100 Chic Norse Boys’ Names

Finding a great boy name is easier said than done, but in recent years Norse names have been having a moment, and it’s easy to see why.

Norse names sound fresh, modern and strong, but also classical, with plenty of allusions to Norse mythology, the Viking Age and the Gods thrown in. They’re not predictable, but these names aren’t wilfully exotic or made-up sounding either.

For anyone who has ever sat through the entire Marvel movies back catalogue on Disney Plus (and even those who haven’t),  you’re probably already familiar with names such as Thor, Loki and Odin (and they all feature on our exhaustive list, below). But we have a lot more inspiration for parents seeking special, for their baby son.

Norse names come from Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and are typically inspired by the Viking Age as well as Norse Mythology and the Gods.

Animals with plenty of strength also feature prominently (think the wolf, eagle or bear), as do spears, swords and rocky places.

Looking for a middle name to match? There are so many names meaning King fit for your little prince to inspire you.

Browse our comprehensive list, below, for some strong, classic Norse baby boy names that you can use as inspiration for your new son, plus we have some fantastic Finnish names with meanings to inspire you. You’re bound to find something both you and your family love.

Norse Names For Boys

Arne or Arn (Scandinavian). This traditional Norse name translates as ‘eagle’.

Andor (Norse). Named from both the word for ‘eagle’ (Arn), and after the famous god Thor.

Anders (Scandinavian). This means ‘brave’.

Arnkell (Nordic). Meanings ‘from the parts of an eagle’.

Ari (Old Norse). Another great, strong name that also means ‘eagle’.

Arnfinn (Norwegian). Means both ‘eagle’, and ‘one from Finland’.

Asger (old Norse). This is derived from the Old Norse name  Ásgeir, and it means ‘spear of god’

Arvid (Swedish, Norwegian). We love this unusual name that means both ‘eagle’ and ‘tree’.

Birger (old Norse). Another one from Scandinavian, this name comes from the Old Norse word ‘bjarga’, which means ‘one who helps out’.

Bjarke (Danish) You’ll find quite a few brilliant Norse names that mean ‘bear’, and this one of them.

Bjorn (Swedish, Icelandic, Dutch). Another  Viking-derived name that means ‘bear’, and probably the best-known of the much. Historically, this has been an extremely popular family name in Sweden.

Bo (Swedish/Danish/Old Norse). Short and sweet, Bo is derived from the word ‘bua’, which means ‘to live’. Perfect for baby boys.

Brandt (Old Norse). This strong name translates as ‘sword’.

Calder (Both Old Norse and Gaelic in origin). It translates as ‘cold, rough waters’.

Canute  (Old Norse) King Canute was a famous Viking warrior, and ruler of the English and Danish peoples. The name  also means ‘knot, rope or string’.

Carr (Old Norse) This comes from the old word ‘kjarrone’, meaning a ‘swamp’, or ‘one who is from the marshlands’.

Colborn (Norse). This name literally means ‘burning coals’ or ‘burning charcoal’.

Colby (Scandinavian). Translates as ‘town of darkness’.

Crosby (Norse). Translates as ‘cross farm’, or one who lives close to a  farm.

Dag  (Norway/Sweden). This baby boy name comes from the word ‘dagr’, which means ‘day’.

Darby (Old Norse). This name means ‘deer park, ‘ or ‘settlement where the does roam’.

Dustin This is a more Anglicised derivative of the Norse name Thurston, which translates as ‘Thor’s stone’ (Thor was the great God of Thunder), and makes a cute boy baby name. If you watched Stranger Things, you’ll also be familiar with the name Dustin.

Einar (Old Norse). ‘One who fights on his own’, ‘lone warrior’.

Eluf (Scandinavian). Meaning the ‘only heir’ or ‘sole heir’.

Erik (Old Norse). Erik the Red was a Viking ruler. This translates as ‘one who is king forever’. A subtle spin on Eric, for your baby son.

Erland (Old Norse). Means ‘outsider’.

Fell (Norse). From the word ‘fjall’, this means one who is from the high ground, or a rocky place (mountains).

Fiske (Old Scandinavian). This is derived from the old name for ‘fishseller’ or ‘fisherman.’

Freyre (Norse). Named for the god of weather.

Frode (Danish, Norwegian and Swedish). Means ‘clever’ or ‘wise’. Also think Frodo (as in Frodo Baggins).

Garth (Old Norse). This means ‘enclosed yard’, ‘quadrangle’ or ‘cloister’.

Geir (Norwegian and Icelandic). Means ‘spear’.

Gorm (Danish name). Meaning ‘attentive’.

Gudbrand (Old Norse) Translates as ‘divine sword’

Gudmund (Norse). Means ‘chieftain’, or ‘great ruler’.

Gunnar (Old Norse). Means ‘soldier’ or ‘fighter’, ‘brave and bold’.

Gustaf (Old Norse). Meaning ‘staff of the Gods’.

Hafdan (Old Norse). This Viking name, traditionally for males, could be perfect for your son. It means half-Danish. Halfdan legendary was the king of the Scyldings in the famous medieval poem, Beowulf, and also appears in Norse mythology.

Hagen (Danish). Meaning ‘protected place’.

Haldor (Old Norse). Meaning ‘the rock of Thor’.

Harald (Icelandic, or Old norse). The Scandi version of Harold, it means ‘army’ and ‘ruler’.

Halstein (Old Norse). Means ‘rock’ or ‘stone’, so this could be a great, strong name for your baby son.

Halvar (Norwegian). Meaning ‘flat stone’ or ‘guardian.’

Hemming (Nordic). Means ‘shape shifter’, or ‘skin on the hind legs of an animal’.

Herleif (Nordic). Meaning ‘descendant of a warrior’.

Hjalmar (Swedish, Norwegian). Means ‘one who battles in a helmet’.

Holger (Nordic). Meaning a blend of ‘island’ and ‘spear’.

Holmes (Nordic). Meaning ‘island’, or low-lying place’.

Hrafn (Old Norse). Another bird-inspired name, this means ‘raven’.

Hrooar (Old Norse). This unusual name translates as ‘spear’ or ‘warrior’.

Igor One who battles with Ing’s army. Ing was the original name for Old Norse god Yngvi, and was the original name of Freyr, the god of virility, prosperity and fair weather.

Ingolf (Nordic). Meaning’ ‘Ing’s wolf’. In fact, the God of Freyr is often depicted in images riding on a wolf.

Ingmar, Ingemar or Ingvar (Scandinavian). Named after ‘Ing, a Norse god, and the word ‘mar’, which means ‘famous’.

Ingvar Another name for ‘Ing’s army’.

Ivar (Scandinavian name). Meaning ‘one who fights with a bow and arrow’, or ‘yew tree’.

Jari (Finnish).Meaning ‘one who will rise up.’

Jarl (Scandinavian). Meaning ‘Royal’ or ‘nobleman’.

Kettil (Old Norse). Means ‘kettle’ or ‘cauldron’.

Kirk (Danish). Means ‘church’, or one who lives near one.

Kirkland (Danish). Translates as ‘land near to a church’.

Kirkwood (Danish). Means ‘church near a wood’.

Kory or Corey (Old Norse). Means ‘one who lives near a hollow’.

Lamont  (Old Norse). Means ‘logman’ or ‘lawyer’.

Leif (Old Norse). Meaning ‘heir’ or ‘descendant.’

Loki (Scandinavian). Means ‘trickster‘ or  ‘mischief maker’. Loki famously features in Norse mythology, as anyone who has watched the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies will know, where he is Thor’s brother (in real Norse mythology, he is actually Thor’s step-uncle).

Magnus (Old Norse). Means ‘powerhouse’.

Manning (Nordic). Means ‘powerful and honest man’.

Odin (Old Norse). Means ‘fury or anger’. Odin in Norse Mythology is the god of war, ruler of the dead, and Asgard, and the father of all Norse gods.

Olaf, also Ole, Olav, Oluf (Scandinavian). This is one of the best-known Norse names and could work for your new baby son. It means ‘ancestor’s descendant’. We also can’t help thinking of the cute snowman in Frozen…

Olsen (Danish or Norwegian). Means ‘son of Ole’. This is also a common family surname.

Osmon (Scandinavian). Means ‘godly protection’.

Ove (Old Danish). This popular name could work for your son, and it also means ‘godly protection’.

Per (Scandinavian). Means ‘rock’ or ‘stone’.

Randolph (old Norse). Means  ‘wolf shield’.

Rangvald (Swedish, Norwegian). Means ‘powerful judgement’.

Roscoe (Norse). Means ‘from near a buck forest.

Rune (Old Norse). Meaning ‘secret’.

Selby (Norse). Means ‘from near a farm of willows.’

Sigurd (Old Norse). Means ‘victory’ or  ‘watching over the victory’.

Sigmundr or Sigmund (Old Norse).  Means ‘protector’.

Steen or Sten (Scandinavian). Means ‘stone or tiny rock’ or ‘castle’.

Stig or Stigr (Old Norse). This name means ‘wanderer’ or ‘voyager’.

Sven (Swedish or Danish). Another great name for your baby son, that’s already well-known in the UK, this means ‘young man’ or ‘young warrior’.

Tarben (Danish). Translates as ‘Thor’s bear’.

Thor Perhaps the best-known of the Norse gods, he was the God of Thunder and revered for his mighty strength. His popularity was greatest during the Viking Age (790-1100 CE), when the cult of Thor prevailed. In the meantime, we think this makes a bold, chic choice for your baby son.

Thorsen Another derivative of Thor.

Thorsten, Thursten, Torsten or Thurston (Scandinavian). Translates as ‘the stone of Thor’.

Thurmund (Old Norse). Means ‘protector of Thor’.

Torben or Torbjorn (Danish). Another spin on ‘the bear belonging to Thor’, this name also translates as ‘thunder bear’.

Tore (Scandinavian). Means ‘Thunder warrior’.

Torvald (Old Norse). Translates ‘Thor’s ruler’.

Tove (Old Norse). This means ‘beautiful Thor’.

Tyr (Norse).  Translates as ‘angel’ or ‘from the stars’. In Norse mythology, Tyr was also one of the gods (of war and justice).

Ulf and Uffe (Scandinavian). Means ‘wolf’

Ulrik (Danish). Means ‘ruler of all’.

Vali (Old Norse). Means ‘son of Odin’ or ‘great and powerful’.

Viggo (Danish or Norwegian). Means ‘battle’ or ‘fight’.

If you liked this list of chic Norse boys names and you’re wondering if there are girls names to match, then you’re in luck! Check out our 143 unique Nordic girl names with meanings, and our 116 unique Norwegian girl names to inspire you.