruler
• Havard: High guardian
• Helgi: Holy
• Herleif: Army-leftover
• Hjalmar: Helmeted warrior
• Holger: Island warrior
• Ingemar: Ing’s fame
• Ingolf: Ing’s wolf
• Ivar: Archer

Female Viking Names

For shield-maidens, queens, or cunning sorceresses, these names offer a touch of Norse strength and beauty:

• Astrid: Divinely beautiful
• Aud: Wealthy
• Bergljot: Shining oath
• Birgit: Exalted one
• Bodil: Battle remedy
• Borghild: Fortress battle
• Brynhild: Armored battle
• Dagmar: Day maiden
• Estrid: Divinely beautiful
• Freya: Lady
• Gerd: Enclosure
• Groa: To grow
• Gudrun: God’s secret
• Gunhild: War battle
• Helga: Holy
• Herdis: Army goddess
• Hilde: Battle
• Hrefna: Raven
• Idun: Rejuvenating
• Ingeborg: Ing’s protection
• Inger: Ing’s beauty
• Ingrid: Ing’s beauty
• Jorunn: Horse love
• Kari: Pure
• Katla: Kettle
• Kristina: Follower of Christ
• Liv: Life
• Magnhild: Strong battle
• Nanna: Daring
• Olga: Holy
• Ragna: Advice
• Ragnhild: Battle advice
• Randi: Shield maiden
• Runa: Secret lore
• Signe: New victory
• Sigrid: Victorious horsewoman
• Solveig: Strong home
• Svanhild: Swan battle
• Thora: Thunder goddess
• Thorunn: Thor’s secret
• Torborg: Thor’s protection

Cool Viking Names

These names just sound cool, evoking images of fearless explorers and mighty warriors:

• Arnbjorn: Eagle bear
• Aslak: Divine play
• Eyvind: Island wind
• Gisle: Hostage
• Grim: Fierce
• Hakon: High son
• Hallstein: Holy stone
• Hemming: Shape-changer
• Ketill: Cauldron
• Kol: Coal
• Leif: Heir
• Lodinn: Hairy
• Mani: Moon
• Mord: Courage
• Orm: Serpent
• Rane: Ravager
• Ranulf: Shield wolf
• Sigvald: Victorious ruler
• Skadi: Harm
• Skula: Skull
• Snorri: Wise
• Starkad: Strong staff
• Styr: Battle
• Svein: Boy
• Thord: Thor’s protection
• Thorfinn: Thor’s Finn
• Thorolf: Thor’s wolf
• Torgils: Thor’s hostage
• Torsten: Thor’s stone
• Trygve: Trustworthy
• Tyr: God of war
• Ulf: Wolf
• Valdemar: Famous ruler
• Vidar: Warrior of woods
• Viggo: War
• Yngvar: Ing’s warrior

Viking Warrior Names

If your character is a fierce warrior, these names embody strength and battle prowess:

• Arvid: Eagle tree
• Bjarni: Bear
• Eilif: Eternal heir
• Gauti: Geat
• Gunnlaug: Battle oath
• Hrolf: Famous wolf
• Ingjald: Ing’s ruler
• Jon: God is gracious
• Knut: Knot
• Ljot: Light
• Magni: Strong
• Oddr: Point of a weapon
• Roar: Spear warrior
• Rognvald: Ruler of advice
• Runolf: Secret lore wolf
• Sigmund: Victorious protector
• Sigurd: Victory bringer
• Skarde: Battle-hardened
• Steinar: Stone warrior
• Thorgal: Thor’s path
• Thorkell: Thor’s cauldron
• Thorleif: Thor’s descendant
• Thormod: Thor’s courage
• Thorolf: Thor’s wolf
• Thorstein: Thor’s stone
• Toke: Helmet
• Torvald: Thor’s ruler
• Vagn: Wagon
• Vestli: West home

Strong Viking Names

These names convey power, resilience, and a connection to the Norse gods:

• Agnar: Edge of the sword
• Alf: Elf
• Alrik: All-powerful ruler
• Anvind: Against the wind
• Arne: Eagle
• Asbjorn: Divine bear
• Asmund: Divine protector
• Audun: Deserted
• Bard: Poet
• Birger: Helper
• Bjorn: Bear
• Bo: The resident
• Borgar: Fortress dweller
• Brandr: Sword
• Brynjar: Warrior in armor
• Dag: Day
• Ebbe: Boar
• Egil: Terror
• Einar: Lone warrior
• Eldar: Fire warrior
• Eric: Eternal ruler
• Erling: Noble descendant
• Harald: Army ruler
• Havard: High guardian
• Ketil: Cauldron
• Magnus: Great
• Steinar: Stone warrior
• Thorgal: Thor’s path
• Thorleif: Thor’s descendant
• Thormod: Thor’s courage
• Thorstein: Thor’s stone
• Thorvald: Thor’s ruler
• Tryggve: Trustworthy
• Ulf: Wolf
• Valdemar: Famous ruler
• Vidar: Warrior of woods

Rare Viking Names

Looking for a name that stands out? These less common names offer a touch of originality:

• Finnr: Sami
• Floki: Hero
• Frode: Wise and learned
• Geir: Spear
• Gorm: Worships God
• Gunnar: Battle
• Halfdan: Half-Danish
• Hallvard: Rock guardian
• Harald: Army ruler
• Havard: High guardian
• Helgi: Holy
• Herleif: Army-leftover
• Hjalmar: Helmeted warrior
• Holger: Island warrior
• Ingemar: Ing’s fame
• Ingolf: Ing’s wolf
• Ivar: Archer
• Jens: God is gracious
• Jorgen: Farmer
• Karl: Free man
• Ketil: Cauldron
• Knut: Knot
• Kolbjorn: Coal bear
• Leif: Descendant
• Magnus: Great
• Njall: Champion
• Odd: Point of weapon
• Olaf: Ancestor’s relic
• Orm: Serpent
• Ragnar: Warrior of gods
• Rolf: Famous wolf
• Rune: Secret lore
• Sigurd: Victory-bringer
• Skarde: Battle-hardened
• Snorri: Wise
• Solve: Hall
• Steinar: Stone warrior

Common Viking Names

These names, though common, still hold a classic charm and historical authenticity:

• Astrid: Divinely beautiful
• Aud: Wealthy
• Bergljot: Shining oath
• Birgit: Exalted one
• Bodil: Battle remedy
• Borghild: Fortress battle
• Brynhild: Armored battle
• Dagmar: Day maiden
• Estrid: Divinely beautiful
• Freya: Lady
• Gerd: Enclosure
• Groa: To grow
• Gudrun: God’s secret
• Gunhild: War battle
• Helga: Holy
• Herdis: Army goddess
• Hilde: Battle
• Hrefna: Raven
• Idun: Rejuvenating
• Ingeborg: Ing’s protection
• Inger: Ing’s beauty
• Ingrid: Ing’s beauty
• Stig: Path
• Svend: Young warrior
• Thorgal: Thor’s path
• Thorir: Thor’s warrior
• Thorkell: Thor’s cauldron
• Thorleif: Thor’s descendant
• Trygve: Trustworthy
• Ulf: Wolf
• Valdemar: Famous ruler
• Vidar: Warrior of woods

Norwegian Viking Names

These names specifically evoke the rugged landscapes and seafaring traditions of Norway:

• Arnbjorn: Eagle bear
• Grim: Fierce
• Jorunn: Horse love
• Kari: Pure
• Katla: Kettle
• Kristina: Follower of Christ
• Liv: Life
• Magnhild: Strong battle
• Nanna: Daring
• Olga: Holy
• Orm: Serpent
• Ragna: Advice
• Ragnhild: Battle advice
• Randi: Shield maiden
• Ranulf: Shield wolf
• Runa: Secret lore
• Signe: New victory
• Sigrid: Victorious horsewoman
• Snorri: Wise
• Solveig: Strong home
• Styr: Battle
• Svanhild: Swan battle
• Thora: Thunder goddess
• Torborg: Thor’s protection
• Torgils: Thor’s hostage
• Tova: Thor’s hammer
• Trygve: Trustworthy
• Turid: Thor’s beauty
• Tyra: Thor’s warrior
• Ulf: Wolf
• Unn: Wave
• Valdemar: Famous ruler
• Vidar: Warrior of woods
• Vigdis: War goddess
• Ylva: She-wolf

Norse Warrior Names

These names are perfect for characters who embody the spirit of the Viking warrior:

• Aslak: Divine play
• Bjarni: Bear
• Eyvind: Island wind
• Gisle: Hostage
• Hakon: High son
• Hallstein: Holy stone
• Hemming: Shape-changer
• Hrolf: Famous wolf
• Ketill: Cauldron
• Knut: Knot
• Kol: Coal
• Lodinn: Hairy
• Mani: Moon
• Mord: Courage
• Rane: Ravager
• Roar: Spear warrior
• Sigurd: Victory bringer
• Sigvald: Victorious ruler
• Skadi: Harm
• Skarde: Battle-hardened
• Skula: Skull
• Starkad: Strong staff
• Svein: Boy
• Thord: Thor’s protection
• Thorfinn: Thor’s Finn
• Thorgal: Thor’s path
• Tyr: God of war
• Ubbe: Famous bear
• Viggo: War
• Yngvar: Ing’s warrior

There are thousands of other great Viking names waiting to be discovered. This is just a starting point. Don’t be afraid to delve deeper into Norse mythology, history, and culture to find the perfect names that will resonate with your characters and bring your stories to life. 

Happy writing!