Names Inspired by Remarkable Personal Traits or VirtuesĬhoosing names associated with remarkable personal traits or virtues was another naming convention widely spread among Vikings. In the second case, one part of the name is altered, while the rest remains constant. In the first case, the same sound/vowel was present at the beginning of the child’s name (the examples mentioned above of the female names starting with “As” would fall into this category). Two other popular naming conventions were alliteration and variation. Making female names using the Old Norse particle “As” (‘god’), like in Astrid, Asgerd, and Ashild was also a way for some Viking parents to try to endow their daughters with divine qualities. For instance, the name Hilda (‘figther’), inspired by one of Odin’s Valkyries, was a very popular choice for girls. However, adopting the name of other mythological characters, such as minor divinities or heroines, was also common. Vikings also used to name their daughters after goddesses, such as Hel (the goddess of the Norse underworld), Freya (the goddess of love and fertility), or Idun (the goddess of youth and spring), among others. Named After a Norse Goddess or Other Types of Mythological Characters In the case of girls, some examples of this tradition are names such as Dahlia (‘valley’), Revna (‘raven’), Kelda (‘fountain’), Gertrud (‘spear’), Randi (‘shield’), among others. Names Inspired by Natural Elements or Weaponsīeing pagans and warriors, it wasn’t uncommon for Vikings to look into nature and their arsenal when looking for inspiration for choosing their kids’ names. In some cases, ancestors’ common names could also be inherited. Due to this tradition, the same female names tended to remain within the same families for long periods of time. This also applied if the mother of the child died while giving birth. If a relative died while the child was still in the womb, this event very often decided the upcoming baby’s name. At the root of this tradition was the belief that part of a dead relative’s essence (or knowledge) was transmitted to the newborn along with her name. Named After a Dead Relativeįor the Vikings, who believed that ancestors should be venerated, naming their daughters after a close deceased relative (such as a grandmother) was a way to pay respects to the dead. In this article, we will provide some examples of how each of these naming conventions worked. It’s worth mentioning that Vikings didn’t have surnames as we understand them today.
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