Nord Names: The Real Old Norse Behind the Fantasy
Nord names borrow the sound of Old Norse without usually being Old Norse. The consonant clusters, the -ir and -ulf endings and the general weight are right. The specific names are mostly invented. If you want a character name that a medieval Icelander would have recognised, the attested corpus is right here and it is more interesting than the imitation.
Generate an authentic Norse name, or read on for the full lists.
What the Fantasy Gets Right
Three things, and they are the reason the imitation works at all.
Compound structure. Real Norse names are two meaningful elements joined together, and the fantasy versions copy that shape faithfully.
Descriptive epithets. Calling a character the Bloody or the Grim mirrors the byname system exactly, and that system is real.
Animal and weapon elements. Bear, wolf, spear, iron and battle are genuinely the most productive elements in the Norse corpus.
What It Gets Wrong
Surnames. Norse society had none. A character with an inherited family name is not following the historical pattern; see Viking last names.
Grammatical gender. Real bynames agree with the person. Inn gamli for a man, in gamla for a woman.
Invented elements. Many fantasy names are built from parts that carry no meaning in Old Norse. Every name below means something specific.
Attested Norse Names for a Character
The full lists live in the two name guides rather than being repeated here: attested men's names and attested women's names, each with meanings and sources. A representative set:
| Name | Meaning | Attested in |
|---|---|---|
| Óláfr | ancestor's descendant | Landnámabók |
| Þórsteinn | Þórr's stone | Landnámabók |
| Þórgeirr | Þórr's spear | Landnámabók |
| Þórvaldr | Þórr's ruler | Landnámabók |
| Þórbjörn | Þórr's bear | Landnámabók |
| Þórfinnr | Þórr's Finn | Landnámabók |
| Þórgrímr | Þórr's mask | Landnámabók |
| Þórkell | Þórr's helmet | Landnámabók |
| Þóroddr | Þórr's spear-point | Landnámabók |
| Þórarinn | Þórr's hearth | Landnámabók |
| Þórir | of Þórr | Landnámabók |
| Björn | bear | Landnámabók |
| Sigurðr | victory-guardian | Völsunga saga |
| Haraldr | army-ruler | Heimskringla |
| Hákon | high son | Heimskringla |
| Eiríkr | ever-ruler | Heimskringla |
| Ívarr | yew-warrior | Heimskringla |
| Ketill | helmet, cauldron | Landnámabók |
| Grímr | mask, helm | Landnámabók |
| Gunnarr | battle-warrior | Njáls saga |
| Egill | edge, blade | Egils saga |
| Njáll | champion (Gaelic loan) | Njáls saga |
| Kári | curly-haired; squall | Njáls saga |
| Skarphéðinn | sharp fur-cloak | Njáls saga |
239 more attested names are in the name generator, each with its meaning and source.
Bynames to Build a Full Name
Pair any given name above with one of these and you have a name in the correct historical pattern: Ásbjörn inn sterki, Þórdís in svarta.
| Byname | Meaning | Borne by | Attested in |
|---|---|---|---|
| hárfagri | fine-hair, fair-hair | Haraldr hárfagri | Heimskringla |
| blóðøx | blood-axe | Eiríkr blóðøx | Heimskringla |
| loðbrók | shaggy-breeches | Ragnarr loðbrók | Ragnars saga loðbrókar |
| flatnefr | flat-nose | Ketill flatnefr | Landnámabók |
| tréfótr | wooden-leg | Önundr tréfótr | Grettis saga |
| tjúguskegg | fork-beard | Sveinn tjúguskegg | Heimskringla |
| silkiskegg | silk-beard | Sigtryggr silkiskegg | Njáls saga |
| járnsíða | iron-side | Björn járnsíða | Ragnars saga loðbrókar |
| berfœttr | bare-foot | Magnús berfœttr | Heimskringla |
| harðráði | hard-ruler, stern in counsel | Haraldr harðráði | Heimskringla |
| inn digri | the stout | Óláfr inn digri | Heimskringla |
| inn kyrri | the quiet | Óláfr inn kyrri | Heimskringla |
| inn helgi | the holy | Óláfr inn helgi | Heimskringla |
| inn góði | the good | Magnús inn góði | Heimskringla |
| inn rauði | the red | Eiríkr inn rauði | Landnámabók |
| inn svarti | the black | Hallr inn svarti | Landnámabók |
| inn hvíti | the white | Óláfr inn hvíti | Landnámabók |
| inn gamli | the old | Ketill inn gamli | Landnámabók |
| inn ungi | the young | Þórðr inn ungi | Landnámabók |
| inn sterki | the strong | Ormr inn sterki | Landnámabók |
| inn spaki | the wise | Ari inn spaki | Íslendingabók |
| inn auðgi | the wealthy | Þorsteinn inn auðgi | Landnámabók |
77 more attested bynames are in the name generator.
Our Viking name generator will assemble one for you, with the meaning and the source for each part.
If you want the history rather than the game, how Norse naming actually worked covers the given name, the byname and the patronymic in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Skyrim Nord names real Old Norse?
Some are close and some are invented. The game borrows the sound of Old Norse and a few real elements, but most Nord names are original creations rather than attested names.
What is a real Nord name?
If you want a genuinely Norse name rather than a game-flavoured one, use attested names such as Þórsteinn, Gunnarr, Ásbjörn, Sigríðr or Þórdís, all recorded in medieval sources.
How do I make a lore-friendly Nord name?
Combine a real Old Norse given name with a descriptive byname in the historical pattern, for example Ásbjörn inn sterki. That is exactly how Norse names were built.
Do Nords use surnames?
In the games some do, which is not how Viking Age Scandinavia worked. Historically the Norse used patronymics and bynames rather than family surnames.