If you're looking for a dog name that's both bold and strong, look no further for inspiration than the Vikings. These fierce warriors were some of the first to sail across the sea and settle in foreign lands. They were also known for their love of dogs, which they used as companions and watchdogs on their long voyages. So if you're looking to choose a name for your dog that reflects your own adventurous spirit, or if you just want to pay homage to these ancient seafarers, then consider one of these names.
Gods and Goddesses
In Norse mythology, the nine worlds include Asgard, Midgard, and Vanaheim, among others. These realms are where different beings and deities within the Norse pantheon dwell. The gods lived in Asgard and people lived in Midgard. Vanaheim was the land of an old group of gods called the Vanir. According to Norse mythology, there are many gods and goddesses, including:
- Bragi: The God of Poetry and Song
- Eir: Goddess of Healing and Medicine
- Forseti: The God of Justice
- Freyr: The God of Fertility, Wealth, and Success
- Freya: The Goddess of Love, Beauty, War, and Death
- Heimdall: The God who guards Bifrost (the rainbow bridge) that leads to Asgard
- Hoder: The God of Darkness
- Idunna: The Goddess of Eternal Youth
- Loki: The trickster God and Ruler of Jotunheim
- Odin: The All-Father, Ruler of Asgard
- Thor: The God of Thunder, Protector of Mankind
- Turid: Master of Thunder
- Tyr: The God of War
- Ull: The God of Winter
- Vidar: The God of Revenge
Famous Vikings in History
There are many famous Vikings - as well as heroes and leaders who opposed them - in history, and any one of their names would make a fine choice for your pup. The most well-known are:
- Alfred the Great: A king of Wessex who successfully defended his kingdom against the Vikings and restored law and order; often considered the first King of England.
- Bjorn Ironside: Bjorn Ironside was one of the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, a famous Viking hero and king. He was the commander of the Great Heathen Army that invaded England in 865 AD.
- Egil Skallagrimsson: A Viking poet, lawyer, and scholar who lived in Norway during the 9th century. He was one of the most prolific skalds (composers of epic poetry) of his time, and he is considered one of the greatest poets in Old Norse literature.
- Eric Bloodaxe: A Viking king, who ruled over what is now Denmark, Norway, and parts of Sweden.
- Erik the Red: Erik the Red was a famous Viking who settled in Greenland with his family around 970 AD. He helped establish the first Norse settlement there after discovering the island while exploring westward from Iceland with his father-in-law.
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Freydís Eiríksdóttir: Freydís Eiríksdóttir was the daughter of Eirk the Red, who settled in Greenland. Her son was Leif Erikson, who led an expedition to explore North America.
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Gestumblindi: The name given to an anonymous poet who wrote in Old Norse around 1220 AD.
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Gorm the Old: King of Denmark from 940 to 958. He was known for his skill as a military leader, but he also did all he could to secure peace for his country.
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Gunnar Hamundarson: A Viking explorer known for his voyages to North America and for being the first European to reach what is now known as Newfoundland.
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Hákon Sigurðsson: King of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Known for his ability to unite all of Scandinavia under one rule by marrying the daughter of King Valdemar II of Denmark and Queen Berengaria of Sweden. This union made him the ruler over all three kingdoms in northern Europe.
- Hakon the Good: King of Norway from 963 to 995. He is remembered for creating laws based on Christianity and for his role in uniting Norway under one ruler.
- Harald Hardrada: King of Norway from 1046 to 1066. He also ruled Denmark during that time. He was known as a great leader who fought many battles with other kings - including William the Conqueror!
- Ivar the Boneless: A Viking leader and conqueror who, though he did not have legs, was able to lead an army across Europe and Ireland.
- Magnus Olafsson: A Viking warrior and the first settler of Iceland.
- Olaf Tryggvason: King of Norway from 995 to 1000, and again from 1015 to 1028. He converted his country to Christianity, and then went on to conquer Scotland and England.
- Ragnar Lothbrok or Lodbrok: Known for his legendary exploits, as well as his great wealth.
- Sweyn Forkbeard: A Viking king who ruled Denmark, Norway, and parts of England in the 10th century. He was also the father of Canute the Great, who became king of England and Denmark.
- Thorkell the Tall: A Viking who is most famous for being one of the leaders of a Viking raid on England, which took place in 991.
Words from the Norse Language
The Norse language is an old, Germanic language spoken by the Vikings. It's a rich and complex language, with many words having a meaning that can be understood across different cultures. What better handle for your pup than one evoking the powerful, intricate words spoken by Viking heroes of old? Here are some of our favorites!
- Aelfsi: One who is like an elf or nymph
- Aesir: A group of gods who live in Asgard
- Aethelwulf: Noble wolf
- Álfar: Elves
- Alf or Alv: Elf
- Beikra: Fishing bait
- Bekri: Lamb
- Bifröst: A rainbow bridge that connects the world of men to Asgard.
- Bjorg: Mountain peak
- Birger: Keeper
- Bodil: Fighter
- Draugr: Undead creatures who return from their graves as zombies or vampires
- Ebbe: Wild boar
- Eilert: Edge of a sword
- Eino: One
- Eysteinn: Esteemed stone
- Finnbogi: Fair-haired
- Frey: Fertility
- Gandalf: Wand elf
- Gera: To do
- Halle: Rock
- Hús: House
- Hvalur: Whale
- Herlief: Warrior descendant
- Hestr: Horse
- Hrafen: Raven
- Jorn: Farmer
- Jotunheim: The land of giants
- Kalla: Crying loudly
- Kaka: Cake
- Koma: To come
- Kona: Woman (also means wife)
- Krampi: To tie together
- Liv: Life
- Menniskja: Human beings
- Milli: Between
- Narve: Enclosed
- Olaug: Destroyer
- Prift: Prosperity
- Rada: Rule
- Ragnarok: The end of the world as we know it. It's like Doomsday, but with more gods and monsters involved.
- Rímur: Nordic stories passed down through generations
- Rune: Secret
- Skata: Skate, a type of fish
- Skilja: Understand
- Signe: New victory
- Spretta: Sprint
- Spyrja: To ask
- Taka: To take
- Torr: Stained
- Tostig: Tooth of the dead
- Trygve: Trustworthy
- Ulf: Wolf
- Valhalla: A place where all the great warriors go after they are killed in battle. It's like heaven, but for Vikings.
- Veita: To grant
- Vilja: To want
Viking Names for Male Dogs
In Norse mythology, the Vikings were a seafaring people who believed in immortality and the afterlife. These beliefs are reflected in their names for male dogs.
- Agnarr: This name from Norse mythology means "leader." It's perfect for a strong and commanding dog who loves to run!
- Alfheim: The world of elves. It is one of two worlds where elves live, the other being Svartalfheim.
- Anders: Brave
- Arkin: Eternal son of the King
- Arvid: This name is derived from the Old Norse word örvi, which means "bear." It may also mean "forest." It means someone who is strong, brave, and courageous.
- Bergin: Meadow between the mountains.
- Birger: Keeper
- Brúni: Brown bear
- Bjorn: Bjorn means "bear," which is perfect if you have a large breed of dog.
- Cnut: Cnut is an Old English name meaning "knot," and it refers to the knot on the end of a rope or chain. It's also another name for Odin.
- Denby: From Denmark
- Destin: Determined
- Einar: Lone warrior
- Elin: This name means "lovely" or "kind."
- Eiríkur: Power and rule
- Frode: Wise and clever.
- Halfdan: Half Danish.
- Hans: Meaning "God is gracious"
- Hundr: This name means "hound" or "dog" and is used as an insult by the gods. Hundr is considered a name for dogs that had been mistreated or abused.
- Hlökk: This name means "gloomy." Hlökk is usually associated with a dog that is sad or depressed.
- Fenrir: The giant wolf in Norse mythology involved with Ragnarok; son of Loki.
- Garold: Spear ruler
- Gudrun: A short but sweet choice that means "God's grace" in Icelandic and Norwegian.
- Gustav: Staff of the Gods
- Höðr: This name means "howler," which describes howling dogs. Höðr is also described as a dog that makes noise when it's alone or when no one else is around to hear it.
- Ivar: Archer
- Jarl: Noble man
- Jormundgand or Jormundgandr: A dragon who lives in the ocean, surrounding Midgard (Earth).
- Karmen: Song
- Lars: Laurel
- Leif: This name means "heir," which makes it perfect for a dog who will inherit your love and devotion when you're gone.
- Logi: Fire
- Magnus: Great
- Mjolnir: The name of Thor's legendary hammer
- Njal: Giant
- Norell: From the north
- Odger: Blessed arrow
- Osmond: Divine protection
- Rafe: Counsel of the wolf
- Ragnar: The name of the famous Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok, this name is full of strength and power.
- Roland: Manly bear
- Rollo: Famous warrior
- Skade: Born with a cleft chin
- Thordis: Spirit of thunder
- Torsten: Thor and stone
- Tove: Dove
- Troells: Thor's arrow
- Ulfhild: Battle wolf
- Ulrika: Wolf power
- Viggo: Battle
Viking Names for Female Dogs
Viking names for female dogs are a great way to get your pup's name out there. These names unique compared to the usual girl dog names, and they give your dog a little bit of personality that she can't help but show off when she hears her name.
- Aina: Forever
- Ama: Eagle
- Anna: Graceful and beautiful
- Astrid: This is a great name if you're looking for something that evokes the strength and power of a Viking warrior.
- Aud: This name means wealth or riches, so if your pup has tons of money in her bank account, she'll appreciate this moniker.
- Audra: This name means "the dawn" in Old Norse. It's a feminine form of Audr, which means "battle."
- Bergþóra: Earth protection
- Beyla: Another good name for a dog who's as strong as the Vikings were, this name means "bear" in Old Norse.
- Birgitta: "birch tree" in Swedish and Icelandic, this name has been used since the Middle Ages.
- Blikja: To glitter
- Blodhild: A strong name that means "Blood Battle," this dog will be one to watch out for!
- Bodil: A great name for a dog who's sweet and kind-and yet, also tough and fierce enough to be a Viking! This name means "bodily strength."
- Brenna: Sword
- Brisa: Stormy weather, windy conditions
- Brynhild: This name means "Swan Battle," so don't expect your dog to be anything less than fierce!
- Byrgis: Another option with the same meaning as "battle" or "warrior."
- Dagny: A new day
- Dahlia: Like the Dahlia flower
- Eir: If your dog is strong and brave, this might be a good choice! It means "peace" in Old Norse.
- Ella: Compassion
- Elli: Old age
- Estrid: God and beautiful
- Eula: Well-spoken
- Gunnhild: This name means "War Battle," so it's perfect for any pup who has an adventurous spirit!
- Helga: This name means "Bright One," so it's a great choice for any pup that you want to stand out from the crowd!
- Helgafell: A mountain that is near Snæfellsjökull Glacier in Iceland. It is associated with the legend of Baldur's death, which occurred there when he was stung by a poisonous thorn thrown at him by Loki.
- Keerstin: Follower of Christ
- Ingemar: Of the sea
- Ingrid: Fair and beautiful
- Kaia: The sea
- Kari: Purity
- Lidwina: People's friend
- Linnea: Linden tree
- Lygea: Peaceful
- Marethe: Blessed
- Mea: Bright
- Nanna: This name means "sunny" or "light" in Old Norse. It's also the name of an elf in Norse mythology who brings good dreams to people at night.
- Odine: Wild and eager
- Olia: Holy
- Orsola: Little she-bear
- Rayna: Queen
- Sigrid: Victory
- Siri: Beautiful victory
- Treena: Pure
- Ursala: Bear
- Valkyrie: A warrior maiden who picks out warriors from battle to take them to Valhalla
- Yrsa: She-bear
Disney- and DreamWorks-inspired Viking Names
Disney names for dogs are the perfect way to introduce your furbaby to the world of Disney. Whether you're looking for something cute and cuddly, or a something little more fierce and fiery, we've got you covered. Here are some of our favorite Disney names for dogs:
- Angus: Princess Meredith's horse in Brave.
- Elsa: The Princess in Frozen.
- Gobber the Belch: The Viking responsible for training youth in How to Train Your Dragon.
- Hiccup: The protagonist of How To Train Your Dragon, Hiccup is a young Viking who has trouble fitting in with his peers due to his small stature.
- Kristoff: Anna's love interest in Frozen.
- Merida: Scottish Princess in Brave.
- Stoic the Vast: Hiccup's father in How to Train Your Dragon.
- Stormfly: Astrid's dragon in How to Train Your Dragon.
- Sven: The reindeer from Frozen.
- Queen Elinor: Merida's mother in Brave.
- Wilhelmina Bertha Packard: Helps save Atlantis in Atlantis: The Last Empire.
Choosing a Viking Name
When you're choosing a viking name for your dog, ask yourself what qualities you notice most in your pup. Then, scroll through this list to see which names match those qualities. Say them aloud. Identify which names roll off your tongue with ease. If you already have the dog you're naming, try out a few and see what names your dog responds to. This name will last them a lifetime, so choose one that both you and your dog enjoy.
