110+ Norse Viking Dog Names (With Definitions)
James Livingood has been a dog sitter for several years. He has written numerous articles and a book about the topic because he loves dogs.
The simple truth is that Vikings loved their dogs. Many graves of Viking heroes included the skeleton of their faithful canines. Breeds of Old Norse dogs include the Elkhound, Lundehund, Buhund, and more.
This ancient relationship mainly relied on two types of dogs: hunters and herders. The hunting dogs were so big that they could take down elk, moose, and bears. The herding dogs were energetic and were often with them as they discovered new lands.
As you start your relationship with your dog, honor them with a Viking dog name!
Viking Dog Names: A–E
Name | Definition |
---|---|
Aegir | a sea god, husband of Ran, and host at feast of the gods spoiled by Loki. |
Agnar | awe, terror and edge of a sword |
Alfheim | the domain of elves. |
Alfhild | elf and battle |
Alfvin | elf and friend |
Algautr | elf and Geat, Goth |
Alvar | elf and warrior |
Arvid | eagle and tree |
Asgard | the home of the Aesir and location of Valhalla |
Asger | god and spear |
Aslaug | figure in Norse mythology, the third wife of Ragnar Lodbrok |
Astrid | divine strength |
Audhild | wealth, fortune and battle |
Axel | Medieval form of ABSALOM. |
Baggi | bag, pack |
Balder | a god, a son of Odin and Frigg and the twin brother of Hod, by whom he was killed. |
Bergljot | protection, help and light |
Berserker | Old Norse warriors fighting in a fury |
Bestla | Norse mythical character |
Birger | help, save, rescue |
Bjarte | bright |
Bodil | remedy and battle |
Bodolf | Norwegian politician |
Borghild | fortification and battle |
Borr | Norse mythical character |
Bragi | the god of poetry and eloquence, son of Odin, husband of Idun: may be an apotheosis of the 9th-century poet Bragi Boddason. |
Brandr | sword or fire |
Brynhildr | She accused Sigurd of taking her virginity, spurring Gunnar to arrange Sigurd's murder. |
Brynja | armour |
Brynjar | armour and warrior |
Buri | the first of the gods, revealed when the cow Audhumla licked away the salty ice that covered him. |
Dag | day |
Dagmar | day and maid |
Dagny | day and new |
Draugr | Undead creature from Norse mythology |
Einar | one, alone and warrior |
Eirik | Norwegian form of ERIC |
Eric The Red | Norse explorer |
Eysteinn | island or good fortune and stone |
F–L
Name | Definition |
---|---|
Fenrir | Monstrous wolf in Norse mythology |
Folke | people |
Freya | the goddess of love and fertility, sister of Frey, daughter of Njord; one of the Vanir. |
Frigg | wife of Odin and chief of the goddesses. |
Fritjof | thief of peace |
Frode | learned, wise |
Garmr | A wolf or dog described as a guardian of Hel's gate. |
Geir | spear |
Gunnar | the husband of Brynhild: corresponds to Gunther in the Nibelungenlied. |
Gunne | war |
Hallr | rock |
Halstein | rock and stone |
Halvard | rock guardian |
Heimdallr | the god of dawn and light. |
Hel | the goddess ruling Niflheim: a daughter of Loki and Angerboda. |
Helge | holy, blessed |
Herja | valkyrie |
Herleifr | army and son, descendant |
Hildr | In Norse legend this was the name of a valkyrie. |
Hjalmar | helmeted warrior |
Hoenir | a god, one of the Aesir, companion of Odin and Loki, hostage to the Vanir. |
Holger | island and spear |
Hrafn | raven |
Hrafnhildr | raven and battle |
Hugi | a young man, a personification of thought, who defeated Thialfi in a race. |
Huginn | Pair of birds in Norse mythology |
Hugleikr | heart, mind, spirit and leikr play |
Idun | a goddess, keeper of the apples of youth and wife of Bragi |
Ingrid | Old Norse name meaning Ing is beautiful |
Ironside | a strong person with great power of endurance or resistance. |
Ivar | Scandinavian form of IVOR. |
Ivar The Boneless | King of Jorvik |
Jormungandr | sea serpent in Norse mythology |
Jotun | any of a race of giants frequently in conflict with the gods. |
Kraken | a legendary sea monster causing large whirlpools off the coast of Norway. |
Lagertha | Legendary Viking shieldmaiden and ruler |
Laufey | Norse mythical character |
Loki | a trickster god, born of Jotun ancestry but accepted among the Aesir |
Read More From Pethelpful
Viking Dog Names: M–Z
Name | Definition |
---|---|
Magnus | the Great Year: a cycle of years, usually a thousand, that begins with a Golden Age |
Mani | another name for Manes. |
Mjollnir | Hammer of the god Thor in Norse mythology |
Muninn | Pair of birds in Norse mythology |
Nanna | the wife of Balder. |
Njord | One of the Vanir, a group of gods within Norse mythology |
Norns | an extinct Norse dialect, spoken until early modern times |
Odin | the ruler of the Aesir and god of war, poetry, knowledge, and wisdom; Wotan: the chief god. |
Olaf | ancestor's descendant |
Osborn | god and bear |
Ragna | advice, counsel |
Ragnarok | End times in Norse mythology |
Raider | a person or thing that raids. |
Randolf | rim (of a shield) and wolf |
Ratatoskr | Norse mythical animal |
Reidar | nest, home and warrior |
Rollo Of Normandy | 9th- and 10th-century Viking and later count of Normandy |
Rune | a script used for writing the Germanic languages, especially of use in Scandinavia and Britain |
Saga | Prose stories, mostly concerning ancient Nordic history |
Sigrid | victory and beautiful, fair |
Sigurdr | Fictional character in Germanic and Norse mythology |
Sigyn | wife of Loki, who held a cup over Loki after his imprisonment |
Skadi | Norse goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains |
Skirnir | the servant of Frey: symbol of the sun. |
Skoll | animal in Norse mythology |
Solveig | sun and strength |
Steinn | Old Norse and Icelandic form of STEN. |
Surtr | Norse mythical character |
Thiazi | Norse mythical character |
Thor | the god of thunder, rain, and farming, represented as riding a chariot drawn by goats and wielding the hammer Mjolnir |
Tyr | the god of strife. |
Urd | fate |
Valkyrie | any of the beautiful maidens attendant upon Odin who bring souls to Valhalla |
Vallhalla | City & Municipality in Norway |
Varg | wolves in Norse mythology |
Varulv | Mythological human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolflike creature |
Vegard | holy and enclosure |
Vidar | a son of Odin, who will survive Ragnarok after killing Fenrir. |
Vili | Norse gods |
Ymir | Primeval being in Norse mythology |
3 Tips for Choosing a Norse Dog Name
With so many choices it can become very difficult to find the name that fits your hound. This quick synopsis will aim to help you determine how to better isolate the name that suits your dog.
1. Role in a Legend
The most common way to choose a name is to find which legend you best identify with. If you love how Thor interacts with the other pantheon, perhaps that is worthy of note. Maybe you love how tricky Loki is, and that reflects how smart and adaptive your canine is.
2. Old Norse Ancient Words
Many of the suggestions on this list are based on the ancient dialect that Vikings once spoke. Those Old Norse words often had meanings smooshed together. For example, they may smoosh together "battle" and "shield" to help emphasize strong determination. Looking to this ancient dialect can help find the best name.
3. Look to Nature
The stories and legends of ancient times were often inspired by the beauty that surrounded these people. This same natural beauty exists today and can be a wonderful source of inspiration. From crashing beach waves to snow-capped mountains, to pristine lakes, Norway is a beautiful country with amazing scenery.
Now that you've reviewed these tips, feel free to take a fresh look at the names above. Alternatively, if you prefer to watch a video to help with name selection, take a look at the video below.
© 2020 James Livingood