The Vikings developed an infamous reputation for raiding and pirating throughout Europe and Asia, but they weren’t monsters. On the contrary, they had a rich culture including sophisticated survival tactics and fascinating tales of Norse Mythology. Norse God names like Thor, Odin, and Loki have also had a resurgence in popularity due to the superpowered characters with these names appearing in many Marvel movies! Vikings hailed from the bitter-cold Scandinavian North and they went out searching for new and better places to live. That they succeeded in, settling in English, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Iceland, Greenland, and even North America. The period of Viking expansion, from the late 8th to the late 11th Century, is known as the Viking Age. Thanks to Hollywood, AncestryDNA results and exciting research findings, more and more people are proudly claiming their Viking heritage. Many people with Irish or Germanic heritage are discovering that they also have Nordic or Finnish DNA, likely tying them to a Viking ancestor long ago. To honor their ancient Viking heritage, many expectant parents are choosing original Viking names or Norse names for their children. If you’re on a langskip voyage to find a male Viking name for your future warrior name, this article not only unearths Viking naming traditions but also uncovers 100 of the most popular Viking names for boys to inspire your search.
Viking Naming Traditions
Vikings followed a few common traditions for name-giving.
After a Relative - Vikings revered their Scandinavian ancestors, so calling their child after one was believed to pass on the deceased one’s luck and success to him or her. After a God – Vikings glorified their Norse gods in many ways, including naming their children after them. Many times, they would take elements of a Norse god’s name and create a name for themselves. For example, Thor was commonly turned into Thorald or Thorgest. After a Sibling – Parents would often use the first letter of the oldest sibling for the rest of each child’s name. This is a common tradition with even modern families who have children all with the same first letter. Scandinavian parents would also use the first element of a name for all of their children, such as Astrid, Aren, Åse, Astrid, etc.
Viking Names for Boys that Start with A to E
Viking Names for Boys that Start with F to K
Viking Names for Boys that Start with L to S
Viking Names for Boys that Start with T to Z
For more baby boy name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:
100 Boy Names That Mean Warrior (With Origins) Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S. Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
