The Norse valkyries were female warriors who would fly into battle to bring back the souls of fallen heroes. What’s in a name? A lot it turns out! The names of Norse women warriors have been lost throughout time, but there are still many stories about them. In this blog post, we will share with you ten Viking woman names that we know from history and mythology.
In the story Völsunga saga, Brynhild was doomed by her family lineage to live as an unrecognized shield-maiden until she is needed for midwife duties at Sigurd’s birth; afterwards she becomes his first wife after being promised to him before he had met any other woman.
Helga was the daughter of Viking King Halfdan (son of Harald) and Queen Sigrid who ruled over Denmark until her death in either a sacrificial fire or by murder. Her husband Rolf Krake died on their wedding night, so she is often considered to be an early queen consort of Sweden as well.
Agnarr Lofar’s mother is not named but it has been speculated that his father may have married both Ingigerd Olafsdottir and Astrid Eriksdotter which would make her one of them with more likelihood being Astrid since there’s no mention of anything bad happening between them unlike what happened with Ingigerd! This would make her a Queen of Sweden and Denmark.
Gytha was the daughter of King Harold II Godwinson by his wife Edith Swanneck, who had previously been married to Edmund Ironside until he died years before. In 1070 she became the wife of Tosti Earl of Northumbria by whom she bore two children: Sweyn Estrithson (born c.1080) and Gyrth Haraldsson (born 1080 or later).
Thyra Danebod is notable for being one of many daughters from Viking ruler Ragnar Lodbrok’s first marriage with Kraka; as well as for having three marriages that produced five undisputed sons, four undisputed grandsons and an unknown number of daughters.
Queen consort and later second wife of Cnut the Great
Estrid “the Younger” – Wife to King Harald II Bluetooth from c.998 until his death in late 1010; mother to Sweyn I Forkbeard, Duke Olaf I Tryggvasson, Gyrth Godwinson and Harold Harefoot. She was one of the most powerful women in 11th century Scandinavia due to her connections with both German and Swedish royalty as a result of her marriages
Ingigerðr Hákonsdóttir – Half sister by paternal side of Eric III Highson or the Victorious, King of Sweden and Norway.
Lofthæna – Or Lofthanum; a valkyrie in the eddic poem Grímnismál.
Sigrlinn “the Haughty” – Wife to Erik IV Evergood, king of Denmark who reigned from 1237 until his death 18 years later. She was known for her great beauty and shrewish manners that became proverbial
Skjalfhildr Ragnarsdóttir – Skaði’s daughter with Odin or Ragnar Lodbrok; wife of Þorgerðr Hölgabrandýska aka Thrútha-Laugardóttir
Týr’s Wife – The wife of the god Týr in Norse mythology and literature. She is mentioned as an example of a woman who could be given away by her husband to another man without breaking his oath with their original agreement to share everything
Valkyries’ Names – In Old Norse, valkyrja means “chooser of the slain”, one who decides which warriors will die on each battlefield; female spirits or goddesses associated with Odin and said to bring half of those fallen in battle back from Valhalla (the Hall of the Slain) for new life
Yngvildr Þorleifsdóttir – Or Yngveld To erleifsdatter (Old Norse: Yngvildr Þorláfsdóttir) was a Viking woman from eastern Norway. She has been described as “Norway’s first female writer”
Freyja – The goddess Freyja, in Norse mythology is the daughter of Njörður and sister to Freyr; she’s married to Od
Gudrun Grønheidsskögum – Gudrun Grœnheidsskæg, on her mother-in-law Brynhildarr ‘s insistence that Hogni should marry her because he killed their son Gunnar.
Female Valkyrie Names:
- Brynhildr
- Eir
- Geirahöð
- Geiravör
- Geirdriful
- Geirönul, Geirrönul, Geirömul, Geirölul (various spellings)
- Geirskögul
- Göll
- Göndul
- Guðr or Gunnr
- Herfjötur
- Herja
- Hlaðguðr svanhvít
- Hildr
- Hjalmþrimul
- Hervör alvitr
- Hjörþrimul
- Hlökk
- Hrist
- Hrund
- Kára
- Mist
- Ölrún
- Randgríðr, Randgrid
- Ráðgríðr
- Reginleif
- Róta
- Sanngriðr
- Sigrdrífa
- Sigrún
- Skalmöld
- Skeggöld or Skeggjöld
- Skögul
- Skuld
- Sveið
- Svipul
- Þögn
- Þrima
- Þrúðr
- Hrist
- Mist
- Skeggjǫld, or Skeggjöld
- Skǫgul, or Skögul
- Hildr
- Þrúðr, or Thrúd
- Hlǫkk, or Hlökk
- Herfjǫtur, or Herfjötur
- Gǫll, or Göll
- Geirskǫgul, or Geirskögul
- Randgríðr, or Randgrid
- Ráðgríðr, or Rádgrídr
- Reginleif
- Skuld
- Skǫgul, or Skögul
- Gunnr
- Hildr
- Gǫndul, Göndul
- Geirskǫgul, or Geirskögul
- Sváva
- Sigrún
- Brynhildr
- Sigrdrífa
- Astrid
- Bodil
- Frida
- Gertrud
- Gro
- Estrid
- Hilda
- Gudrun
- Gunhild
- Helga
- Inga
- Liv
- Randi
- Signe
- Sigrid
- Revna
- Sif
- Tora
- Tove
- Thyra:
- Alith
- Almeta
- Annaliesa
- Annelisse
- Annemari
- Beadohild
- Ellika
- Gisla
- Gisllica
- Gitte
- Gitty
- Gjertrud
- Gun
- Gunda
- Gunel
- Gunhild
- Gunhilda
- Gunilla
- Gunn
- Gunnell
- Gunneuare
- Gunnhild
- Gunnild
- Gunnilda
- Gunnilde
- Gunnildes
- Gunnilla
- Gunnilt
- Gunnora
- Gunnore
- Gunnota
- Gunnote
- Gunora
- Hag
- Hilja
- Jorine
- Juheta
- Juni
- Juska
- Jutta
- Kaari
- Kaja
- Karin
- Karitas
- Karly
- Karni
- Karoline
- Karriana
- Karrie
- Karrigan
- Ale
- Alex
- Hanne
- Inge
- Kris
- Manu
- Marie
- Mille
- Robin
- Storm
- Vanja
- Vieno
- Vivian
- Bjorn
- Keld
- Kirkja
- Orm
- Rune
- Selby
- Ulf
- Whitby
- Aurora
- Ella
- Emelie
- Emma
- Ingrid
- Maja
- Nora
- Olivia
- Sara
- Sophie
- Ågot
- Andrine
- Annbjorg
- Anniken
- Åshild
- Audhild
- Bergljot/Bergliot
- Brit
- Dagrun
- Guro
- Ingvild
- Kari
- Kine
- Margrete
- Marte
- Mathea
- Reidun
- Sissel
- Solfrid
- Solvi
- Sunniva
- Tiril
- Trude
- Unni
- Veslemoy
- Alice
- Alma
- Astrid
- Ebb
- Elsa
- Lilly
- Wilma
- Agneta
- Annelie
- Aslög
- Barbro
- Bengta
- Cajsa
- Carita
- Charlotta
- Edit
- Gittan
- Hjördis
- Kai
- Kia
- Liselott
- Lova
- Merit
- Moa
- Ottilia
- Pernilla
- Sassa
- Svea
- Tessan
- Ulrica
- Vendela
- Alba
- Eva
- Freja/Freya
- Hannah
- Ida
- Mynte
- Vilma
- Abelone
- Alvilda
- Benthe
- Bine
- Cille
- Ditte
- Dorit
- Gyda
- Lissi
- Lykke
- Rikke
- Vigga (
- Aino
- Aada
- Alexandra
- Anna
- Bríet
- Eevi
- Ellen
- Embla
- Hekla
- Júlía
- Linné
- Saga
- Alfhildr
- Åse
- Ásdis
- Brynja
- Cecelia
- Cristina
- Dagny
- Edda
- Eydis
- Gulla
- Guðlaug/Gudlaug
- Guðríðr/Gordidr
- Hallþóra
- Ingeborg
- Ingegerd
- Ingunn
- Katarina
- Ketil
- Margareta
- Ragna
- Ragnfrid
- Pone
- Þórdís
- Þýri
- Tófa
- Unnr
- Valdís
- Vígdís
- Borghild
- Eir
- Frigg
- Gerd
- Grid
- Gudrun
- Hel
- Hulda
- Iðunn/Idun
- Siv
- Skaði/Skadi
- Urd (oord)
- Verdandi
- Arnora
- Aud
- Bodil
- Brinhild
- Fastvi
- Freydis
- Frida
- Gunhild
- Halldis
- Inga
- Kolfinna
- Li
- Ragnhild
- Sigrid
- Thora
- Thurid
- Thyre
- Tola
- Tove
- Viborg
- Filip
- Håkon
- Isak
- Jakob
- Lukas
- Mohammed
- Noah
- Oskar
- Andor
- Arild
- Arnfinn
- Asgeir
- Atle
- Bendik
- Eindride
- Even
- Gaute
- Adam
- Alexander
- Elias
- Hugo
- Liam
- Oliver
- William
- Bengt
- Börje
- Bosse
- Claes
- Elov
- Gösta
- Greger
- Halsten
- Jörgen
- Krister
- Lelle
- Love
- Melker
- Olof
- Östen
- Pelle
- Roffe
- Sixten
- Stellan
- Torgny
- Viking
- Agner
- Bent
- Bjark
- Ejvind
- Flemming
- Hagen
- Jannik
- Keld
- Lauge
- Milas
- Mogens
- Nels
- Sigurd
- Steen
- Thor
- Villum
