Old Norse Boy Names

Old Norse was the language of the Viking Age, spoken across Scandinavia and carried by seafarers to Iceland, the British Isles and beyond. Boys' names from this tradition often honored gods, animals, weapons or qualities like strength and rule. Odin, the chief god of Norse mythology, lends his name directly, and many other names on this page grew from the same world of sagas and poetry.

Norse names reached English speakers along several routes. Eric and its spellings Erik and Erick descend from an Old Norse name usually explained as meaning sole or eternal ruler. Finn has roots in Norse as well as a separate Irish history, which helps it feel at home in both traditions. Gunnar, a name tied to the Old Norse word for battle, now appears alongside the Americanized Gunner, which many parents also hear as a nod to the English word for a soldier who fires a gun.

Because these names crossed so many borders, spelling variants are common. You will see Colby beside Kolby and Erik beside Eric, so choose the form that fits how you want the name to look. Short, strong sounds like Bo and Ari pair easily with longer surnames, while fuller names give you nickname options down the road.