Norse Boy Names
156 norse boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
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Norse boy names tend to land like a closed door — short, blunt, no apology in it. That is the appeal, and it is why this small list punches so far above its size. Ari means eagle in Old Norse and is one of the cleanest two-syllable names in circulation. Ralph is much fiercer than its cardigan reputation suggests: it comes from Radulfr, counsel plus wolf, and it is quietly ripe for a vintage revival. Axl is the Scandinavian spelling that rock and roll made permanent, and Howard carries an Old Norse guardian element under its very English surface.
Beyond the classics this group turns delightfully odd, which is exactly why some parents come looking. Kolby ends in the Old Norse -by, a farmstead or settlement, the same element scattered across every map of northern England the Vikings left behind. Tage is a genuine Scandinavian rarity in the States. Riven, Creek and Rayne sit at the frontier where Norse roots meet modern American invention, while Cory, Ronnie and Dusty are the warm, worn-in options with a whole different kind of nostalgia. And yes, Elvis is here, with a Norse-derived history that long predates Memphis. There are 131 boy names of Norse origin in our database.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its Old Norse or saga origin, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Norse Boy Names
Ari#393 in the U.S.From Hebrew Ari meaning lion; also a short form of Ariel (lion of God) or Aristotle; in Old Nor▶Ronnie#995 in the U.S.Ruler's counsel; wise ruler; an English pet form of Ronald, from Old Norse Rögnvaldr (regin: co▶Eider#1020 in the U.S.Possibly from Basque eider (beautiful) or from Old Norse aedhr (the eider duck); exact etymolog▶Axl#1027 in the U.S.Father of peace; from Old Norse Áskell (divine kettle/cauldron) or Germanic Axel, a Scandinavia▶Howard#1056 in the U.S.High guardian or sheep herder; from Old Norse Hávarðr (hay guardian, yard guardian) or Old Germ▶Cory#1093 in the U.S.Hollow; god's peace; from Irish Gaelic coire (hollow, cauldron) or Old Norse kori (hollow); als▶Ralph#1152 in the U.S.Wolf counsel; advice from the wolf; from Old Norse Ráðúlfr (ráð: counsel + úlfr: wolf)▶Elvis#1169 in the U.S.All wise; elf friend; from Old Norse Álvís (all-wise) or Elf + wise (elfin wisdom)▶Kolby#1268 in the U.S.Dark village, coal town▶Iverson#1352 in the U.S.Son of Ivar; son of the archer▶Rayne#2275 in the U.S.rain, counsel-power▶Roald#3284 in the U.S.Roald is a Norwegian name from the Old Norse Hrodvaldr, combining hrod, 'fame,' with valdr, 'ru▶Oley#3519 in the U.S.Oley is a variant of Ole, the Norwegian and Danish short form of Olaf, from the Old Norse 'Anle▶Riven#3752 in the U.S.From the English word riven, 'split, torn' (Old Norse rifa) — also a Myst game and League champ▶Rollins#3753 in the U.S.Patronymic surname from Rollo/Rowland lines — 'son of little Rollo', Rollo the Viking's 'famous▶Creek#3896 in the U.S.From the English word creek — Old Norse kriki, 'nook, bend' — the small-stream nature name▶Dusty#4088 in the U.S.Pet form of Dustin — from Norse Thorsteinn, 'Thor's stone', or an English 'dusty area' place-na▶Selmer#4122 in the U.S.Selmer is a Scandinavian masculine name related to Selma and, more distantly, to Anselm ('god-h▶Tage#4161 in the U.S.From Danish/Swedish Tage — likely from Old Norse Taki, 'to take, receive', or linked to 'day'; ▶Dahl#4166 in the U.S.Dahl is a Scandinavian surname turned given name, from the Old Norse dalr, 'valley' or 'dale' -▶Erlin#4218 in the U.S.Latino name linked to Norse Erling, 'descendant of the jarl (nobleman)'; also a modern coinage;▶Erby#4567 in the U.S.Erby reads as either a variant of the surname Irby, from an Old Norse place name joining a pers▶Kelson#4625 in the U.S.From an English surname — 'son of Kell' (a Norse-derived name), or a nautical term for a keel-t▶Kelce#4784 in the U.S.From Kelsey/Kelce — Old English, 'Cenel's island', or Norse 'ship-victory'; also the Kelce surn▶Nori#4817 in the U.S.From Japanese nori, 'belief, doctrine, law, ceremony' (meaning depends on kanji); also Nori, a ▶Rigby#4995 in the U.S.From an English surname — from Old Norse hryggr, 'a ridge', plus byr, 'a farm/settlement' — 'th▶Dayne#5086 in the U.S.-ay- spelling of Dane/Dean — 'a Dane (from Denmark)', or from Old English denu, 'a valley'; rou▶Odyn#5177 in the U.S.-y- spelling of Odin — from Old Norse Odinn, 'frenzy, fury, inspiration' — the chief god of Nor▶Ole#5178 in the U.S.Scandinavian form of Olaf/Olav — from Old Norse Anleifr, 'ancestor's descendant; heir, relic'▶Arkyn#5241 in the U.S.Modern coinage/-yn spelling of Arkin/Arken — possibly from Old Norse Arnkell ('eagle-cauldron/h▶Dain#5264 in the U.S.Spelling of Dane — 'a Dane, from Denmark'; also the Norse Dain, a dwarf-king of myth (Tolkien's▶Garth#5283 in the U.S.From an English surname — from Old Norse garthr, 'an enclosure, a garden, a yard' — 'one who li▶Moxon#5359 in the U.S.From an English surname — 'son of Mock/Magg' (a pet form of Margaret or Magnus); also echoes 'm▶Olyver#5374 in the U.S.-y- spelling of Oliver — from Latin oliva, 'olive tree' (a symbol of peace), or Old Norse Aleif▶Torsten#5408 in the U.S.From Old Norse Thorsteinn, 'Thor's stone', from Thor (the thunder god) plus steinn, 'stone'▶Dansby#5471 in the U.S.From the English surname Dansby — likely 'the Dane's settlement or farm' (a personal name plus ▶Fenrir#5499 in the U.S.From Old Norse Fenrir — a great monstrous wolf of Norse mythology, possibly 'fen-dweller, marsh▶Latham#5551 in the U.S.From the English surname Latham — from Old Norse hlaða, 'a barn' — 'the place of the barns; (th▶Trigg#5618 in the U.S.From the surname Trigg — from Old Norse tryggr, 'true, trusty, faithful, trustworthy'▶Ashby#5664 in the U.S.From the English surname Ashby — from Old Norse, 'the farm/settlement by the ash trees' (askr, ▶Eero#5706 in the U.S.The Finnish form of Eric — from Old Norse Eirikr, 'ever-ruler; eternal ruler' (ei, 'ever', plus▶Erich#5712 in the U.S.The German form of Eric — from Old Norse Eirikr, 'ever-ruler; eternal ruler' (ei, 'ever', plus ▶Hakan#5729 in the U.S.From Turkish hakan, 'a sovereign ruler, an emperor, a khan of khans'; also the Scandinavian Håk▶Ymir#5867 in the U.S.From Norse myth — Ymir, the primordial frost-giant from whose body the world was made; the name▶Ase#5908 in the U.S.From Old Norse ass/ase, 'a god; one of the Aesir (the Norse gods)'; also a Scandinavian name el▶Eirik#5963 in the U.S.The Norwegian form of Eric — from Old Norse Eiríkr, 'the eternal/ever ruler' or 'the sole ruler▶Ozlo#6083 in the U.S.A modern coined name echoing Onslow ('the meadow of the enthusiast/of the gods', Old English) a▶Copelan#6218 in the U.S.A spelling of Copeland — from Old Norse kaupa-land, 'bought land; purchased land' (a place-name▶Haakon#6259 in the U.S.From Old Norse Hakon — variously 'a high son; a chosen son' and 'of the high/exalted race' (ha,▶Ivor#6268 in the U.S.From Old Norse Ivarr — variously 'a yew bow; an archer' and 'a bow warrior' (yr, 'yew/bow', plu▶Kelby#6305 in the U.S.From the Norse/English place-name Kelby — variously 'a farm by the spring' and 'a dwelling plac▶Arvie#6321 in the U.S.Arvie is best read as a pet form, most likely of Arvid, an Old Norse name from arn, 'eagle', an▶Olliver#6365 in the U.S.A spelling of Oliver — variously 'the olive tree' (Latin oliva, a symbol of peace) and an echo ▶Osborne#6367 in the U.S.From Old English/Norse os, 'a god', plus beorn, 'a bear; a warrior'; 'a divine bear; a god-warr▶Jonerik#6376 in the U.S.Jonerik is a run-together compound of two classic Scandinavian names: Jon, a Nordic form of Joh▶Raynor#6381 in the U.S.From the Germanic/Norse Ragnar/Rayner — from ragin, 'counsel, advice; judgment', plus hari, 'ar▶Tayte#6406 in the U.S.A spelling of Tate — from Old Norse teitr, 'cheerful, glad'; also an Old English byname Tata▶Aarik#6444 in the U.S.A spelling of Aric/Eric — from Old Norse, 'ever-ruler; eternal ruler' (ei, 'ever, always', plus▶Alvis#6459 in the U.S.From Old Norse Alviss, 'all-wise; very wise' (al, 'all', plus viss, 'wise') — the name of a wis▶Ericson#6544 in the U.S.From a Scandinavian surname — 'son of Eric', from Old Norse, 'ever-ruler; eternal ruler'▶Even#6547 in the U.S.A Norwegian form of Eivind — from Old Norse, variously 'a lucky/blessed warrior' and 'an island▶Harald#6573 in the U.S.A Scandinavian form of Harold — from Old Norse Haraldr, 'army ruler; ruler of the host' (herr, ▶Jerick#6606 in the U.S.A modern blend joining a Je- element with Erick (from Norse, 'ever-ruler; eternal ruler'); also▶Osmond#6702 in the U.S.From Old English/Norse os, 'a god; divine', plus mund, 'protection'; 'divine protection; God's ▶Rosco#6728 in the U.S.A spelling of Roscoe — from Old Norse ra, 'a roe deer', plus skogr, 'a wood, a forest'; 'the de▶Dustyn#6921 in the U.S.A spelling of Dustin — from Old Norse Thorsteinn, 'Thor's stone', hence 'a brave warrior; a val▶Eryk#6936 in the U.S.A Polish spelling of Erik — from Old Norse, variously 'eternal ruler; ever-powerful; ruler fore▶Arvil#7008 in the U.S.Arvil is an early-twentieth-century American name, most likely a variant of Arval or Orville, o▶Erice#7557 in the U.S.Erice can be read two ways: as a variant spelling of Eric, from an Old Norse name meaning 'ever▶Trig#8232 in the U.S.Trig may derive from the Old Norse element trygg, 'true' or 'trustworthy', surviving in Scandin▶Arvis#8305 in the U.S.Arvis is best explained as a variant of Arvid, from the Old Norse Arnvithr joining orn ('eagle'▶Eivor#8479 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Eivor/Eyvor — variously 'lucky in battle' and 'island/ever cautious' (ey, 'i▶Frey#8514 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Freyr, 'a lord; an exalted one' — the Norse god of fertility, prosperity, an▶Freyr#8515 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Freyr, 'a lord; an exalted one' — the Norse god of fertility, prosperity, an▶Halden#8536 in the U.S.A form/spelling of Haldane/Halfdan — from the Old Norse halfr, 'half', + Danr, 'a Dane', hence ▶Halsten#8538 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Hallsteinn — 'a rock; a stone' (hallr, 'rock/boulder', + steinn, 'stone'), a▶Roric#8697 in the U.S.A form of Roderick and the Norse Rurik, from Germanic elements 'fame' and 'ruler' - 'famous rul▶Rane#8782 in the U.S.Variously an Old Norse name (Rani, linked to 'counsel/might') and a modern spelling of Rain/Rai▶Thorfinn#8878 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Thorfinnr — Thor (the thunder god) + finnr, 'a Finn/Sami; a wanderer', hence▶Toryn#8883 in the U.S.A form/spelling of Torin — variously 'a chief' (Irish) and 'from the crags/a hill' (linked to T▶Arland#9016 in the U.S.Variously 'the eagle land' (English, from earn + land) and a form of Erland (Old Norse, 'a fore▶Arvid#9019 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Arnvidhr — arn, 'eagle', + vidhr, 'tree/wood', hence 'eagle tree; eagle of t▶Wray#9196 in the U.S.Wray is an English surname used as a boy's given name. It comes from northern English place-nam▶Esben#9224 in the U.S.A Danish form of Asbjorn — from the Old Norse ass, 'a god', + bjorn, 'a bear', hence 'bear of G▶Fenris#9242 in the U.S.From Fenrir/Fenris — a monstrous wolf of Norse mythology, whose name is linked to 'a fen/marsh ▶Jerzey#9355 in the U.S.A spelling of Jersey — a place-name, variously 'the grassy island' and 'Geirr's island' (from t▶Mani#9436 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Mani, 'the moon'; the Norse god and personification of the moon, who guides ▶Loken#9490 in the U.S.A modern name, echoing Loki (a Norse god) and Logan ('little hollow', Gaelic); no single fixed ▶Lyall#9495 in the U.S.A Scottish surname-name from the Old Norse Liulfr — variously 'a wolf' (from the elements meani▶Nerik#9611 in the U.S.Nerik reads best as a modern reshaping of Erik, the Old Norse name from ei ('ever, always') and▶Rigsby#9656 in the U.S.An English place/surname from a Lincolnshire village — variously 'from Ricg's farmstead' (an Ol▶Taysen#9736 in the U.S.A modern spelling echoing Tyson ('son of Tait/the cheerful one', or 'a firebrand', English/Fren▶Trygve#9762 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Tryggvi — 'trustworthy; true; reliable'; borne by early Norwegian kings▶Tyke#9767 in the U.S.From the English word tyke — from the Old Norse tik, variously 'a small child/little one' (affe▶Weylon#9792 in the U.S.A spelling of Waylon — variously 'land by the road/path' (English) and linked to Wayland, the l▶Beorn#10004 in the U.S.From the Old English/Norse beorn, 'a warrior; a hero; a man' (originally 'a bear'); also a shap▶Einer#10150 in the U.S.A spelling of Einar — from the Old Norse, 'one who fights alone; a lone/bold warrior' (einn, 'o▶Gatsby#10192 in the U.S.From the Old Norse/English, 'from Gaddr's farm/settlement' (a personal name + by, 'a farmstead'▶Grim#10212 in the U.S.From the Old Norse grimr, 'a masked/hooded one; fierce'; also a byname of the god Odin (the dis▶Grimm#10213 in the U.S.From the Germanic grim, 'fierce; stern; a masked one'; a surname famous from the Brothers Grimm▶Khyell#10407 in the U.S.A modern given name whose sound echoes the Scandinavian Kjell ('cauldron; helmet') and Kyle ('n▶Krosby#10437 in the U.S.A spelling of Crosby, from an Old Norse place-name, 'the village/farm by the crosses' (kross, '▶Torrie#10610 in the U.S.Torrie is a pet form used for boys as a short version of names like Torrance (a Scottish surnam▶Tor#10695 in the U.S.The Scandinavian form of Thor, the Norse thunder god, from Old Norse Thorr, 'thunder.' Separate▶Aeric#10934 in the U.S.Aeric is a modern respelling of Eric (also spelled Aric), from the Old Norse Eirikr, usually re▶Alvi#10974 in the U.S.Alvi reads most often as a short form of Alvin/Alwin, from Old English/Norse elements meaning '▶Coleby#11003 in the U.S.Coleby is a variant spelling of Colby, an English surname and place name from the Old Norse per▶Arne#11018 in the U.S.Arne is a Scandinavian name from Old Norse 'orn' ('eagle'), a short form of names like Arnold o▶Asmund#11029 in the U.S.Asmund (Asmundr) is an Old Norse name from 'ass' ('god') and 'mund' ('protection, hand') — 'div▶Baldur#11066 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Baldr, variously 'the shining one; brave/bold; lord/prince'; the beloved Nor▶Colbie#11160 in the U.S.A spelling of Colby, an English place and surname name from the Old Norse 'Koli's settlement' o▶Durin#11255 in the U.S.From Old Norse myth, Durin (Durinn) is a dwarf named in the Poetic Edda, possibly linked to a r▶Dusten#11256 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Dustin, from the Old Norse Thorsteinn, 'Thor's stone,' often read as 'bra▶Eivin#11269 in the U.S.A form of the Scandinavian Eivind/Eyvind, from Old Norse elements read as 'lucky warrior' or 'i▶Erek#11288 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Eric, from the Old Norse Eirikr, 'eternal ruler' or 'ever-powerful' (ei, ▶Kjell#11509 in the U.S.Kjell is a Norwegian and Swedish name derived from the Old Norse Ketill, meaning a cauldron or ▶Kerby#11654 in the U.S.A spelling of Kirby, from Old Norse elements kirkja, 'church', and byr, 'settlement; village', ▶Ronney#11854 in the U.S.Ronney is a spelling variant of Ronnie, the pet form of Ronald, from the Old Norse 'Rognvaldr',▶Erric#11905 in the U.S.Erric is a doubled-r spelling of Eric, from the Old Norse Eirikr, usually read as 'ever-ruler' ▶Trask#11960 in the U.S.Trask is an English surname pressed into use as a given name. It is generally traced to an Old ▶Rondal#11973 in the U.S.Rondal is a regional American given name, most plausibly a spoken variant of Ronald (from Old N▶Rolf#12013 in the U.S.A contraction of the Norse/Germanic Hrolf (Hrodwulf), hrod ('fame') + wulf ('wolf') - 'famous w▶Rorick#12021 in the U.S.A form of Roderick/Rurik, from Germanic hrod ('fame') + ric ('ruler; power') - 'famous ruler.' ▶Vali#12134 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Vali, of uncertain meaning (variously 'the chosen one; a warrior'); a son of▶Vidar#12206 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Vidarr, variously 'the wide ruler' or 'the forest/wide warrior' (vidr, 'wide▶Vili#12208 in the U.S.Vili is the name of a Norse god, one of the brothers of Odin who helped shape the world; separa▶Brit#12303 in the U.S.Brit is a short form of Britton or Brittany (from the region of Brittany and ultimately the Bri▶Alrik#12402 in the U.S.Alrik is a Scandinavian/Norse form of Alaric, from Germanic elements meaning 'noble' or 'all' p▶Anker#12433 in the U.S.Anker is a Danish/Scandinavian name, associated with 'anchor' (a symbol of hope and steadfastne▶Corby#12495 in the U.S.An English place-name and surname (Corby, in Northamptonshire), likely from the Old Norse 'Kori▶Errick#12823 in the U.S.Errick is a spelling variant of Eric, from the Old Norse Eirikr, from ei ('ever; always') and r▶Herrick#12943 in the U.S.From the English surname Herrick, traced to the Old Norse personal name Eirikr, 'ever-ruler' (f▶Lamonta#13254 in the U.S.Lamonta reads as an -a extension of Lamont, a Scottish surname turned given name that comes fro▶Lamon#13265 in the U.S.Lamon is best read as a shortened or respelled form of Lamont, a Scottish surname from the Gael▶Kolbi#13324 in the U.S.Kolbi is a modern respelling of Colby, an English surname from Old Norse place names built on k▶Kolbie#13325 in the U.S.Kolbie is a modern -ie respelling of Colby, the English surname from Old Norse kolr ('coal'; al▶Koree#13329 in the U.S.Koree is a modern respelling of Corey, itself from the Irish surname O Comhraidhe and, by anoth▶Lemont#13461 in the U.S.Lemont is a variant spelling of Lamont, a Scottish surname from the Old Norse personal name Log▶Olaf#13645 in the U.S.From Old Norse Áleifr/Óláfr, from anu ('ancestor') and leifr ('heir; descendant') — 'ancestor's▶Rurik#13773 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Hroerekr, 'famous ruler' - the name of Rurik, the Varangian (Viking) prince ▶Rolph#13789 in the U.S.Rolph is a spelling of Rolf, from the Old Norse Hrolfr — a contraction of Hrodulf, 'famous wolf▶Ullr#13972 in the U.S.From the Old Norse Ullr, 'glory; the glorious one'; the Norse god of archery, skiing, hunting, ▶Thurmond#13992 in the U.S.Thurmond is a variant of the surname Thurman, from Old Norse Thormundr, combining the god-name ▶Taite#14007 in the U.S.Taite is a spelling variant of Tate, an English surname turned first name. Tate comes from the ▶Willoughby#14119 in the U.S.From English place-names in Lincolnshire and elsewhere, combining Old English 'willow' with the▶Therman#14192 in the U.S.Therman is a spelling variant of the surname-name Thurman, from Old Norse Thormundr, 'protected▶AegirFrom the Old Norse Aegir, 'the sea' (variously 'the terrifier'); the Norse sea-giant/god who br▶BaldrThe Old Norse spelling of Baldur, variously 'the shining one; brave/bold; lord/prince'; the bel▶BragiFrom the Old Norse Bragi, variously 'poetry; the poet' (bragr, 'poetry/eloquence') or 'the best▶DagrFrom the Old Norse Dagr, 'day'; the Norse god and personification of the day, son of Nott (Nigh▶ForsetiFrom the Old Norse Forseti, 'the presiding one; the chairman/president' (fyrir, 'before', + set▶HeimdallFrom the Old Norse Heimdallr, variously 'the one who illuminates the world; world-brightener' (▶KvasirFrom the Old Norse Kvasir, linked to 'fermented drink/mash' (kvas); the wise being created from▶MimirFrom the Old Norse Mimir, 'the rememberer; the wise one' (linked to a root meaning 'memory/to t▶NjordFrom the Old Norse Njordr, variously linked to 'strength; vigor'; the Norse god of the sea, win▶SleipnirFrom the Old Norse Sleipnir, 'the slipper; the gliding/sliding one'; Odin's eight-legged horse,▶
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Frequently Asked
What are the most popular Norse boy names?
In current U.S. birth data the front-runners are Ari, Ronnie, Axl and Howard, with several rarer options further down this page.
What does Ari mean?
Ari is an Old Norse name meaning eagle, and it was borne by the medieval Icelandic historian Ari the Wise. It also exists independently in Hebrew, which its name page explains in full.
Are Viking names hard to pronounce in English?
Some are, because Old Norse used sounds and letters English dropped long ago. Every name page on this site includes an audio pronunciation so you can hear a workable modern reading rather than guessing.