Names From Vikings - Men

Eric

Old Norse

"eternal ruler"

Eric is derived from the Old Norse name Eiríkr, from the components ei , meaning "ever," and ríkr , "rule." It was adopted by English speakers in the mid-nineteenth century, who were already familiar…

Edwin

English

"wealthy friend"

Some might be surprised to learn that Edwin has been a consistent presence on the popular names list since statistics have become available. The most famous Edwin in history was a seventh century…

Edgar

English

"wealthy spearman"

Edgar is an Old English name historically associated with the tenth century English king known as Edgar the Peaceful. There was also a King Edgar of Scotland. Edgar has been a stalwart on the US…

Bjorn

Swedish, Icelandic, German

"bear"

Bjorn is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names , thanks in large part to tennis great Björn Borg, winner of five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French opens and something of a…

Rollo

Latin form of Rolf

"wolf"

Rollo is a livelier, roly-poly, o-ending version of Roland. Although it sounds modern, Rollo actually was seen regularly on Latin documents in the Middle Ages, though not heard in everyday speech.…

Nils

Scandinavian variation of Nicholas

"people of victory"

Like Lars, Sven, Niels, and Nels, an unjustly neglected straightforward Scandinavian name. Surname Nilsson or the anglicized Nelson derives from Nils.

Leif

Swedish; Danish; Norwegian

"heir, descendant"

Leif is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names , thanks to Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson, and is still one of the best, with a pleasant aural association with the word leaf. Leif Erikson,…

Egbert

Anglo-Saxon

"bright edge of a sword"

Egbert still suffers somewhat from being used as a stereotypical name for nerds and aristocrats. It would be a surprising choice, but with its edgy meaning and dusty charm, possibly it's so beyond…

Arne

Dutch and Scandinavian variation of Arnold

"ruler; strong as an eagle"

Works better as a full name than Arnie does as a nickname.

Olaf

Norse

"ancestor's relic"

Olaf, though sainted and regal in Norway, is slightly oafish here. It is one of those names that has become completely familiar in the U.S. without ever becoming assimilated. Now that he's a comical…

Ragnar

Norse

"powerful army; wise warrior; counsel from the army"

An fearsome old Norse name with a long history in Scandinavia. It's gotten a boost in the States from popularity of the History Channel drama "Vikings," in which the protagonist is named Ragnar.…

Svein

Svein is a masculine Norse name with ancient Scandinavian roots, traditionally spelled Sveinn in Old Norse. The name means 'boy,' 'young man,' or 'servant' and has been used throughout Nordic…

Knut

Old Norse; Norwegian; Swedish; Danish

"knot"

This royal but common Scandinavian name is, in the US, linked to a single figure -- Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne. While Rockne's name was commonly pronounced like newt, the correct…

Olafur

Olafur is a masculine Icelandic name derived from the Old Norse name Óláfr, which combines the elements 'ancestor' and 'heir' or 'descendant.' This name has deep historical roots in Nordic cultures,…