Updated 08/01/2023 – Deciding on a name for your new puppy can be both exciting and frustrating all at the same time. You probably want a name that fits your pup, but one that is also unique. We felt the same way when we were looking for a name for our puppy. This is why we decided to gather all the Norse Dog names we could find into one post.
Hopefully this will make it easier for future new puppy owners to find the perfect Viking dog name for their dogs.
Why choose a Norse (aka Viking) dog name?
The richness of Norse mythology continues to capture people’s imagination of a time long ago.
We simply cannot get enough of the Norse folklore that spins the tales of the great Old Norse Gods, Odin and his son, Thor. Or that of the mighty Vikings that once roamed the north seas.
These tales bring to life the sense of adventure of an ancient culture. They show us their determination and will to thrive in a hostile environment. These tales also provide us with strong names. Some are perfect to use as a dog’s name. Especially, if you have a dog that loves the cold.
Here you will find a list of 200 Old Norse dog names to choose from.

Old Norse Names
When naming your dog an Old Norse name it is best to understand how names came about back then.
According to the National Museum of Denmark, many boys during the Viking Age were named after the god, Thor. Although they might not have been named Thor, they were given names like Toke and Thorsten that honored the great warrior.
Animal names were also common. It was not unusual for Vikings to be named Orm (Serpent), Ulf (Wolf) or Bjørn (Bear). These names celebrate the gods’ formidable enemies. This included the Midgard serpent and the wolf Fenrir. Both were beasts that the Norse gods had to defeat at Ragnarök.
The names could have a meaning too. Some examples are Frida which means “peace” and Astrid which means “Beautiful and loved”. In the lists below, we included the meaning of the names whereever we could.
Some Vikings had bynames. These were names that are added on to their given name. The bynames might have described them, their kinship or where they came from. An example of this is Bjarke the Norwegian, who lived in Denmark and Erik the Red, who is believed to have red hair. Though, it’s not known if the bynames were actually used when they were alive. But think about how cool it would be to call your pup Olaf the Great.
Below you will find the lists divided between Norse God and Goddess, Animals, General Names by Gender and a list of Famous Vikings.
Remember when choosing a dog name to make sure it is easy to say. You will be repeating this name about 100 times a day while you train your pup.

Norse Gods and Goddess
Norse God and Goddess | Gender | |
Odin | The greatest among the Norse gods | M |
Frigg | Odin’s wife – known for beauty, and love | F |
Balder | Son of Odin and Frigg | M |
Loki | God of mischief | M |
Thor | Protector of humanity. God of thunder | M |
Mjöllnir | Name of Thor’s hammer | N |
Freya | Goddesses | F |
Freyr | God of fertility | M |
Heimdall | Son of Odin who controlled the Bifrost | M |
Hel | Goddess and ruler of the underworld | F |
Saga | Goddess of stories | F |
Skadi | Goddess of winter | F |
Tyr | God of war | M |
Vale | Son of Odin | M |
Valhalla | The Norse idea of the afterlife | N |

Old Norse Animal Names
Name | Meaning | Gender |
Alsvin | Horse that pulls the Sun’s chariot | N |
Alsvinder | Horse that pulls the Moon’s chariot | N |
Ama | Eagle | F |
Arne | Eagle | M |
Asbjorn | God and bear | M |
Asgeirr | Deer friend | M |
Bjørn | Bear | M |
Jorunnr | Horse and love | F |
Orm | Snake | N |
Revna | Raven | F |
Tove | Dove | F |
Ulf | Wolf | M |
Yrsa | Wild or she bear | F |

Norse Dog Names for Males
Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Aaric | Rule with mercy | a(a)-ric |
Aegir | A sea god | e-jir |
Agmundr | Terror | . |
Agnarr | Ruler with sword | aeGNAA-R |
Ake | Ancestors | . |
Alf | Elf | aeLF |
Alv | Elf Friend | . |
Alvis | All wise | ahi-vees |
Arne | Eagle | . |
Arvakr | Horse that pulls the Sun’s chariot | . |
Asbjorn | God and bear | . |
Asgeirr | Deer friend | . |
Balder | Son of Odin | . |
Berserker | Fierce Viking warriors. | . |
Birger | Keeper | . |
Bjørn | Bear | bee-yoorn |
Bo | The resident | . |
Bragi | Norse god of poetry | brah-yee |
Brynjar | Armor and warrior | . |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Dagr | Day | . |
Egil | Icelandic warrior | Ah-gil |
Einar | Alone and warrior | . |
Enar | Fighter | . |
Erik | Absolute Ruler | . |
Erling | Heir | . |
Fenrir | Odin’s wolf | fayn-reer |
Frode | Wise and clever | . |
Gandalf | Wand wolf | ɡændɑlf |
Garth | Garden | . |
Gorm | He who worships god | . |
Gudbrand | Sword of the divine | GOOD-brant |
Gudmund | God is protecting | GOOD-moonD |
Gunnar | Battle | . |
Gunther | Army | gʊntər |
Halfdan | The half Danish | . |
Halvaror | Rock guardian | . |
Harald | Lord and ruler | . |
Havardr | High guardian | . |
Heimdall | Son of Odin – controlled the Bifrost | . |
Herleifr | Army, son | . |
Hjalmar | Helmeted warrior | . |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Ingimarr | Derived from the god Ing | . |
Ivar | Bow Warrior | . |
Iver | Warrior | . |
Kåre | With curly hair | . |
Ketill | Kettle, cauldron | . |
Kjartan | Sea warrior | . |
Knud | Knot | . |
Leif | Heir | leif |
Loki | God of mischief | . |
Lykke | Danish Happiness | Lik-eh |
Magnus | Great | . |
Mjöllnir | Name of Thor’s hammer | . |
Njal | Giant | . |
Ødger | Wealth and spear | . |
Odin | Old Norse God | . |
Olaf | Patron saint of Norway | oʊl.əf |
Orvar | Arrow | . |
Quimby | Woman’s house | KWIHMBiy |
Ragnar | Counsel | . |
Randulfr | Wolf shield | RAN-dulfr |
Roar | Fame and spear | . |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Sigurd | Legendary hero | ˈsi-gu̇rd |
Skarde | With cleft chin | . |
snjó | Snow | . |
Sten | Stone | . |
Sune | Son | . |
Surt | Viking God of fire/Black | . |
Svend | Freeman who is in the service of another | . |
Sweyn | A king | sweɪn |
Thor | God of thunder | . |
Toke | Thor and helmet | . |
Torsten | Thor and stone | . |
Troels | Thor’s arrow | . |
Trygve: | Trustworthy | . |
Tyr | God of war | . |
Ulf | Wolf | uhlf |
Vale | Son of Odin | . |
Vikingr | Viking | . |

Norse Dog Names for Females
Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Aage | Man that ploughs | AAEYJH |
Ågot | Good | aw-got |
Ama | Eagle | . |
Andrine | Masculine | awn-dreen-ah |
Annbjorg | Eagle rescue | awn-bYORG |
Anniken | Grace | awn-ee-ken |
Åse | Goddess | . |
Åshild | God battle | aws-hi |
Asta | Love | . |
Astrid | God and Beautiful | AS-trid |
Audhild | Fortune and battle | owd-il |
Aurora | Dawn | OW-ro-rah |
Baldur | Prince | Bal-door |
Bergljot/Bergliot | Protection and light | bahr-glee-ot |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Bodil | Penance and fight | . |
Brit | Exalted one | . |
Brynhildr | Valkyrie and wife of Gunnar | brin-hild |
Dagmar | Maiden of the Day | . |
Dagrun | Day secret lore | d-eye-roon |
Dahlia | From the valley | . |
Edda | Great grandmother | . |
Eir | Mercy | . |
Elin | Bright one | ee l ih n |
Emma | Whole/universal | EHM-mah |
Estrid | God and beautiful | . |
Freya | Goddesses | . |
Freyja | Ruler of love, fertility, battle, and death | . |
Freyr | Goddess of fertility- sister of Freyja | . |
Frida | Peace | . |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Frigg | Goddess of earth, air and fertility | . |
Gale | Frantic | ɡeɪl |
Gerda | Protection and light | . |
Gertrud | Spear | . |
Gisli | Ray of light | . |
Gro | To grow | . |
Gudrun | God and rune | . |
Gunhild | Fight | . |
Gunnvor | Cautious in war | . |
Guro | God’s secret lore | groo |
Halle | Rock | . |
Hel | Goddess and ruler of the underworld | . |
Helga | Sacred | . |
Hilda | The fighter | . |
Hjordis | Sword goddess | . |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Iduna | . | iy-DUW-Naa |
Inga | Of the god Inge | . |
Ingibjorg | Derived from the god Ing | . |
Ingrid | Ing (the god) is beautiful | Ing-rid or Ing-ri |
Ingvild | God Ing battle | ing-vil |
Jorunnr | Horse and love | . |
Kára | A mortal, Was a Valkyries | . |
Kari | Gust of wind | kahr-ee |
Kelda | Fountain | . |
Ketilrior | Kettle, beautiful | . |
Kine | A Christian | keen-uh |
Liv | Of life | . |
Maja | Diminutive of Maria or Maia | mah-yah |
Margrete | Pearl | mar-greh-teh |
Marte | The lady | mar-teh |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Mathea | Gift of Yahweh | mah-tay-ah |
Nora | Honor | noh-rah |
Olivia | Olive | Oh-lee-vee-ah |
Rana | Nobility | . |
Randi | Shield or shrine | . |
Reidun | Billowing nest | ree-ah-dun |
Revna | Raven | . |
Rinda | Giant | . |
Rona | Mighty strength | . |
Saga | Goddess of stories | . |
Sara | Lady/noblewoman | SAH-rah |
Sif | Wife and bride | . |
Sigfrid | . | siːɡfriːd |
Signe | The one who is victorious | . |
Sigrid | Victorious horsewoman |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Sissel | Blind | sees-eh |
Skadi | Goddess of winter | . |
Solfrid | Beautiful sun | sohl-freed |
Solveig | Strong house | . |
Solvi | Sun strength | SOOL-vie |
Sophie | Wisdom | SO-fee-ah |
Sunniva | Sun gift | soo-neh-veh |
Thurid | Thor and beautiful | . |
Thyra | Helpful | . |
Tiril | . | tee-rihl |
Tora | Of the god Thor | . |
Tove | Dove | . |
Trude | Strength | troo-duh |
Ulfhild | Wolf or battle | . |
Unni | New love | oo-nee |
Veslemoy | Little girl | vess-leh-mehy |
Yrsa | Wild or she bear | . |

Unisex Norse Names for Dogs
Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Akkeri | Anchor | . |
Ale | To defend | AH-leh |
Alex | To defend | a-lekhs |
Alsvin | Name of horse that pulls the Sun’s chariot | . |
Alsvinder | Horse that pulls the Moon’s chariot | . |
Aska | Ashes | . |
Bein | Bone, Ivory | . |
Fýrr | Fire | . |
Hakan | Of the chosen | . |
Hanne | Yahweh is gracious | HAN-neh |
Inge | Ancestor; from Germanic god Ing | ING-eh |
Kelby | A farm near a spring | . |
Keld | Spring | kehld |
Keldan | From the spring | . |
Kirkja | Church | kee-air-j-kah |

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
Kris | A Christian | Kriz or Kriss |
Manu | God is with us | MAH-noo |
Mille | Rival | meel |
Orm | Snake | . |
Ormr | Dragon | . |
Orn | Resembling an eagle | AORN |
Robin | Bright fame | RAWB-in |
Rune | Secret | roon |
Selby | The Village with Willows | sehl-bee |
Sjór | Sea | . |
Vanja | Yahweh is gracious | von-yah |
Vieno | Gentle | VEE-eh-no |
Vivian | Alive | vi-vee-ahn |
Whitby | White Farm | whit-bee |

Famous Vikings
Erik the Red |
Leif Erikson |
Freydís Eiríksdóttir |
Ragnar Lothbrok |
Bjorn Ironside |
Gunnar Hamundarson |
Ivar the Boneless |
Eric Bloodaxe |
Egil Skallagrimsson |
Harald Hardrada |
Not what you are looking for?
Check out our other posts on dog names here:
- Black Dog Names: 450+ Names for Black Dogs
- Unique Dog Names: Plus Tips on How to Pick One
- Scottish Dog Names: 500 Names to Choose From
- Flower Names For Dogs: Plus Nature Inspired Dog Names
- Australian Dog Names: 200 Dog Names to Choose From
- French Dog Names For Your Doodle
- 550 British Dog Names: You Will Want to Use
- Big Dog Names: 300+ From the Classic to the Unique
- White Dog Names: 375+ Names for White Dogs
Bringing home a puppy for the first time?
Let us help you. Check out these posts on what you need to know before you bring home your puppy.
Sweet Purrfections
Monday 7th of September 2020
Love this idea! I remember searching for New Orleans/French dessert names when I was naming my Persian cats.
Ruth Epstein
Saturday 5th of September 2020
I love unusual and different names and love the list. I gave Layla her name which means Night in Hebrew as she arrived at night from the shelter.