Norwegian boys names are having their moment right now thanks in no small part to Norway's success at the World Cup and of course their top player, Erling Haaland. Apparently, over 100 babies born during the World Cup were named Erling in Peru alone!
Luckily there are loads of other cool but unusual Norwegian boys names with that same Viking vibe and I have 100 of the best of them for you to choose from here for your baby or characters.
The list includes real old Viking names plus heroes from the amazing Norse sagas and recent Norwegian history.
Viking Names
The ancestors of the Vikings first rocked up in Norway 5,000 years ago. By the 700s they were the best sailors in Europe and for 500 years marauded their way through Britain, Ireland and the rest of Europe even making their way into the Mediterranean and over the Atlantic to America ...
Amund
Pronunciation: AH-moond
Adapted from the old Norse name Ámundi meaning guardian hand.
Arling
Pronunciation: AHR-ling
Taken from the old Norse patronymic Arnlingr meaning descendant of the eagle.
Arvid
Pronunciation: AHR-vid
Derived from the ancient pagan name Arnviðr meaning eagle of the woods.
Aslak
Pronunciation: AHS-lahk
A modern version of the Old Norse name Áslákr meaning God's battle.
Bjørn
Pronunciation: BYURN
A classic Old Norse name meaning bear, evoking strength.
Einar
Pronunciation: AY-nahr
A bold Viking warrior name meaning one who fights alone.
Eivind
Pronunciation: AY-vin
Derived from the prominent Old Norse name Eyvindr meaning island warrior or happy gift.
Elling
Pronunciation: EL-ling
Adapted from an Old Norse name Ellingr meaning descendant of the shield.
Endre
Pronunciation: EN-dreh
A simpler version of the Viking name Eindriði meaning a ruler or fierce opponent.
Eirik
Pronunciation: AY-rik
A name from Viking history well known outside Norway; Eirík Bloodaxe famously ruled Viking York as King of Northumbria.
Erling
Pronunciation: AIR-ling
Erling - it had to be in the list - is an authentically ancient Viking title-name (Erlingr) meaning descendant of a jarl.
Frode
Pronunciation: FRUOH-deh
Frode meaning wise or deeply learned person became Froda in old English and was the basis for Tolkien's name Frodo.
Geir
Pronunciation: GAYR
A sharp, classic Viking age name meaning powerful spear.
Guttorm
Pronunciation: GOOT-torm
Guttorm or Guthrum - meaning battle-shaper was the Viking king who beat but was then finally defeated by King Alfred.
Håkon
Pronunciation: HAW-koon
An Old Norse royal name meaning highborn son. Norway's first king after independence in 1905 took the name as King Haakon VII.
Halvor
Pronunciation: HAHL-vor
Simplified from the Viking name Hállvarðr meaning rock protector or strong guardian.
Harald
Pronunciation: HAH-rahld
Harald - meaning Army ruler - was another popular name for Viking Kings. Harald Hardrada famously fell at Stamford Bridge to King Harold Of England.
Håvard
Pronunciation: HAW-vahr
An ancient Old Norse name (Hávarðr) meaning high protector.
Ivar
Pronunciation: EE-vahr
Ivar or Ivarr means bow warrior; Ivar the Boneless led the Great Heathen Army.
Jarl
Pronunciation: YAHRL
An elite Viking title and name meaning nobleman, chief or leader.
Kåre
Pronunciation: KAW-reh
A classic pre-Christian name (Kári) meaning curly-haired or fierce.
Knut
Pronunciation: KNOOT
Knut or Knútr means knot. King Knútr (Canute) was the Viking King of the North Sea Empire of Norway, England and Denmark.
Kormak
Pronunciation: KOR-mahk
There were many Gaelic-Norse Kingdoms across Scandinavia, Britain and Ireland that mixed Viking and Celtic culture. Kormákr meaning charioteer was a Gaelic-Norse name.
Leif
Pronunciation: LAYF
Leif, meaning heir, was the name of the first Viking, and European, Leif Eriksson to land on the North American coast from Greenland in around 1000 AD.
Magnus
Pronunciation: MAG-noos
Magnus - meaning great - was a Latin name adopted by Norse kings during the Viking Age that became popular in the Gaelic-Norse kingdoms such as Orkney and Mann.
Ragnar
Pronunciation: RAHG-nahr
Ragnarr - meaning Army counsel - was a legendary Viking king who raided Britain.
Rolf
Pronunciation: ROLF
Rolf, meaning famous wolf, was adapted from the Viking name Hrólfr. There was a legendary Viking leader called Rolf who founded Normandy in France and was an ancestor of William the Conqueror.
Sindre
Pronunciation: SIN-dre
An ancient Old Norse name meaning a bright spark or artisan.
Tore
Pronunciation: TOO-reh
Tore is a more recent adaptation of Þórir, a common pagan Scandinavian name, meaning Thor's warrior.
Torgeir
Pronunciation: TOR-gayr
A modern Norwegian variant of the Old Viking Þorgeirr, meaning Thor's spear.
Torstein
Pronunciation: TOOR-stayn
Torstein (Þorsteinn) meaning Thor's stone was found frequently on Viking rune stones.
Trygve
Pronunciation: TRIG-veh
An Old Norse name (Tryggvi) meaning a trustworthy and brave person.
Vemund
Pronunciation: VEH-moond
An Old Norse name (Vémundr) meaning holy protection.
Vetle
Pronunciation: VET-leh
An Old Norse name (Vetli) meaning winter traveler or child.
Viggo
Pronunciation: VIG-goh
A classic Viking age name meaning battle or fighter.
If you are fascinated by everything Viking and want to immerse yourself the stories and culture, these fictional series are a great place to start :
- The Golden Wolf Trilogy (Starts with The Half-Drowned King) by Linnea Hartsuyker
- The Raven Trilogy (Starts with Blood Eye) by Giles Kristian
- The Long Ships (Röde Orm) by Frans G. Bengtsson
- The Saxon Stories (Starts with The Last Kingdom) by Bernard Cornwell
Norse Saga & Myth Names
The Norse Sagas and Eddas are epic stories and poems of Viking and earlier Norse history covering great adventures, family feuds, heroic feats and royal dynasties plus mythic gods and monsters such as Thor, Odin, Loki and Fenrir the giant wolf ...
Audun
Pronunciation: OW-doon
Meaning noble friend, frequently found throughout the Norse sagas.
Balder
Pronunciation: BAHL-der
Beautiful Norse god of light slain by mistletoe.
Brage
Pronunciation: BRAH-geh
The eloquent Norse god of poetry and wisdom.
Egil
Pronunciation: EH-gil
The fierce anti-hero of the famous Egil’s Saga, the name Egil means sword edge.
Floki
Pronunciation: FLOH-kee
Floki was the navigator who discovered Iceland in sagas. The name - rather oddly - means tuft of hair!
Forseti
Pronunciation: for-SET-ee
Forests was the peaceful Norse god of justice and cosmic law.
Freyr
Pronunciation: FRAYR
Freyr was the popular Norse god of fertility and sunshine and brother of Freya.
Gaute
Pronunciation: GOW-teh
A historic saga name meaning land of the Geats.
Gisli
Pronunciation: GIS-lee
Gisli - the name means ray of light - was the doomed outlaw hero of Gisli's Saga.
Grettir
Pronunciation: GRET-teer
Grettir was the monster-slaying outlaw hero of Grettir's Saga.
Gunnar
Pronunciation: GOON-nahr
Gunnar was the peerless, tragic archer hero of Njal's Saga. The name means brave warrior.
Heimdall
Pronunciation: HAYM-dahl
The vigilant guardian god of the rainbow bridge who fights Loki at the end of the world.
Hermod
Pronunciation: HAIR-mohd
The messenger god who rode to the underworld. The name means courage.
Hod
Pronunciation: HOHD
A blind Norse god who was tricked into killing his brother. His name means battle.
Kjartan
Pronunciation: KYAR-tahn
A legendary hero from the Laxdæla Saga whose name means sea warrior.
Loki
Pronunciation: LOH-kee
The infamous clever, shape-shifting trickster god of Norse myth who causes so much trouble.
Magne
Pronunciation: MAHG-neh
A powerful son of Thor whose name meant mighty or strength.
Njål
Pronunciation: NYAWL
A wise, law-defending tragic hero of Njal's Saga whose name meant champion.
Njord
Pronunciation: NYUHR
The ancient Norse god of sea and wealth whose name meant strong.
Odin
Pronunciation: OH-din
The supreme, one-eyed chief god of wisdom and war.
Øssur
Pronunciation: USS-oor
A prominent, wealthy chieftain featured in Laxdæla Saga whose name means answerer.
Runar
Pronunciation: ROO-nahr
A mystical saga name meaning man of the runes.
Sigmund
Pronunciation: SIG-moond
A tragic hero who had to lift Odin's sword in the Volsung Saga. His name meant victory protection.
Sigurd
Pronunciation: SEE-goord
The legendary dragon-slayer of the Volsunga Saga whose name meant victory guardian.
Snorre
Pronunciation: SNOR-reh
Borne by the legendary saga historian Snorri Sturluson, the name meant unruly.
Tor
Pronunciation: TOOR
The hammer-wielding Norse god who protects mankind, his name means thunder.
Tyr
Pronunciation: TEER
The brave, one-handed Norse god of war who sacrificed his hand to the giant wolf Fenrir.
Ullr
Pronunciation: ULL-er
Ancient Norse god of archery and winter skiing whose name meant glory.
Vale
Pronunciation: VAH-leh
Vale was a son of Odin born to avenge Balder’s death and who matured from baby to man in just one day. His name meant slain warrior.
Vidar
Pronunciation: VEE-dahr
Vidar was the god destined to slay finally Fenrir the giant wolf during Ragnarok, the great battle at the end of the world in the Norse myths. Name means wide ruler.
Yngve
Pronunciation: ING-veh
An ancient Norse name honouring the mythological ancestor of kings.
To learn more about Norse gods, monsters and myths check out these books :
- Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
- Gods of the Vikings by Kevin Crossley-Holland
- The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
- The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris
- The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson (Translated by Jesse Byock)
- The Poetic Edda (Translated by Carolyne Larrington)
Norwegian Names
Norway got pushed around by both Denmark and Sweden from the time of the Kalmar Union in 1397 right through to independence in 1905. The Riksråd, the Norwegian parliament, was abolished by Copenhagen and written Norwegian repressed for centuries. So names tied to Norway's long battle for freedom are popular today ...
Aasmund
Pronunciation: AWS-moond
God's protector; popular in medieval and 19th-century Norwegian history.
Adal
Pronunciation: AH-dahl
A traditional name meaning noble or aristocratic.
Aksel
Pronunciation: AHK-sel
A modern Scandinavian favorite derived from Absalom, meaning father of peace.
Alv
Pronunciation: AHLV
Meaning elf; prominent in post-medieval Norwegian history.
Brede
Pronunciation: BRAY-deh
Broad peace; a gentle traditional Norwegian favorite.
Edvard
Pronunciation: ED-vahrd
Wealthy guardian; borne by composer Grieg and painter Munch.
Erlend
Pronunciation: AIR-lend
A traditional Norwegian name meaning foreigner or traveler.
Espen
Pronunciation: ES-pen
A post-medieval Scandinavian variant of Asbjørn.
Even
Pronunciation: EH-ven
A popular traditional Norwegian name meaning island winner or peaceful gift.
Filip
Pronunciation: FEE-lip
A classic Christian name meaning lover of horses, popular in modern Norway.
Henrik
Pronunciation: HEN-rik
A widely used traditional name of Germanic origin, meaning ruler of the home.
Idre
Pronunciation: EE-dreh
A sleek traditional name meaning industrious or eager.
Isak
Pronunciation: EE-sahk
A biblical name meaning he will laugh, popular in modern Norway.
Jakob
Pronunciation: YAH-kob
A top-ranking biblical name in modern Norway meaning supplanter.
Jens
Pronunciation: YENS
A traditional Scandinavian short form of John meaning God is gracious.
Jonas
Pronunciation: YOO-nahs
A widely used biblical name meaning a gentle dove.
Jostein
Pronunciation: YOO-stayn
Stone of the horse; borne by modern author Jostein Gaarder.
Kristian
Pronunciation: KRIS-tee-ahn
A post-conversion historical name meaning follower of Christ.
Lars
Pronunciation: LAHRS
A timeless Scandinavian form of Laurence meaning crowned with laurel.
Matheo
Pronunciation: mah-TEH-oo
A highly fashionable modern Norwegian name meaning gift of God.
Mikkel
Pronunciation: MIK-kel
A popular Scandinavian variant of Michael meaning who is like the Lord?
Peder
Pronunciation: PEH-der
Scandinavian form of Peter; borne by naval hero Peter Tordenskjold.
Sigve
Pronunciation: SIG-veh
Victory battle; a modern-sounding traditional Norwegian name.
Sondre
Pronunciation: SOON-dre
A distinctively Norwegian name meaning coming from the south.
Stian
Pronunciation: STEE-ahn
A modern-sounding Norwegian favorite meaning wanderer.
Svale
Pronunciation: SVAH-leh
Meaning cool breeze or swallow; a nature-inspired Norwegian name.
Tellef
Pronunciation: TEL-lef
A rare, rhythmic traditional Norwegian variant.
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