Rune Translator
Type anything and see it in authentic Norse runes. Switch between the Elder Futhark, Younger Futhark and Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, the same alphabets carved on our pieces.
Runes are phonetic: a few Latin letters map to the same rune, and some (c, q, x) are approximated. This is a faithful transliteration, not a word-for-word historical spelling. Runes → text is lossy and prefers common letters.
The full row
Names of the Runes & the rune poems
Every rune carried a name and a verse. Tap any rune to read its stanza from the Norwegian, Icelandic and Old English rune poems, in the original, with a plain English rendering.
ᚠ ᚠFehuWealth, cattle ᚠFéWealth ᚠFeohWealth
Younger: Fé (Wealth) · Anglian: Feoh (Wealth)
Norwegian rune poem
Fé vældr frænda róge;
føðesk ulfr í skóge.
Wealth breeds discord among kin, and the wolf is reared in the wild wood.
Icelandic rune poem
Fé er frænda róg
ok flæðar viti
ok grafseiðs gata
aurum fylkir.
Wealth sows strife among kinsmen; it is the flame of the sea and the serpent's path.
Old English rune poem
Feoh byþ frofur fira gehwylcum;
sceal ðeah manna gehwylc miclun hyt dælan gif he wile for drihtne domes hleotan.
Wealth is a comfort to all, yet each must give of it freely if he would win the Lord's esteem.
ᚢ ᚢUruzAurochs (wild ox) ᚢÚrDrizzle, slag ᚢUrAurochs
Younger: Úr (Drizzle, slag) · Anglian: Ur (Aurochs)
Norwegian rune poem
Úr er af illu jarne;
opt løypr ræinn á hjarne.
Dross rises from poor iron; the reindeer runs swift over the frozen crust.
Icelandic rune poem
Úr er skýja grátr
ok skára þverrir
ok hirðis hatr
umbre vísi
The shower is the weeping of the clouds, ruin of the mown hay, and the herdsman's bane.
Old English rune poem
Ur byþ anmod ond oferhyrned, felafrecne deor, feohteþ mid hornum mære morstapa;
þæt is modig wuht.
The aurochs is proud and high-horned, a savage beast that battles with its horns, a bold ranger of the moors.
ᚦ ᚦThurisazGiant, Thor ᚦÞursGiant ᚦÐornThorn
Younger: Þurs (Giant) · Anglian: Ðorn (Thorn)
Norwegian rune poem
Þurs vældr kvinna kvillu;
kátr værðr fár af illu.
The giant brings torment to women; few find cheer in misfortune.
Icelandic rune poem
Þurs er kvenna kvöl
ok kletta búi
ok varðrúnar verr
Saturnus þengill.
The giant is women's torment, the dweller of the cliffs, and the husband of the giantess Varðrún.
Old English rune poem
Ðorn byþ ðearle scearp;
ðegna gehwylcum anfeng ys yfyl, ungemetum reþe manna gehwelcum, ðe him mid resteð.
The thorn is cruelly sharp; to grasp it harms any man, fierce beyond measure to all who rest among it.
ᚨ ᚨAnsuzA god (Odin) ᚨÓssRiver-mouth ᚨOsMouth
Younger: Óss (River-mouth) · Anglian: Os (Mouth)
Norwegian rune poem
Óss er flæstra færða fǫr;
en skalpr er sværða.
The estuary is the road of most voyages; but the sheath is the road of the sword.
Icelandic rune poem
Óss er algingautr
ok ásgarðs jöfurr
ok valhallar vísi
Jupiter oddviti.
The god is the aged Gautr (Odin), prince of Asgard, and lord of Valhalla.
Old English rune poem
Os byþ ordfruma ælere spræce, wisdomes wraþu ond witena frofur and eorla gehwam eadnys ond tohiht.
The mouth is the fount of all speech, the prop of wisdom and comfort of the wise, a blessing and hope to every noble.
ᚱ ᚱRaidoRide, journey ᚱReiðRiding ᚱRadRiding
Younger: Reið (Riding) · Anglian: Rad (Riding)
Norwegian rune poem
Ræið kveða rossom væsta;
Reginn sló sværðet bæzta.
Riding, they say, is hardest on horses; Reginn forged the finest blade.
Icelandic rune poem
Reið er sitjandi sæla
ok snúðig ferð
ok jórs erfiði
iter ræsir.
Riding is the rider's ease, a swift passage, and the toil of the steed.
Old English rune poem
Rad byþ on recyde rinca gehwylcum sefte ond swiþhwæt, ðamðe sitteþ on ufan meare mægenheardum ofer milpaþas.
Riding seems easy to a warrior indoors, and far bolder to one astride a strong horse on the long roads.
ᚲ ᚲKenazTorch, sore ᚲKaunSore, ulcer ᚲCenTorch
Younger: Kaun (Sore, ulcer) · Anglian: Cen (Torch)
Norwegian rune poem
Kaun er barna bǫlvan;
bǫl gørver nán fǫlvan.
The sore is a curse upon children; grief turns the dead man pale.
Icelandic rune poem
Kaun er barna böl
ok bardaga [för]
ok holdfúa hús
flagella konungr.
The sore is the bane of children, a mark of battle, and the house of rotting flesh.
Old English rune poem
Cen byþ cwicera gehwam, cuþ on fyre blac ond beorhtlic, byrneþ oftust ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ.
The torch is known to all the living by its flame. Pale and bright, it burns most where princes rest.
ᚷ ᚷGeboGift , ᚷGyfuGift
Anglian: Gyfu (Gift)
Old English rune poem
Gyfu gumena byþ gleng and herenys, wraþu and wyrþscype and wræcna gehwam ar and ætwist, ðe byþ oþra leas.
A man's giving is grace and renown, support and honour; and to the outcast, help and shelter when all else fails.
ᚹ ᚹWunjoJoy , ᚹWynnJoy
Anglian: Wynn (Joy)
Old English rune poem
Wenne bruceþ, ðe can weana lyt sares and sorge and him sylfa hæfþ blæd and blysse and eac byrga geniht.
Joy is his who knows little of woe, of pain and sorrow, and holds for himself prosperity, bliss, and a full home.
ᚺ ᚺHagalazHail ᚺHagallHail ᚺHæglHail
Younger: Hagall (Hail) · Anglian: Hægl (Hail)
Norwegian rune poem
Hagall er kaldastr korna;
Kristr skóp hæimenn forna.
Hail is the coldest of grains; Christ shaped the world of old.
Icelandic rune poem
Hagall er kaldakorn
ok krapadrífa
ok snáka sótt
grando hildingr.
Hail is cold grain, a rush of sleet, and the sickness of serpents.
Old English rune poem
Hægl byþ hwitust corna;
hwyrft hit of heofones lyfte, wealcaþ hit windes scura;
weorþeþ hit to wætere syððan.
Hail is the whitest of grains; it whirls down from heaven's height, the wind rolls it about, and then it melts to water.
ᚾ ᚾNaudizNeed ᚾNauðNeed ᚾNydNeed
Younger: Nauð (Need) · Anglian: Nyd (Need)
Norwegian rune poem
Nauðr gerer næppa koste;
nøktan kælr í froste.
Need leaves scant choice; the naked freeze in the frost.
Icelandic rune poem
Nauð er Þýjar þrá
ok þungr kostr
ok vássamlig verk
opera niflungr.
Need is the bondmaid's grief, a heavy lot, and toilsome labour.
Old English rune poem
Nyd byþ nearu on breostan;
weorþeþ hi þeah oft niþa bearnum to helpe and to hæle gehwæþre, gif hi his hlystaþ æror.
Need grips the heart hard, yet often turns to help and healing for men, if they heed it in time.
ᛁ ᛁIsazIce ᛁÍssIce ᛁIsIce
Younger: Íss (Ice) · Anglian: Is (Ice)
Norwegian rune poem
Ís kǫllum brú bræiða;
blindan þarf at læiða.
Ice we call the broad bridge; the blind must be led across.
Icelandic rune poem
Íss er árbörkr
ok unnar þak
ok feigra manna fár
glacies jöfurr.
Ice is the bark of rivers, the roof of the wave, and the doom of the fated.
Old English rune poem
Is byþ ofereald, ungemetum slidor, glisnaþ glæshluttur gimmum gelicust, flor forste geworuht, fæger ansyne.
Ice is bitter-cold, endlessly slick; it gleams clear as glass, like gems, a floor wrought by frost, fair to behold.
ᛃ ᛃJeraYear, harvest ᛃÁrPlenty ᛃGerHarvest
Younger: Ár (Plenty) · Anglian: Ger (Harvest)
Norwegian rune poem
Ár er gumna góðe;
get ek at ǫrr var Fróðe.
A good year blesses men; generous, I hear, was Fróði.
Icelandic rune poem
Ár er gumna góði
ok gott sumar
algróinn akr
annus allvaldr.
A good year blesses men, a fine summer and a field grown full.
Old English rune poem
Ger byÞ gumena hiht, ðonne God læteþ, halig heofones cyning, hrusan syllan beorhte bleda beornum ond ðearfum.
Harvest is the hope of men, when God, holy King of heaven, lets the earth yield bright fruits to noble and needy alike.
ᛇ ᛇEihwazYew tree ᛇÝrYew ᛇEohYew
Younger: Ýr (Yew) · Anglian: Eoh (Yew)
Norwegian rune poem
Ýr er vetrgrønstr viða;
vænt er, er brennr, at sviða.
The yew is greenest of trees through winter; set alight, it crackles and singes.
Icelandic rune poem
Ýr er bendr bogi
ok brotgjarnt járn
ok fífu fárbauti
arcus ynglingr.
The yew is a bent bow, brittle iron, and the giant of the arrow.
Old English rune poem
Eoh byþ utan unsmeþe treow, heard hrusan fæst, hyrde fyres, wyrtrumun underwreþyd, wyn on eþle.
The yew is rough-barked without, hard and rooted fast, a keeper of fire, a joy on the homestead.
ᛈ ᛈPerthroFate, lot , ᛈPeorðGaming
Anglian: Peorð (Gaming)
Old English rune poem
Peorð byþ symble plega and hlehter wlancum on middum, ðar wigan sittaþ on beorsele bliþe ætsomne.
Peorð is ever play and laughter among the proud, where warriors sit glad together in the beer-hall.
ᛉ ᛉAlgizElk, protection , ᛉEolhxElk-sedge
Anglian: Eolhx (Elk-sedge)
Old English rune poem
Eolh-secg eard hæfþ oftust on fenne wexeð on wature, wundaþ grimme, blode breneð beorna gehwylcne ðe him ænigne onfeng gedeþ.
The elk-sedge dwells most in the fen, growing in the water; it wounds grimly, drawing blood from any who grasp at it.
ᛋ ᛋSowiloSun ᛋSólSun ᛋSigelSun
Younger: Sól (Sun) · Anglian: Sigel (Sun)
Norwegian rune poem
Sól er landa ljóme;
lúti ek helgum dóme.
The sun is the light of the lands; before the holy, I bow.
Icelandic rune poem
Sól er skýja skjöldr
ok skínandi röðull
ok ísa aldrtregi
rota siklingr.
The sun is the shield of the clouds, a shining radiance, and the lifelong grief of the ice.
Old English rune poem
Sigel semannum symble biþ on hihte, ðonne hi hine feriaþ ofer fisces beþ, oþ hi brimhengest bringeþ to lande.
The sun is ever the sailor's joy, as they bear across the fish's bath, till the sea-steed brings them to land.
ᛏ ᛏTiwazThe god Tyr ᛏTýrTyr ᛏTirStar, Tir
Younger: Týr (Tyr) · Anglian: Tir (Star, Tir)
Norwegian rune poem
Týr er æinendr ása;
opt værðr smiðr blása.
Tyr is the one-handed of the gods; often the smith must work the bellows.
Icelandic rune poem
Týr er einhendr áss
ok ulfs leifar
ok hofa hilmir
Mars tiggi.
Tyr is the one-handed god, the wolf's leavings, and the lord of temples.
Old English rune poem
Tir biþ tacna sum, healdeþ trywa wel wiþ æþelingas;
a biþ on færylde ofer nihta genipu, næfre swiceþ.
Tir is a sure sign; it keeps faith with princes, ever on its course above the mists of night, and never fails.
ᛒ ᛒBerkananBirch ᛒBjarkanBirch ᛒBeorcBirch
Younger: Bjarkan (Birch) · Anglian: Beorc (Birch)
Norwegian rune poem
Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma;
Loki bar flærða tíma.
The birch is greenest-leaved of boughs; Loki brought the luck of lies.
Icelandic rune poem
Bjarkan er laufgat lim
ok lítit tré
ok ungsamligr viðr
abies buðlungr.
The birch is a leafy twig, a little tree, a wood still young.
Old English rune poem
Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne swa ðeah tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum wlitig, heah on helme hrysted fægere, geloden leafum, lyfte getenge.
The birch bears no fruit, yet puts out shoots without seed; fair in its boughs, tall and crowned, laden with leaves against the sky.
ᛖ ᛖEhwazHorse , ᛖEhHorse
Anglian: Eh (Horse)
Old English rune poem
Eh byþ for eorlum æþelinga wyn, hors hofum wlanc, ðær him hæleþ ymbe welege on wicgum wrixlaþ spræce and biþ unstyllum æfre frofur.
The horse is the joy of princes before nobles, proud on its hooves, where wealthy heroes trade words of it, ever a comfort to the restless.
ᛗ ᛗMannazMan ᛗMaðrMan ᛗManMan
Younger: Maðr (Man) · Anglian: Man (Man)
Norwegian rune poem
Maðr er moldar auki;
mikil er græip á hauki.
Man is the increase of the dust; great is the talon upon the hawk.
Icelandic rune poem
Maðr er manns gaman
ok moldar auki
ok skipa skreytir
homo mildingr.
Man is the delight of man, the increase of the earth, and the adorner of ships.
Old English rune poem
Man byþ on myrgþe his magan leof: sceal þeah anra gehwylc oðrum swican, forðum drihten wyle dome sine þæt earme flæsc eorþan betæcan.
Man, in his mirth, is dear to his kin; yet each must fail the other, for the Lord by his decree gives the poor flesh to the earth.
ᛚ ᛚLaguzWater, lake ᛚLǫgrWater, falls ᛚLaguSea
Younger: Lǫgr (Water, falls) · Anglian: Lagu (Sea)
Norwegian rune poem
Lǫgr er, fællr ór fjalle foss;
en gull ero nosser.
Water is the falls that plunge from the fell; but the treasures are of gold.
Icelandic rune poem
Lögr er vellanda vatn
ok viðr ketill
ok glömmungr grund
lacus lofðungr.
Water is the welling spring, the wide cauldron, and the land of the fish.
Old English rune poem
Lagu byþ leodum langsum geþuht, gif hi sculun neþan on nacan tealtum and hi sæyþa swyþe bregaþ and se brimhengest bridles ne gymeð.
The sea seems endless to men who must brave a pitching boat, when the waves affright them and the sea-steed heeds no rein.
ᛜ ᛜIngwazThe god Ing , ᛜIngIng
Anglian: Ing (Ing)
Old English rune poem
Ing wæs ærest mid East-Denum gesewen secgun, oþ he siððan est ofer wæg gewat;
wæn æfter ran;
ðus Heardingas ðone hæle nemdun.
Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes, till he departed east over the wave, his wagon running after; so the Heardings named that hero.
ᛟ ᛟOthalaHeritage, home , ᛟEþelHomeland
Anglian: Eþel (Homeland)
Old English rune poem
Eþel byþ oferleof æghwylcum men, gif he mot ðær rihtes and gerysena on brucan on bolde bleadum oftast.
The homeland is dearest to every man, where he may enjoy what is right and fitting in his own house, most often in plenty.
ᛞ ᛞDagazDay, breakthrough , ᛞDægDay
Anglian: Dæg (Day)
Old English rune poem
Dæg byþ drihtnes sond, deore mannum, mære metodes leoht, myrgþ and tohiht eadgum and earmum, eallum brice.
Day is the Lord's messenger, dear to men, the Maker's glorious light, joy and hope to rich and poor, of worth to all.
ᚪ , , ᚪAcOak
Anglian: Ac (Oak)
Old English rune poem
Ac byþ on eorþan elda bearnum flæsces fodor, fereþ gelome ofer ganotes bæþ;
garsecg fandaþ hwæþer ac hæbbe æþele treowe.
The oak feeds the swine of men on land, and often fares over the gannet's bath; the sea tests whether the oak holds true as ship-timber.
ᚫ , , ᚫÆscAsh
Anglian: Æsc (Ash)
Old English rune poem
Æsc biþ oferheah, eldum dyre stiþ on staþule, stede rihte hylt, ðeah him feohtan on firas monige.
The ash is towering, dear to men, firm at its base; it holds its ground though many fight against it.
ᚣ , , ᚣYrBow
Anglian: Yr (Bow)
Old English rune poem
Yr byþ æþelinga and eorla gehwæs wyn and wyrþmynd, byþ on wicge fæger, fæstlic on færelde, fyrdgeatewa sum.
Yr, the bow, is a joy and honour to every prince and noble, fair on horseback, steadfast on the road, a piece of war-gear.
ᛡ , , ᛡIorEel, serpent
Anglian: Ior (Eel, serpent)
Old English rune poem
Iar byþ eafix and ðeah a bruceþ fodres on foldan, hafaþ fægerne eard wætre beworpen, ðær he wynnum leofaþ.
Iar is a river-fish that yet feeds always on land; it keeps a fair home ringed by water, where it lives in joy.
ᛠ , , ᛠEarGrave, earth
Anglian: Ear (Grave, earth)
Old English rune poem
Ear byþ egle eorla gehwylcun, ðonne fæstlice flæsc onginneþ, hraw colian, hrusan ceosan blac to gebeddan;
bleda gedreosaþ, wynna gewitaþ, wera geswicaþ.
The grave is grim to every man, when the flesh begins to cool and choose the pale earth for its bed; fruits fall, joys depart, pledges fail.
Original verse is medieval and in the public domain; the English renderings are our own. Want the deeper story behind each symbol? Read our full Elder Futhark rune meanings guide →
What Is a Rune Translator?
A rune translator turns modern Latin letters into the ancient Norse runic alphabets, so you can see a name, word or oath the way the Vikings and earlier Germanic peoples would have carved it. The tool above transliterates by sound, letter by letter, and lets you switch between the three historical futharks, then copy the result or download a shareable card.
The Three Futharks Explained
Runes were not one fixed alphabet. They evolved over roughly a thousand years, and this translator offers the three that matter most:
- Elder Futhark (24 runes, c. 150–800 CE), the oldest and best-known runic script, used across the early Germanic world. It is the most popular choice for writing names today.
- Younger Futhark (16 runes, c. 800–1100 CE), the true Viking-Age alphabet of Scandinavia, found on most Viking runestones. Fewer runes mean several sounds share a symbol.
- Anglo-Saxon Futhorc (~29–33 runes), the expanded script used in early medieval England and Frisia, with extra runes for the sounds of Old English.
How to Use It
Type your name, initials or a short phrase in the box, choose a futhark, and the runes appear instantly. Use Text → Runes to write in runes, or flip to Runes → Text to read a runic inscription back. Because runes are phonetic, spelling by sound, not by silent letters, gives the most authentic result. Hit Copy to paste it anywhere, or download the card to share.
Runes Are Phonetic, Not a 1:1 Alphabet
Runes record sounds rather than letters, so the mapping is not perfectly one-to-one. A few Latin letters (c, q, x) have no dedicated rune and are approximated by the nearest sound, and in the Younger Futhark one rune can stand for several letters. That is why this is a faithful transliteration in the runic tradition, not a modern letter-swap. To go deeper into the symbols themselves, read our guide to Norse mythology symbols and their meanings.
📊 Open data: our full runic reference, 24 runes with names and meanings across all three futharks, plus the complete Norwegian, Icelandic and Old English rune poems with translations, is free to download and reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back to this page. Download CSV · Download JSON
Wear Your Runes
Once you have your name in runes, you can carry it. Many of our pieces feature runic and Norse symbolism, and several can be personalised with your own text. Explore our Viking rings, Viking necklaces and 925 sterling silver collection, and ask us about custom rune engraving.
Rune Translator FAQ
How do I write my name in runes?
Type your name in the box above and pick a futhark. Elder Futhark is the most popular for names. The tool transliterates it letter by letter into runes. Because runes are phonetic, spell your name the way it sounds for the truest result, then copy it or download a card.
What is the difference between the Elder and Younger Futhark?
The Elder Futhark is the oldest runic alphabet, with 24 runes used from roughly 150 to 800 CE. The Younger Futhark has just 16 runes and is the Viking-Age Scandinavian script (c. 800–1100 CE) seen on most runestones. The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc is a larger English variant. All three are available above.
Is there a rune for every letter?
Not exactly. Runes are phonetic, so some Latin letters such as c, q and x have no direct rune and are approximated by the closest sound, while a single rune can cover several letters. This makes the output a faithful transliteration rather than a one-to-one alphabet swap.
Are these authentic Viking runes?
Yes. The translator uses the real historical futharks (Elder, Younger and Anglo-Saxon), the same alphabets found on runestones and echoed on our pieces. It works by transliterating your text by sound, not by inventing new symbols, so the runes are genuine.
What is a bindrune?
A bindrune joins two or more runes onto a single shared stave, creating one combined mark, often used for initials or a personal monogram. It is a sigil rather than a historical spelling. Bindrunes were carved on objects and amulets throughout the Norse world.
Can I get my name or initials engraved in runes?
Many of our pieces can be personalised. Translate your name or initials above, then browse our rings, necklaces and sterling silver jewelry and ask about custom rune engraving.
Is writing in runes the same as translating into Old Norse?
No. Runes are an alphabet; Old Norse is a language. This page converts your text into runic letters; to find the actual Old Norse words the Vikings used (wolf = úlfr, honor = sæmd), use our Old Norse Translator, every word verified against Zoëga's 1910 dictionary, with the runes included.
Where were runes actually carved?
All over the Norse world, from the runestones of Jelling and Gamla Uppsala to graffiti scratched into the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and the Maeshowe tomb on Orkney. You can visit every one of those places on our interactive Viking World Map, 45 sourced locations, six guided voyages and a timeline of the whole era.