Norse Names for Dogs and Cats, With Real Meanings
The Norse named their animals, and some of those names survive. Óláfr Tryggvason had a dog called Vígi. Odin kept two wolves, Geri and Freki. Freyja's chariot was pulled by cats. If you want a name with actual Old Norse behind it rather than a vaguely Nordic sound, these are the ones with sources.
Generate a full Norse name, or read on for the full lists.
Named Animals From the Sources
| Name | Meaning | Who carried it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vígi | fighter | Óláfr Tryggvason's own dog | Heimskringla |
| Geri | the greedy one | one of Odin's two wolves | Poetic Edda |
| Freki | the ravenous one | Odin's second wolf | Poetic Edda |
| Garmr | the howler | the hound that guards Hel | Poetic Edda |
| Sámr | the dark one | Gunnarr's hound | Njáls saga |
| Huginn | thought | one of Odin's ravens | Poetic Edda |
| Muninn | memory | Odin's second raven | Poetic Edda |
| Sleipnir | the slipper, the glider | Odin's eight-legged horse | Poetic Edda |
| Fenrir | fen-dweller | the great wolf | Poetic Edda |
| Skǫll | treachery, mockery | the wolf that chases the sun | Poetic Edda |
| Hati | the hater | the wolf that chases the moon | Poetic Edda |
A note on Fenrir, Skǫll and Hati: these are monstrous wolves whose role in the myths is to devour. They make excellent dog names and nobody in the Viking Age would have thought so.
Human Names That Mean Animals
The Norse built personal names out of animal words constantly, so the attested corpus is full of names that read perfectly on a dog or a cat. These are all real human names with named sources.
| Name | Meaning | Attested in |
|---|---|---|
| Þórbjörn | Þórr's bear | Landnámabók |
| Björn | bear | Landnámabók |
| Hrútr | ram | Njáls saga |
| Arnkell | eagle-helmet | Eyrbyggja saga |
| Ormr | serpent | Landnámabók |
| Eyjólfr | island-wolf | Landnámabók |
| Herjólfr | army-wolf | Landnámabók |
| Hrafn | raven | Landnámabók |
| Hrólfr | famous wolf | Hrólfs saga kraka |
| Jörundr | horse-warrior | Landnámabók |
| Kálfr | calf | Landnámabók |
| Már | seagull | Landnámabók |
| Mörðr | marten | Njáls saga |
| Skeggi | the bearded | Landnámabók |
| Úlfr | wolf | Landnámabók |
| Þjóðólfr | people's wolf | Heimskringla |
| Arnórr | eagle-Þórr | Landnámabók |
| Ásbjörn | god-bear | Landnámabók |
| Bersi | little bear | Landnámabók |
| Hafr | he-goat | Landnámabók |
| Ingólfr | Ing's wolf | Landnámabók |
| Ari | eagle | Íslendingabók |
| Arngeirr | eagle-spear | Landnámabók |
| Arnfinnr | eagle-Finn | Landnámabók |
| Arnaldr | eagle-ruler | Landnámabók |
| Arnsteinn | eagle-stone | Landnámabók |
| Ásólfr | god-wolf | Landnámabók |
| Auðbjörn | wealth-bear | Landnámabók |
| Bjarni | bear | Landnámabók |
| Bjarnhéðinn | bear-cloak | Landnámabók |
| Gunnbjörn | battle-bear | Landnámabók |
| Hallbjörn | rock-bear | Landnámabók |
| Haukr | hawk | Landnámabók |
| Járnskeggi | iron-beard | Heimskringla |
| Kolskeggr | coal-beard | Njáls saga |
| Lambi | lamb | Laxdæla saga |
| Ljótólfr | ugly wolf | Landnámabók |
| Möðólfr | courage-wolf | Landnámabók |
| Refr | fox | Landnámabók |
| Rúnólfr | rune-wolf | Landnámabók |
| Sæbjörn | sea-bear | Landnámabók |
| Skeggbroddi | beard-spike | Landnámabók |
22 more attested names are in the name generator, each with its meaning and source.
Colour Names, Which Work Best of All
Norse bynames were frequently about colour, and they transfer to animals with no adjustment at all.
| Name | Meaning | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Kolr | coal, the dark one | a black dog or cat |
| Hvítr | white | a white coat |
| Rauðr | red | a ginger cat, a red setter |
| Grár | grey | a grey or blue coat |
| Svartr | black | solid black |
| Mjǫll | fresh powder snow | a pure white cat |
| Loðinn | shaggy, hairy | anything long-haired |
| Digri | the stout | said with affection |
Put It in Runes
Any of these can be set in the Younger Futhark with our rune translator, which is the sixteen-rune row actually carved in the Viking Age. If you want the full treatment, the Viking name generator will build a complete name with a byname and its meaning.
Every name here comes from the same attested corpus as our full guide to how Viking names were built, so the meanings are the real ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Norse name for a dog?
Names built on animal and weapon elements suit dogs well. Vígi was Óláfr Tryggvason's own dog in Heimskringla. Geri and Freki are Odin's two wolves. Garmr is the hound of Hel.
What is a good Norse name for a cat?
Freyja's chariot was drawn by cats, so names from her circle fit. Practical choices with real meanings include Kolr (coal, for a black cat), Hvítr (white), Refr (fox) and Mjǫll (fresh snow).
Are these real Old Norse names?
Yes. Every name in these tables is attested in a named medieval source and is shown with its meaning. Names of animals from myth are marked as such.
How do I say my pet's name in runes?
Use our rune translator, which sets any name in the Younger Futhark, the sixteen-rune alphabet actually used in the Viking Age.