The north-folk carry two names: their own, and their father's with a tail on it. Sigrun Ragnarsdottir is Sigrun, Ragnar's daughter; her brother is Ulfar Ragnarsson. The family name changes every generation, which keeps genealogists employed and grudges precise.
The elements are real old-northern words and the grimoire deals them with their true meanings: bjorn is bear, sig is victory, hild is battle, run is secret lore. Astrid is divine beauty; Thorstein is thunder-stone. A northern name is a small prayer for the child: name her battle and she will find some, name him heir and hope the inheritance survives him.
Names in the north must pass one test above all: a shouted storm at sea. Every element is short, hard, and audible over weather. This is why there are no northern wizards named Hieronymus. There are, however, several named Grim, and their colleagues have learned not to comment.
The elements of the old tongue
Bjorn- bear
Sig- victory
Ragn- counsel of the gods
Thor- thunder
Ast- divine beauty
Ei- ever, always
Frey- lord
Gud- god-touched
Hall- flat stone
Ing- of the harvest god
Jor- horse
Ketil- cauldron-helm
Female Viking Names
- Astdis Ragnarsdottir "divine beauty goddess"; daughter of Ragnar, warrior of the gods
- Ulfgerd Bjornsdottir "wolf protection"; daughter of Bjorn, bear
- Sighild Bjornsdottir "victory battle"; daughter of Bjorn, bear
- Ingrun Bjornsdottir "of the harvest god secret"; daughter of Bjorn, bear
- Thorrun Torstensdottir "thunder secret"; daughter of Torsten, thunder-stone
- Ragnrun Ivarsdottir "counsel of the gods secret"; daughter of Ivar, bow-warrior
- Inga Ivarsdottir "of the harvest god of the fjord"; daughter of Ivar, bow-warrior
- Ulfrun Ivarsdottir "wolf secret"; daughter of Ivar, bow-warrior
- Ketilhild Olafsdottir "cauldron-helm battle"; daughter of Olaf, ancestor's heir
- Ragnhild Olafsdottir "counsel of the gods battle"; daughter of Olaf, ancestor's heir
- Hallunn Torstensdottir "flat stone beloved"; daughter of Torsten, thunder-stone
- Bjorngerd Ragnarsdottir "bear protection"; daughter of Ragnar, warrior of the gods
- Bjornunn Olafsdottir "bear beloved"; daughter of Olaf, ancestor's heir
- Ingveig Haraldsdottir "of the harvest god strength"; daughter of Harald, army-ruler
- Oddhild Leifsdottir "spear-point battle"; daughter of Leif, heir
- Eirun Haraldsdottir "ever, always secret"; daughter of Harald, army-ruler
Male Viking Names
- Oddmund Eriksson "spear-point protector"; son of Erik, ever-ruler
- Thorbjorn Torstensson "thunder bear"; son of Torsten, thunder-stone
- Ragngrim Torstensson "counsel of the gods masked"; son of Torsten, thunder-stone
- Valistein Knutsson "chosen stone"; son of Knut, knot
- Freybjorn Bjornsson "lord bear"; son of Bjorn, bear
- Hallvald Stensson "flat stone ruler"; son of Sten, stone
- Sigar Knutsson "victory warrior"; son of Knut, knot
- Gudmund Olafsson "god-touched protector"; son of Olaf, ancestor's heir
- Ketilmund Ragnarsson "cauldron-helm protector"; son of Ragnar, warrior of the gods
- Astulf Knutsson "divine beauty wolf"; son of Knut, knot
- Freygar Ivarsson "lord spear"; son of Ivar, bow-warrior
- Freygrim Ragnarsson "lord masked"; son of Ragnar, warrior of the gods
- Valigar Torstensson "chosen spear"; son of Torsten, thunder-stone
- Ulfmund Leifsson "wolf protector"; son of Leif, heir
- Runemund Ragnarsson "secret lore protector"; son of Ragnar, warrior of the gods
- Sigmund Ivarsson "victory protector"; son of Ivar, bow-warrior
Noble Viking Names
- Ragni "counsel of the gods the younger"
- Guding "god-touched descendant"
- Ragne "counsel of the gods of the hall"
- Gudi "god-touched the younger"
- Siging "victory descendant"
- Ragno "counsel of the gods of the coast"
- Valie "chosen of the hall"
- Gudo "god-touched of the coast"
- Sigi "victory the younger"
- Gude "god-touched of the hall"
Margin notes
How do viking patronymics work?
Take the father's name and add -sson (son of) or -sdottir (daughter of): Leif Eriksson is Leif, Erik's son. The grimoire deals patronymics automatically, matched to the gender you choose, with the father's name meaning included.
Are these real Old Norse names?
The elements are authentic old-northern roots with their true meanings, assembled the way the historical names were. Some deals will land on names borne by real people (Bjorn, Astrid, Leif): that is how compound naming works, and the vikings would consider it a feature.
What about viking nicknames like 'Ironside'?
The north loved a byname: Harald Fairhair, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside. Deal a name here, then borrow an epithet from the pirate or surname chapters if your saga needs one. The best bynames were awarded by enemies.
Last inscribed 2026-08-16
