Male Viking Name Generator
Old Norse men's names, patronymics and bynames
Generate male Viking and Norse names: Old Norse men's given names such as Bjorn, Thorstein and Hrafnkel, patronymics such as Hauk Audunarson, and bynames such as Finn the Freckled and Bersi Red-Beard.
About male Viking names
A man of the Viking Age had one given name, and most were built from a small stock of elements. Bjorn is bear, Ulf is wolf, Arn is eagle, Hrafn is raven and Orm is serpent. Stein is stone, Geir is spear, Sig is victory, and Thor- honors the god, which is why Thorstein, Thorkel and Thorgeir crowd every saga. Two elements make one name: Geirstein, Steinbjorn, Asbjorn.
There were no family surnames. A man added his father's name in the genitive case plus -son, and the genitive is where most invented Viking names go wrong: Bjorn gives Bjarnarson, Hakon gives Hakonarson, Snorri gives Snorrason and Sturla gives Sturluson. His sister used the same form with -dottir. The list writes it both ways, as Hauk Audunarson and as Botolf son of Hedin.
Bynames were earned, not chosen, and came from looks, temper, trade or homeland: Finn the Freckled, Thorir the Sour, Haflidi the Smith, Ornolf the Hebridean. The sagas also fix a nickname in front of a name, as in Killer-Glum and Raven-Floki. The given names here come from the sagas, the Icelandic Book of Settlements and runestones. The bynames follow saga patterns, but most of the wordings are new, as are prefixed names such as Forge-Arni. A last group comes from Danish and Swedish runestones: Toki, Holmfast, Jarlabanke.
How to choose male Viking names
- Build the patronymic from the father's name and keep it the same across a family. Every son of Audun is Audunarson, and Audun's own second name comes from his father, not from a family line.
- Let other people give the byname. It was what the neighbors called a man, so it can be unflattering: Steinar Jorundarson the Unwashed and Eid the Foolish would not have picked theirs.
- Match the spelling to your setting. This list uses anglicized forms without accents or the old nominative -r ending. A saga edition would write Úlfr and Þorsteinn where this page has Ulf and Thorstein.
- Names can hint at where a man is from. Toki, Gorm, Holmfast and Ragnfast are forms from Danish and Swedish runestones, while Njal and Kormak came into Norse from Irish and are found mostly in Iceland.
- Say the name aloud before you commit. The j sounds like an English y, so Bjorn is close to byorn and Njal to nyal.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a difference between male Viking names and male Norse names?
Not in the names themselves. Norse is the language and the culture, and Viking was what a man was called when he went raiding or trading abroad, so the farmer who never left home had the same kind of name as the raider. Bjorn, Leif, Ulf, Thorstein and Eirik serve for either, and so does every other name on this page.
How do Viking patronymics work?
A son took his father's given name in the genitive case and added -son, so the second name changed with every generation. Names ending in -i take -a, which turns Snorri into Snorrason, while some others take -ar, which turns Hakon into Hakonarson and Bjorn into Bjarnarson. In the list, Hauk Audunarson is Hauk, the son of Audun, and Steingrim Tryggvason is the son of a man named Tryggvi.
Are the bynames historical?
The kinds are. Sagas and runestone texts name men for their looks, temper, trade, travels and homeland, and England-Farer and Greece-Farer are epithets found on Swedish runestones. Most of the byname wordings on this page, such as Bergfinn the Twice-Wed or Gnup Turf-Cutter, are new ones made in that manner and paired with given names by a script.
Are these the names of real people?
The given names were borne by real men, often by many of them. The pairings of given name, father's name and byname are dealt by a script, not taken from the sagas, and with a stock of names this small some will match a saga character or a man on a runestone by chance. Treat each full name as an invention.
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All 500 male Viking names
A: 58 names
- Agnar Ash-Beard
- Agnar Hallgrimsson
- Aki
- Alf
- Alf the Untamed
- Anund East-Farer
- Anund Tofason
- Ari the Tight-Lipped
- Armod
- Armod Ingjaldsson
- Armod West-Farer
- Arnbjorn the Skier
- Arnfinn of Hedeby
- Arnfinn Sveinsson
- Arngeir of Skagafjord
- Arngeir Thorbrandsson
- Arngrim Feud-Ender
- Arngrim the Weathered
- Arni Iron-Grip
- Arnkel
- Arnkel Ivarsson
- Arnkel the Watchful
- Arnlaug Skaptason
- Arnljot Thorgilsson
- Arnmod
- Arnmod Erlendsson
- Arnor Solmundarson
- Arnor Tar-Hand
- Arnstein Akason
A, continued
- Arnstein the Unbending
- Arnthor son of Hallstein
- Asbjorn
- Asbjorn the Peacemaker
- Asbrand Gudbrandsson
- Asgaut
- Asgaut of Ribe
- Asgeir Gislason
- Asgeir Land-Taker
- Askel
- Askel of Tunsberg
- Askel the Hook-Nosed
- Aslak
- Asmund Steingrimsson
- Asolf Thorolfsson
- Assur
- Assur the Steersman
- Asvald
- Asvald Gunnarsson
- Asvald of Jorvik
- Asvard Kolbeinsson
- Audbjorn Karlason
- Audbjorn son of Bolli
- Audbjorn Surf-Rider
- Audgisl of Lejre
- Audgisl the Patient
- Audolf the Even-Tempered
- Audolf Thormodarson
- Audun Ospaksson
B: 32 names
- Bard the Proud
- Bardi Hauksson the Restless
- Bardi son of Asvald
- Barley-Gamli
- Beinir Whale-Belly
- Bergfinn
- Bergfinn Long-Oar
- Bergfinn the Twice-Wed
- Bergthor Prow-Stander
- Bersi Red-Beard
- Bjorn
- Bjornolf Ingimundarson
- Bjornolf the Mild
- Bjornolf Whetstone-Hand
- Bodolf Dawn-Raider
- Bodolf of Birka
- Bodolf Thorleiksson
- Bodvar Arnkelsson
- Bodvar the Rune-Carver
- Bog-Narfi
- Bolli the Lame
- Bork
- Bork Runolfsson
- Botolf of Gotland
- Botolf son of Hedin
- Bragi Finnsson
- Brand Kolsson
- Brand the Sleepless
- Broddi Sighvatsson the Swimmer
- Broddi the Farmer
- Bruni the Rich
- Brynjolf Eiriksson
D: 4 names
- Dag Hjaltason
- Dagfinn of Telemark
- Dyri Haflidason
- Dyri Soft-Speech
E: 20 names
- Eid Teitsson
- Eid the Foolish
- Eilif
- Eilif Starrason
- Einar Hoskuldsson
- Eindridi of Nidaros
- Eirik
- Eldgrim
- Eldgrim the Keen
- Ember-Surt
- Emund Gormsson
- Emund the Trader
- Esbern
- Esbern the Shipwright
- Eskil Long-Oar
- Eskil of Jamtland
- Eystein Steinsson
- Eystein the Thick
- Eyvind Alfsson
- Eyvind Shield-Biter
F: 21 names
- Falcon-Teit
- Falgeir
- Falgeir the Wrestler
- Falgeir Thorbergsson
- Ferry-Koll
- Finn
- Finn the Freckled
- Finngeir
- Finngeir Broad-Beard
- Finngeir the Short
- Finnvard the Halogalander
- Finnvard Unason
- Fjord-Asgeir
- Floki Eysteinsson
- Flosi the Hot-Tempered
- Flosi Vagnsson
- Forge-Arni
- Freystein of Sigtuna
- Fridgeir
- Fridgeir Winter-Born
- Fridleif Thrainsson
G: 50 names
- Galti Mail-Breaker
- Gamli the Sharp
- Gardar
- Gaut of Oland
- Gauti Illugason
- Gauti son of Gunnbjorn
- Geir Eyvindarson
- Geir Ring-Giver
- Geirleif
- Geirleif Njalsson the Younger
- Geirleif Thorleifsson
- Geirmund
- Geirmund Thorgestsson
- Geirolf Dagsson
- Geirolf Loud-Voice
- Geirolf the Seafarer
- Geirstein
- Geitir Oddsson
- Geitir the Oath-Bound
- Gellir Hard-Grip
- Gest the Handsome
- Gils Einarsson the Runner
- Gils Peat-Foot
- Gizur the Tracker
- Glum Lambason
G, continued
- Gnup
- Gnup Turf-Cutter
- Gorm
- Grettir Flokason
- Grim
- Grim Bridge-Builder
- Grimolf Bardason
- Gris the Little
- Gudbrand
- Gudbrand Spear-Shaker
- Gudbrand the Sure-Footed
- Gudfast
- Gudfast Tostason
- Gudlaug Bardarson
- Gudleif
- Gudleif Hognason
- Gudleif Oath-Keeper
- Gudmund Svartsson
- Gunnbjorn
- Gunnbjorn the Merry
- Gunnlaug Finnbogason
- Gunnstein
- Gunnulf Sotason
- Guthorm the Loud
- Gyrd of Voss
H: 74 names
- Hafgrim the Early-Grey
- Haflidi the Smith
- Hafthor
- Hafthor Hallsteinsson
- Hakon Hrafnsson
- Halfdan Asbjarnarson
- Halfdan the Fisher
- Halfdan Ulfkelsson
- Hall
- Hall Snow-Shoe
- Halldor Kormaksson
- Halldor Strake-Splitter
- Hallgrim Hallason
- Hallgrim Night-Sailor
- Halli
- Halli Tide-Watcher
- Hallkel Saemundarson
- Hallkel the Helmsman
- Hallstein
- Hallstein Buason
- Hallstein Ox-Might
- Hallvard
- Hallvard of Kaupang
- Hallvard son of Geir
- Hallvard the Gotlander
- Hamund Atlason the Late-Born
- Hardbein of Sogn
- Harek Bear-Cub
- Harek of Lofoten
- Hastein
- Hastein Bardason the Steward
- Hastein Hill-Dweller
- Hauk Audunarson
- Hedin Bragason
- Helgi Dagsson the Fisher
- Helgi Kollason
- Hemming of Roskilde
H, continued
- Hemming Tokason
- Herjolf Ormsson
- Herjolf Thrandarson the Elder
- Hermund
- Hermund Storm-Born
- Herstein the Soft-Spoken
- Hildir Njalsson
- Hildir son of Sverting
- Hjorleif
- Hjorleif Frost-Beard
- Hjorleif Steinarsson
- Hjort Ingason
- Hogni
- Hogni Oleifsson
- Hogni the Steersman
- Holmfast
- Holmgang-Hrani
- Holmger Tokason
- Horse-Orm
- Hoskuld Gautason
- Hrafnkel
- Hrafnkel Ski-Runner
- Hrapp Moss-Back
- Hreidar
- Hroald
- Hroald of Romerike
- Hroald the Far-Sighted
- Hroar
- Hroar Styrsson
- Hroar Thorgestsson the Stubborn
- Hrolf
- Hrolf Hallsson
- Hromund the Weather-Wise
- Hrut Arngrimsson
- Hrut Ingimundarson the Hasty
- Hunbogi Hermundarson
- Hunbogi of Eyjafjord
I: 14 names
- Illugi Horn-Blower
- Illugi Thorlaksson
- Ingefast
- Ingi
- Ingi Frodason
- Ingi the Swift
- Ingimund Quick-Tongue
- Ingjald Ragnarsson
- Ingolf Sumarlidason
- Ingolf the Swede
- Isleif Gudleifsson
- Isleif Wave-Treader
- Ivar son of Finnvard
- Ivar the Long
J: 7 names
- Jarlabanke
- Jokul Stone-Lifter
- Jorund
- Jorund the Shaggy
- Jorund Wide-Grasp
- Jostein of Uppland
- Jostein son of Thorberg
K: 26 names
- Kalf
- Kalf Geirsson
- Kari
- Kari Hrutsson
- Kari Silver-Hand
- Karli
- Ketil Einarsson
- Ketilbjorn Hallvardsson
- Ketilbjorn the Hoary
- Kjallak
- Kjallak the Thrifty
- Kjartan the Easterner
- Kjartan Thoroddsson
- Kodran son of Gunnbjorn
- Kolbein Kjartansson
- Kolgrim
- Kolgrim of Dyflin
- Koll
- Koll Bent-Nose
- Koll Isleifsson
- Kolli Rognvaldsson
- Kolskegg
- Kolskegg Karason
- Kolskegg Swift-Foot
- Kormak
- Kormak Thorvardsson
L: 11 names
- Leif
- Ljot
- Ljot Wolf-Pelt
- Ljotolf
- Ljotolf Gamlason
- Ljotolf son of Olvir
- Lodin Aslaksson
- Lodin Jokulsson the Oarsman
- Lodin of Halland
- Lodmund
- Lodmund the Plain-Spoken
M: 6 names
- Manne Broad-Beard
- Manne Sibbason
- Mar
- Marsh-Hall
- Mead-Halli
- Moor-Steinar
N: 4 names
- Narfi Hamundarson
- Ness-Thrand
- Net-Grani
- Njal
O: 24 names
- Odd
- Odd Thorisson the Unlucky
- Odd Thorsteinsson
- Oddleif Ice-Breaker
- Oddleif of Borgarfjord
- Ofeig Asmundarson
- Ogmund
- Olaf
- Oleif
- Oleif Fjord-Walker
- Olvir the Showy
- Onund Jokulsson
- Orlyg
- Orlyg son of Steinar
- Ornolf Eilifsson
- Ornolf Hammer-Arm
- Ornolf the Hebridean
- Ospak
- Osvif
- Osvif Ale-Brewer
- Osvif Atlason
- Otkel
- Ox-Thorodd
- Ozur Thorkelsson
R: 6 names
- Ragnar Thorisson
- Ragnfast
- Ref
- Ridge-Bard
- Rognvald Sturluson
- Rune-Tind
S: 60 names
- Saemund
- Saemund the Scarred
- Salt-Bjarni
- Ship-Broddi
- Sibbe
- Sigfast
- Sigfast Eskilsson
- Sigfus Club-Foot
- Sigfus the Broad
- Sigmund
- Sigtrygg
- Sigurd
- Sigurd Arason
- Sigurd Thorgrimsson the Steadfast
- Skapti son of Thorgest
- Skarde Holmgersson
- Skarphedin
- Skarphedin Vigfusson
- Skerry-Ulfar
- Skidi
- Skidi Isleifsson the Hard-Handed
- Skidi Skeggjason
- Skidi the Trader
- Skorri Arinbjarnarson
- Skorri of Vopnafjord
- Skorri the Rune-Wise
- Skuli the Thin
- Snaebjorn Brandsson
- Solmund Thrall-Freer
- Sorli
S, continued
- Sorli Mast-Climber
- Sorli son of Eilif
- Sote the Rune-Carver
- Starkad Arnorsson
- Starri
- Starri Halfdanarson
- Starri the Ring-Breaker
- Steinar Jorundarson the Unwashed
- Steinbjorn
- Steingrim
- Steingrim the Forecastleman
- Steingrim Tryggvason
- Steinolf
- Steinthor Thick-Leg
- Sturla the Left-Handed
- Sturla Thorarinsson
- Styrkar Ottarsson
- Sumarlidi
- Sumarlidi Shield-Cleaver
- Sumarlidi the Berserk
- Surt Hrafnkelsson the Dour
- Svan the Shield-Bearer
- Svart Asgeirsson
- Svart of the Faroes
- Svart the Sharp-Sighted
- Svein Vesteinsson
- Sveinbjorn Boar-Tusk
- Sveinbjorn the Dane
- Sverting
- Sverting Helm-Splitter
T: 50 names
- Tar-Bruni
- Teit
- Teit Hamundarson the Reckless
- Teit Hawk-Nose
- Thidrandi
- Thjostolf
- Thorberg the Exile
- Thorbjorn Hroaldsson
- Thorbrand Agnarsson
- Thorbrand the Deep-Voiced
- Thord
- Thorfinn Halldorsson
- Thorgaut Hakonarson
- Thorgeir
- Thorgeir Ogmundarson
- Thorgest Skulason
- Thorgest the Marshal
- Thorgot England-Farer
- Thorgot Holmfastsson
- Thorgrim the Open-Handed
- Thorir Brunason
- Thorir the Sour
- Thorkel
- Thorkel Ketilsson
- Thorkil Sigfastsson
T, continued
- Thorlak
- Thorlak Gestsson
- Thorleif Arnason
- Thorleif son of Ulfar
- Thorleik Bjarnason
- Thorleik of Hardanger
- Thorodd Hjorleifsson
- Thorolf
- Thorstein
- Thorstein Broddason
- Thorstein the Grizzled
- Thorvard
- Thorvard Onundarson
- Thrain Hrutsson the Wanderer
- Thrand
- Timber-Gest
- Tind Anvil-Back
- Tind Dyrason
- Tind the Whaler
- Tjorvi Axe-Hand
- Tjorvi the Icelander
- Tofi
- Toki
- Torfi Thorvaldsson
- Trade-Audun
U: 11 names
- Ulf
- Ulf the Shipwright
- Ulfar
- Ulfar Bow-String
- Ulfar the Young
- Ulfhedin
- Ulfhedin Long-Beard
- Ulfhedin the Sunburned
- Uni
- Uni Eilifsson the Poor
- Uni Hallbjarnarson
V: 18 names
- Valgard
- Valgard Erlingsson
- Valgard the Falconer
- Vandrad
- Vandrad Braid-Beard
- Veleif of Bornholm
- Vemund Hrafnkelsson
- Vemund of Jelling
- Vemund the Standard-Bearer
- Vermund Steinthorsson the Outlaw
- Vestar Long-Leg
- Vestar of Dyrafjord
- Vestein Hallkelsson
- Vestein the Lawspeaker
- Vifast Greece-Farer
- Vifast Ragnfastsson
- Vigfus Long-Neck
- Vikar the Law-Wise
W: 2 names
- Whale-Ketil
- Wool-Sorli