Viking Ship Name Generator

Longship names in the tradition of the Long Serpent

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Generate Viking ship names for longships, knarrs and dragon ships: real saga vessels like Ormrinn Langi and Visundr, Old Norse kennings such as Sæhestr (sea-stallion), and English names like Raven of Hedeby for novels, games and reenactment crews.

About Viking ship names

The sagas record few Viking ship names, and almost all of them are animals. Olaf Tryggvason's great warship was Ormrinn Langi, the Long Serpent; his earlier ship was Ormrinn Skammi, the Short Serpent, and his fleet also held Traninn, the Crane. Olaf the Saint sailed Visundr, the Bison, with a gilded bison head on the prow. A ship was named for the beast carved on its stem, so the name and the figurehead were the same thing: a dreki (dragon) was a dragon ship because of its head; crews removed the head before landing so it would not frighten the land spirits.

Skaldic poetry adds the second naming tradition, the kenning. A ship was a sea-stallion (sæhestr), wave-steed, oar-horse, or Ægir's horse; the sea was the whale road or swan road. The names here draw on both: Old Norse forms with the definite article suffix (Drekinn, Hrafninn), compounds built from sea, wave, fjord and storm, and names borrowed from gods, valkyries, legendary weapons and the wave-daughters of Rán. Mythic ships like Skíðblaðnir, Naglfar and Hringhorni belong here too.

For a realistic crew, favour a short animal name or a kenning and let the English translation serve as the spoken name; for fiction or games, the grander compounds and place-farers (Vínlandsfari, Raven of Jorvik) tell readers where the ship has been.

How to choose Viking ship names

  • Match the name to the prow: a serpent, dragon, crane or bison head gives you the name for free, exactly as the sagas did it.
  • Use the Old Norse form with the suffixed article (Ormrinn, Hrafninn, Drekinn) for names the crew would actually say, and drop the -inn/-rinn ending if you want a plainer look.
  • Knarrs and trading ships took luck-names (Farsæll, Merchant's Luck); warships and royal skeids took beasts and boasts. Choose by ship type, not just by what sounds fierce.
  • Kennings translate well: Sea Stallion, Wave Treader and Oar Steed read as authentic in English without any special characters.
  • If your ship is named after a person, use an epithet rather than a full name: Hardrada's Gift or Tryggvason's Pride sounds Norse, whereas 'The Harald' does not.

Frequently asked questions

What were real Viking ships called?

The best-attested names are Ormrinn Langi (Long Serpent) and Ormrinn Skammi (Short Serpent) of Olaf Tryggvason, Traninn (the Crane), Visundr (the Bison) of Olaf the Saint, and Mariasuden of Sverre Sigurdsson. Most surviving excavated ships, such as Gokstad, Oseberg and the Skuldelev ships, are known only by their find sites.

Did Viking ships have names at all?

Large royal and chieftain ships clearly did, and the sagas name them. Ordinary levy ships and small boats probably did not, or were known by their owner or the beast on the stem. Names were usually an animal, matching the carved prow figure.

What is the difference between a longship, a drakkar and a knarr?

Longship is the general term for a long, narrow warship; skeid and snekkja are sizes of longship. Drakkar (from dreki, dragon) describes the largest longships with a dragon-head prow. A knarr was a wider, deeper cargo ship used for trading and for the voyages to Iceland, Greenland and Vinland.

Should I use the Old Norse spelling or the English version?

Either works. Old Norse with thorn (þ), eth (ð) and accents looks authentic on a map or in a saga-style novel; the English translation is easier for readers and players to remember. Many writers introduce the Norse name once and use the English thereafter.

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All 500 Viking ship names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 7 names

  • Aegir's Daughter
  • Ægisdýr
  • Alda
  • Arrow Storm
  • Askr inn Mikli
  • Auðr Djúpúðga
  • Axe Raven

B: 41 names

  • Bára
  • Barden
  • Barðinn
  • Barrow Wight
  • Bárufákr
  • Battle Crane
  • Battle Wave
  • Bear of Bergen
  • Bear's Claw
  • Bifröst
  • Bjarmalandsfari
  • Bjarndýrit
  • Bjorn's Bear
  • Black Drake
  • Black Knarr
  • Black Sail
  • Black Swan
  • Blade Wind
  • Blóðöx
  • Blóðughadda
  • Blood Axe
  • Blood Eagle
  • Blood Raven
  • Blood Tide
  • Bloodaxe
  • Blue Tooth
  • Blue Whale
  • Boar's Tusk
  • Bøkesuden
  • Boneless
  • Borgarbrjótr
  • Bride of the Sea
  • Brimdýr
  • Brimhestr
  • Brimir
  • Brine Stallion
  • Brisingamen
  • Broad Knarr
  • Bronze Beak
  • Brynhildr
  • Bylgja

C: 4 names

  • Cnut's Serpent
  • Coast Watcher
  • Crane's Neck
  • Crowbone

D: 13 names

  • Danaskip
  • Dancing Crane
  • Daughter of the Wave
  • Dragon of Kaupang
  • Dragon's Bane
  • Dragon's Breath
  • Draken Harald Hårfagre
  • Draugrinn
  • Draupnir
  • Drekinn
  • Dröfn
  • Dúfa
  • Dyflinnardreki

E: 13 names

  • Eagle's Claw
  • Egil's Axe
  • Eikin Langa
  • Eikþyrnir
  • Eiríkr Rauði
  • Eldbrandr
  • Eldhestr
  • Eldsvanr
  • Elgr
  • Ellida
  • Ember Serpent
  • Englandsfari
  • Eyjahrafn

F: 38 names

  • Fafnir's Bane
  • Fáfnisbani
  • Fair Wind
  • Fairhair
  • Falcon of Birka
  • Falcon's Flight
  • Fálki
  • Far Wanderer
  • Farsæla
  • Farsæll
  • Fenrir's Chain
  • Fenrir's Jaw
  • Fenrisúlfr
  • Fierce Falcon
  • Fire Drake
  • Fjord Guard
  • Fjord Pearl
  • Fjord Raven
  • Fjord Serpent
  • Fjord Wolf
  • Flame Serpent
  • Fleet Foot
  • Fleet Mother
  • Foam Drinker
  • Foam Runner
  • Fork Beard
  • Frankish Terror
  • Freki
  • Freya's Cats
  • Freya's Falcon
  • Freydís
  • Freydis's Pride
  • Freyjufákr
  • Freysgjöf
  • Frost Giant
  • Frost Serpent
  • Frostdreki
  • Fylgjan

G: 37 names

  • Gæfan
  • Gale Rider
  • Geri
  • Ghost of Lindisfarne
  • Gilded Prow
  • Gilded Vane
  • Gjálfrmarr
  • Gjallarhorn
  • Glóðarauga
  • Gokstad
  • Gold Weathercock
  • Golden Crane
  • Golden Hart
  • Golden Hind
  • Göltr
  • Göngu-Hrólfr
  • Gram
  • Gramr
  • Grani
  • Grænlandsdreki
  • Grænlandsfari
  • Gráúlfr
  • Great Skeid
  • Greenland Farer
  • Grendel's Bane
  • Grey Goose
  • Gudrid's Hope
  • Guðrún
  • Gull's Cry
  • Gullhani
  • Gullhjörtr
  • Gullinbursti
  • Gullsegl
  • Gullskip
  • Gungnir
  • Gunnar's Bow
  • Gunnfáni

H: 47 names

  • Hafbjörn
  • Hafdreki
  • Hafgufa
  • Hafhestr
  • Hafkona
  • Hafsteinn
  • Hail Stallion
  • Hairy Breeches
  • Hakon's Raven
  • Hamingjan
  • Harald's Dragon
  • Hardrada's Gift
  • Harefoot
  • Haukr
  • Hausakljúfr
  • Havhingsten fra Glendalough
  • Hawk's Eye
  • Hefring
  • Heiðrún
  • Heimdall's Horn
  • Heimfari
  • Helge Ask
  • Hildisvíni
  • Himinglæva
  • Hird Ship
  • Hjálmskelfir
  • Hjaltlandsdreki
  • Hjörtr
  • Hope of Iceland
  • Horn Blower
  • Horse of the Waves
  • Hrafn inn Svarti
  • Hrafnfæðir
  • Hrafninn
  • Hrafnsmerki
  • Hrímfaxi
  • Hrímgerðr
  • Hringhorni
  • Hrólfr Kraki
  • Hrönn
  • Hugin
  • Hundred Rowers
  • Hungry Wolf
  • Hvalr
  • Hvítormr
  • Hvítserkr
  • Hvítsvanr

I: 13 names

  • Ice Breaker
  • Iðunn
  • Iron Beak
  • Iron Beard
  • Iron Prow
  • Iron Ram
  • Iron Side
  • Ísbjörn
  • Ísbrjótr
  • Íslandsfari
  • Íslendingur
  • Ísormr
  • Ivar's Serpent

J: 6 names

  • Járnbarði
  • Járnsíða
  • Jerusalem Farer
  • Jörmungandr
  • Jórsalafari
  • Jórvíkingr

K: 14 names

  • Karfinn
  • Kari's Revenge
  • Kaupangsfari
  • Keel Biter
  • Keen Eye
  • King's Flagship
  • King's Gift
  • Knörrinn Breiði
  • Kólga
  • Konungsskipit
  • Kraka Fyr
  • Kraken's Bane
  • Kría
  • Kveldulf's Wolf

L: 24 names

  • Ladby Dragon
  • Lagertha's Shield
  • Land Shaker
  • Land Waster
  • Landbrjótr
  • Landeyðan
  • Landvættr
  • Landvörn
  • Laughing Gull
  • Leaping Salmon
  • Leaping Stag
  • Leiðarstjarna
  • Leif's Luck
  • Lindisfarne Raider
  • Loðbrók
  • Lodestar
  • Loki's Trick
  • Long Beard
  • Long Keel
  • Long Oak
  • Long Serpent
  • Long Snekkja
  • Luck Bringer
  • Lyngbakr

M: 16 names

  • Magnus's Bison
  • Mail Biter
  • Margýgr
  • Mariasuden
  • Marsvín
  • Mast Breaker
  • Merchant's Luck
  • Midgard Serpent
  • Miðgarðsormr
  • Miklagard Farer
  • Miklagarðsfari
  • Mjölnir
  • Monk's Terror
  • Mother of Oars
  • Munin
  • Muspell Fire

N: 17 names

  • Naglfar
  • Náttfari
  • Náttúlfr
  • Neck Cleaver
  • Nidhogg
  • Níðhöggr
  • Night Farer
  • Night Wanderer
  • Nine Sisters
  • Níu Systr
  • Njarðargjöf
  • Njord's Daughter
  • Norðfari
  • Norðrljós
  • Norn's Thread
  • North Star
  • Northern Light

O: 19 names

  • Oak Swan
  • Oar Steed
  • Oar Treader
  • Odin's Eagle
  • Odin's Raven
  • Odin's Spear
  • Óðinshrafn
  • Óðinsörn
  • Olaf's Crane
  • Orkneyjahrafn
  • Ormen Lange
  • Ormen Skamme
  • Ormr í Auga
  • Ormrinn Langi
  • Ormurinn
  • Örninn
  • Oseberg
  • Ottar
  • Otter of the Sound

P: 9 names

  • Paris Raider
  • Pearl of the Fjord
  • Prancing Horse
  • Pride of Ribe
  • Pride of Roskilde
  • Pride of Trondheim
  • Proud Prow
  • Proud Stag
  • Prow Dweller

Q: 2 names

  • Queen's Swan
  • Quernbiter

R: 23 names

  • Ragnar's Raven
  • Ragnars Gjöf
  • Ran's Net
  • Ránardóttir
  • Ránarmarr
  • Ránarnet
  • Ratatoskr
  • Rauðdreki
  • Rauðsegl
  • Raven Banner
  • Raven Feeder
  • Raven of Hedeby
  • Raven of Jorvik
  • Raven's Feast
  • Raven's Flight
  • Red Beard
  • Red Drake
  • Red Sail
  • Red Striped Sail
  • Red Tide
  • Rollo's Gift
  • Roskilde Six
  • Rower's Luck

S: 90 names

  • Sædís
  • Sædreki
  • Sæfari
  • Saga Oseberg
  • Sæhestr
  • Sæhrímnir
  • Sækonungr
  • Salt Raven
  • Salt Wind
  • Sæormr
  • Sæúlfr
  • Sævargr
  • Saxon's Bane
  • Screaming Eagle
  • Sea Bear
  • Sea Bride
  • Sea Crane
  • Sea Eagle
  • Sea King's Gift
  • Sea Queen
  • Sea Raven
  • Sea Serpent
  • Sea Stallion
  • Sea Stallion of Glendalough
  • Sea Witch
  • Sea Wolf
  • Seal's Bath
  • Sebbe Als
  • Selr
  • Serpent of Birka
  • Serpent's Coil
  • Serpent's Daughter
  • Serpent's Kiss
  • Sharp Tooth
  • Shield Biter
  • Shield Wall
  • Short Serpent
  • Sigrdrífa
  • Sigrid's Swan
  • Sigrsæla
  • Sigrún
  • Silfrhestr
  • Silver Swan
  • Singing Swan
  • Sixty Oars

S, continued

  • Skaði
  • Skadi's Wolf
  • Skallagrim's Forge
  • Skeiðin Langa
  • Skeiðin Mikla
  • Skíðblaðnir
  • Skinfaxi
  • Skjaldbaki
  • Skofnung
  • Skofnungr
  • Skögul
  • Skuld
  • Skuldelev Two
  • Skull Splitter
  • Sleipnir
  • Sly Fox
  • Snake in the Eye
  • Snekkjan Hvíta
  • Snow Swan
  • Sólarsteinn
  • Sólfari
  • Son of the Sea
  • Spear Rain
  • Spray Falcon
  • Stag of Uppsala
  • Stallion of Orkney
  • Stálnef
  • Steed of the Swan Road
  • Stern Dragon
  • Storm Crane
  • Storm Raven
  • Storm Rider
  • Stormfákr
  • Strandvörðr
  • Striped Sail
  • Sun Stone
  • Surtr's Fire
  • Svanr
  • Svarthrafn
  • Swan of the Sound
  • Swan's Neck
  • Swan's Road
  • Sweyn's Wolf
  • Swift Falcon
  • Sword Fish

T: 20 names

  • Tall Pine
  • Tarred Hull
  • Tern of the Skerries
  • The Bison
  • The Crane
  • Thirty Benches
  • Thor's Goat
  • Thor's Hammer
  • Thorfinn's Gift
  • Thunder Serpent
  • Tide Runner
  • Þórsgjöf
  • Town Breaker
  • Trade Wind
  • Trader's Pride
  • Tranen
  • Troll's Bane
  • Tryggvason's Pride
  • Tyrfing
  • Tyrfingr

U: 3 names

  • Ugla
  • Úlfr
  • Unnr

V: 15 names

  • Valhrafn
  • Valkyrie's Choice
  • Valkyrie's Steed
  • Valkyrjan
  • Valr
  • Vargr
  • Vestfari
  • Victory Bringer
  • Víðförull
  • Vígbrandr
  • Víkingrinn
  • Vindfákr
  • Vindhrafn
  • Vínlandsfari
  • Visundr

W: 28 names

  • Wall Breaker
  • War Banner
  • War Horn
  • War Hound
  • War Tide
  • Wave Cleaver
  • Wave Daughters
  • Wave Stallion
  • Wave Treader
  • Wave Wolf
  • Wayfinder
  • Whale Rider
  • White Hart
  • White Horse
  • Wild Boar
  • Wild Goose
  • Wild Hunt
  • Wild Swan
  • Wind Bride
  • Wind Swan
  • Wolf Feeder
  • Wolf of Dublin
  • Wolf of the Isles
  • Wolf's Howl
  • Woollen Sail
  • World Ash
  • World Serpent
  • Wyrd

Y: 1 name

  • Yggdrasil