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Valkyrie

VAL-kih-ree
Old Norse
"chooser of the slain"
Clare Green
By Clare Green
Updated Tue Sep 30 2025

Valkyrie Origin and Meaning

The name Valkyrie is a girl's name meaning "chooser of the slain".

In Norse mythology, the valkyries decided the fate of men in battle and conveyed the spirits of the fallen to Valhalla, to dwell with the god Odin. Often associated with ravens, swans, and horses, over time the valkyries have been portrayed as strong, female figures, callous and monstrous creatures, and sometimes both at the same time.

Derived from Old Norse, Valkyrie is comprised of the word valr, used to describe those slain in battle, and kjósa meaning "to choose", which come together to reflect their role in guiding dead warriors.

As a given name, Valkyrie is a new consideration that only began to appear in in the US data in the early 90s, following the release of Paulo Coelho's novel, The Valkyries. It was quietly used until 2016 when the Marvel Franchise confirmed the casting for movie Thor Ragnarok in which Tessa Thompson stars as Valkyrie.

Since then, the name has nearly tripled in use with around 150 girls receiving the name in 2022, making it a bold but increasingly familiar choice, that currently ranks similarly in the US to Nelly, Storm, Tabitha, and Yael.

If Valkyrie does interest you, you could also consider looking at the given names of the valkyries in various manuscripts of Norse mythology, such as Brynhildr, Eir, Herja, Mist, and Sigrún.

Popularity of the name Valkyrie

20 Names Similar to Valkyrie

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Famous People Named Valkyrie

  • Unity Valkyrie Mitford
    English socialite; Hitler's alleged lover

The name Valkyrie in Pop Culture

  • Valkyrie aka Brunnhilde
    character in Marvel Comics
  • Valkyrie Cain aka Stephanie Edgley
    character in the Skullduggery Pleasant series