Odin is the name of the supreme Norse god of art, culture, wisdom and law -- who was handsome, charming and eloquent into the bargain. The name projects a good measure of strength and power and has excellent assimilation potential. It entered the US Top 1000 in 2008 and has risen 600 spots since, perhaps because of its similarity to popular names Owen and Aiden.
The god Odin was referred to by more than 200 names, including Yggr, Sigfodr and Alfodr -- none of which is recommended. The word Wednesday is derived from Woden, the English form of Odin.
Odin came to be used as a Norwegian male given name beginning in the nineteenth century, originally in the context of a romantic Viking revival. In the 2001 novel American Gods by Neil Gaiman, the character called Wednesday is an incarnation of the god Odin.
