Odin

♂ Boy

Pronounced OH-din /ˈoʊdɪn/High

Meaning: From Old Norse Óðinn, derived from óðr meaning 'fury,' 'inspiration,' or 'ecstasy,' the name of the chief god in Norse mythologyHigh

In 30 seconds: Odin is the name of the Norse All-Father god — a bold, mythological choice riding the wave of Viking-inspired naming. Strong, two-syllable, and unmistakably powerful.

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Origin HighOld Norse, Germanic

MeaningFrom Old Norse Óðinn, derived from óðr meaning 'fury,' 'inspiration,' or 'ecstasy,' the name of the chief god in Norse mythology

U.S. rank (2025)#502 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births604 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 13,273

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Odin derives from Old Norse Óðinn, the chief deity of the Norse pantheon. The Proto-Germanic root *wōðanaz gives the same source to the Germanic god Wodan (whose name underlies Wednesday — Wōdnesdæg). Odin was the god of wisdom, war, death, poetry, and magic.

As a given name, Odin was historically rare outside Scandinavia, where it carried near-taboo weight as a divine name. Its modern use in English-speaking countries surged in the 2010s alongside broader interest in Norse mythology, boosted by the Marvel Cinematic Universe's portrayal of Odin and the popularity of Norse-themed media.

Did you know? In Norse mythology, Odin sacrificed one of his eyes at Mimir's well to gain cosmic wisdom, and hung himself from the World Tree Yggdrasil for nine days to learn the secrets of the runes.

Overall data confidence 93%

Behind the Name — Odin — etymology and mythologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

OdinnWotanWoden

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Odin (Norse deity) (mythological)
Chief god of the Norse pantheon, associated with wisdom, war, and poetry.

If you like Odin…

Thor— fellow Norse mythology deity name with the same bold mythological energy

Loki— another Norse god name rising on the same pop-culture wave

Axel— Scandinavian-rooted boys' name with strong, sharp appeal

Oden— alternate spelling of the same name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Odin mean?

Odin comes from Old Norse Óðinn, derived from óðr meaning 'fury' or 'divine inspiration.' He was the chief god of Norse mythology.

How do you pronounce Odin?

It is said OH-din — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Odin a boy or girl name?

Odin is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Odin?

Odin has risen dramatically in the U.S. since around 2013 and ranked in the top 200 boys' names by the mid-2020s.