50 Viking Baby Names

The Vikings were Germanic people who created a base in Scandinavia and traveled by boat across the globe from 700 to 1100 AD. The word “Viking” itself translates to “pirate raid” in the Old Norse language, and a variation of the language is still spoken today in Iceland and in some other Norwegian countries. Interestingly, many popular Viking baby names actually come from Norse mythology.

Though some Viking baby names are quite popular, many are unusual enough in much of the world that you aren’t likely to encounter others with the same name—a plus for many parents seeking a unique name for their child.

Popular Viking Baby Names for Girls

Here are some of the most popular and unique Viking baby names for girls along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information.

Agatha

• Origin: Viking, Greek
• Meaning: Goodhearted
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aga, Agacia, Agata, Agathe, Agathi, Agatka, Agatta, Agetha
• Famous Namesakes: Agatha Barbara (former and first woman President of Malta) Agatha Christie (British author)
• Peak Popularity: Agatha peaked in popularity in 1918, when 218 people were given the name in the states.

Astrid

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Godly or divine strength, divine beauty
• Famous Namesakes: Astrid Lindgren (author who penned Pippi Longstocking and Six Bullerby Children), Astrid Bergès-Frisbey (French-Spaniard actress)
• Peak Popularity: Astrid was a particularly common name from 1900 to 1916 and experienced a small spike in 2005 when 264 people in the U.S. were given the name.

Brenna

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Sword
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Brennda, Brenda
• Famous Namesakes: Brenna Todd (writer), Brenna Whitaker (jazz singer)
• Peak Popularity: Brenna reached height popularity in 1995 when 1,211 individuals were given the name.

Dagny

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: A new day started
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dagne, Dagnee, Dagney, Dagni, Dagnia, Dagnie, Dagnija
• Famous Namesakes: Dagny (Dags) Knutson (American swimmer)
• Peak Popularity: Dagny was most popular in 1901 when 13 people were given the name in the U.S.

Dahlia

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Dahlia flower
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dalia
• Famous Namesakes: Dahlia Lithwick (journalist)
• Peak Popularity: Dahlia received its greatest peak in popularity during 2012 when 577 people were so named in the U.S.

Ella

• Origin: Viking, Greek
• Meaning: Sympathy, compassion
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ele, Elle
• Famous Namesakes: Ella Rae Wahlberg (daughter of Mark Wahlberg and Rhea Durham), Ella Alexander Rodriguez (daughter of Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Scurtis)
• Peak Popularity: Ella saw its greatest peak in popularity during 2010 when 9,796 people were given the name.

Eda

• Origin: Viking, Greek
• Meaning: Poetry, wealthy, happy
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Edda
• Famous Namesakes: Edda Renouf (artist)
• Peak Popularity: Eda was particularly popular from 1880 to 1932, reaching height popularity during 1916 when 100 people were given this name. 

Emma

• Origin: Viking, Germanic, Old Danish
• Meaning: Whole, universal
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ema
• Famous Namesakes: Emma Watson (British actress known for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series)
• Peak Popularity: Emma reached its peak popularity in 2003 when 22,669 people were given this name. 

Erica

• Origin: Viking, English
• Meaning: Ruling forever
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Erika, Ericka, Erykah
• Famous Namesakes: Erica Durance (Canadian actress known for playing Lois Lane in the TV series "Smallville"), Erykah Badu (musician)
• Peak Popularity: Erica was a particularly common name from 1960 to 2018, reaching peak popularity in 1971 when 911 people were so named in the U.S.

Freya

• Origin: Viking, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian
• Meaning: A noble woman
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Freja, Freyja, Frea, Frøya
• Famous Namesakes: Dame Freya Madeline Stark (a British travel writer and explorer)
• Peak Popularity: Freya is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000. 

Frida

• Origin: Viking, Germanic
• Meaning: Woman of peace
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Freeda, Freida, Frieda
• Famous Namesakes: Frida Lyngstad (member of the Swedish pop group ABBA), Frida Kahlo (Mexican artist)
• Peak Popularity: Frida was most popular in 2003, when 407 people were given the name in the U.S.

Helga

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Divine woman
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hella, Helka, Helle, Olga
• Famous Namesakes: Helga Glantschnig (writer), Helga Masthoff (tennis player)
• Peak Popularity: Helga reached its height popularity in 1899 when 29 people in the US received this name.

Ingrid

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Beautiful woman, goddess
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Inkeri, Inger
• Famous Namesakes: Ingrid Asensio (model), Ingrid Jonker (writer)
• Peak Popularity: Ingrid was most popular in the U.S. during 1967, when 573 people were given the name. 

Kari

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Chaste, pure
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kerry, Keri, Karie, Carrey
• Famous Namesakes: Kari Byron (U.S. artist and television personality), Kari Matchett (Canadian actress)
• Peak Popularity: The greatest number of people were given this name in 1982 when 2,220 people in the U.S.

Kelsey

• Origin: Viking 
• Meaning: From the island of ships
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kelcie, Kelsea, Kelsi, Kelsie, Kelsee
• Famous Namesakes: Kelsey Chow (U.S. actress), Kelsey Card )a U.S. track and field athlete)
• Peak Popularity: In 1992, 11,722 people were given the name Kelsey in the United States.

Liv

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Of life
• Famous Namesakes: Liv Tyler (actress and daughter of Steven Tyler, the lead singer of the legendary rock band Aerosmith)
• Peak Popularity: Liv reached height popularity in 2011 when 266 people were given the name in the United States.

Matilda

• Origin: Viking, Germanic 
• Meaning: Powerful and mighty in battle
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mathilde, Matylda, Mafalda, Mathilda
• Famous Namesakes: Matilda Coxe Stevenson (U.S. ethnologist and author), Empress Matilda (first female ruler of England)
• Peak Popularity: Matilda reached peak popularity during 1918, when 690 individuals were given the name.

Randi

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Lovely goddess, shield, shrine
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Randy, Randie
• Famous Namesakes: Randi Rhodes (U.S. political commentator, activist, and talk radio host)
• Peak Popularity: Randi was particularly popular from 1940 to 2018. It peaked in popularity during 1982 when 1,087 people received the name.

Sandey

• Origin: Viking 
• Meaning: Protector of humanity
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sandy, Sandi, Sandie
• Famous Namesakes: Sandy Duncan (U.S. actress), Sandy Dennis (U.S actress)
• Peak Popularity: Sandy reached height popularity in 1960 when 3,647 people in the U.S. were given the name.

Selby

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: From the farm of willows, where the willows grow
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Shelby, Shelbi
• Famous Namesakes: Shelby Young, Shelby Lane (actresses)
• Peak Popularity: Selby was most popular in 1991 when 10,213 people were given this name in the US. 

Sigrid

• Origin: Viking 
• Meaning: Marvelous victory, beautiful woman who leads to victory
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Siegrid, Siegrida, Sigryd
• Famous Namesakes: Sigrid Wolf (Austrian alpine skier and Olympic gold winner), Sigrid Thornton (Australian actress)
• Peak Popularity: Segrid was particularly popular from 1890 through 1915, reaching its peak in popularity in 1915 when 48 people were given the name. 

Sylvi

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: From the house of strength
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Solvi, Solvej, Solveig
• Famous Namesakes: Sylvi Bratten, Sylvi Graham (Norwegian politicians)
• Peak Popularity: Sylvi is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000.

True

• Origin: Viking, German
• Meaning: Real, genuine
• Famous Namesakes: True Thompson (daughter of Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson)
• Peak Popularity: True peaked in popularity in 1895, when 7 people were given the name in the US.

Tyra

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Like thunder
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Thyra, Thora 
• Famous Namesakes: Tyra Banks (U.S. Model), Tyra Ferrell (U.S. actress)
• Peak Popularity: Tyra reached peak popularity in 1998 when 943 people in the U.S. were given the name.

Yrsa

• Origin: Viking, Icelandic
• Meaning: Wild she-bear
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ursa
• Famous Namesakes: Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (Icelandic novelist)
• Peak Popularity: Yrsa is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000.

Ylva

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Female wolf
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: NA
• Famous Namesakes:Ylva Johansson, European commissioner for Home Affairs; Ylva Loof, Swedish actress
• Peak Popularity: Ylva is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000. 

Popular Viking Baby Names for Boys

Here are some popular and unique Viking baby names for boys along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information.

Ake

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Forebear, ancestor
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aki
• Famous Namesakes: Åke Borg (Swedish Olympian swimmer in the 1924 games), Åke Edwardson (Swedish author)
• Peak Popularity: Ake (AW-Kee) is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000. 

Aren

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Eagle, eagle ruler
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Arne, Arend
• Famous Namesakes: Aren Miller (retired ice hockey player for the Detroit Redwings)
• Peak Popularity: Aren peaked in 1916 when 69 people in the U.S. were given the name.

Ari

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Lion
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Arie
• Famous Namesakes: Ari Fleischer (White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush), Ari Shapiro (correspondent for National Public Radio)
• Peak Popularity: Ari has been growing in popularity since 1968 and experienced its largest peak in 2018 when 874 people received the name in the US. 

Axel

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Man of peace
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aksel, Acksel
• Famous Namesakes: Axel Alonso (Fformer editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics), Axel Toupane (former NBA player for the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks)
• Peak Popularity: The name Axel experienced its largest peak in the US during 2011, when 3,026 people were given the name.  

Bo

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: The Resident, Living, Fair, Beautiful
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Beau
• Famous Namesakes: Bo Jackson (former MLB and NFL player), Bo Burnam (American comedian, actor, and songwriter)
• Peak Popularity: The name Bo reached height popularity in 2011, when 291 people were given the name in the US. 

Brand

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Sword, firebrand, beacon, fiery torch
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Brandt, Brantley, Brandon
• Peak Popularity: Brand is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000. 

Billi

• Origin: Viking, Germanic 
• Meaning: Will to protect
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Billie, Billy, Billye, Billee
• Famous Namesakes: Billie Joe Armstrong (lead singer and guitarist of Green Day)
• Peak Popularity: The name Billi reached its peak in 1930 when 1,468 people were given this name. 

Bjorn

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Bear
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: BJÖRN, BJØRN
• Famous Namesakes: Bjorn Ulvaeus (member and guitarist of ABBA)
• Peak Popularity: Bjorn reached its peak in the US in 2018, when 250 people were given the name. 

Corey

• Origin: Viking, Germanic, Irish, Gaelic
• Meaning: Chosen
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cori, Koree, Korey, Corrie, Corie, Cory, Correy, Kory
• Famous Namesakes: Corey Perry (NHL player for the Anaheim Ducks), Corey Taylor (lead vocalist for bands Slipknot and Stonesour)
• Peak Popularity: Corey peaked in popularity during 1989 when 8,011 people received this name in the US. 

Dane

• Origin: Viking, English
• Meaning: Dweller in the valley, God is my judge, from Denmark
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dayne, Dean, Dene, Danhy
• Famous Namesakes: Dane Cook (U.S. comediaN and actor), Dane Lorg (MLB player for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals)
• Peak Popularity: The name Dane peaked in 1986, when 1,067 people were given the name in the US.

Dustin

• Origin: Viking, English
• Meaning: Thor’s stone
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Thorstein, Dorsteinn
• Famous Namesakes: Dustin Hoffman, Dustin Diamond (U.S. actors)
• Peak Popularity: The name Dustin peaked in 1985, when 10,436 individuals were given the name in the US. 

Erik

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: King forever, eternal ruler
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Erick, Eric, Erich, Aric, Aurick, Arrick, Arik, Arick, Aaric (Frederick), Erico
• Famous Namesakes: Eric Clapton (three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Eric Chavez, (MLB third baseman)
• Peak Popularity: Erik peaked in 2007 when 2,414 people in the U.S. were given the name.

Finn

• Origin: Viking, Irish 
• Meaning: Fair, light
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fynn, Fionn
• Famous Namesakes: Finn Dossing, Finn Seeman (soccer players)
• Peak Popularity: Finn hit peak popularity in 2012 when 1,205 people in the U.S. were given the name.

Frode

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Wise, enlightened, clever 
• Famous Namesakes: Frode Andresen (Norwegian biathlete and skier), Frode Estil (Norwegian cross-country skier), Frode Bovim (Olympic sailor)
• Peak Popularity: Frode is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000.

Gunner

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Army, warrior
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gunnarr, Gunnar, Gunar
• Famous Namesakes: Gunnar Hansen (an actor most famous for his role in Texas Chainsaw Massacre) 
• Peak Popularity: Gunnar peaked in popularity during 2012 when 1,194 people were given the name in the US.

Gram

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Grey hill, from the gray home, gravelly land, farm home,
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Graham
• Famous Namesakes: Graham Norton (Irish actor and talk show host), Alexander Graham Bell (inventor, scientist, and engineer)
• Peak Popularity: Gram peaked in the US during 2012 when 1,706 people were given the name.  

Gustav

• Origin: Viking, Germanic
• Meaning: Staff of the gods
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gustave, Gustaf, Gus
• Famous Namesakes: Gustav Elijah Åhr (U.S. rapper known as Lil Peep), Gustav Mahler (composer), Gustav Klimt (Austrian painter)
• Peak Popularity: The name Gustav peaked in 1917 when 100 people were given the name in the US.  

Harald

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Powerful man in the army, army ruler
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Harold, Harry
• Famous Namesakes: Harald V (King of Norway since 1991)
• Peak Popularity: This name peaked in the US in 1924 when there were 14,140 people given the name.  

Kirk

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Church, of the church, dweller of the church
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kerk
• Famous Namesakes: Kirk Douglas (U.S. Actor), Kirk Gibson (former MLB player and current Arizona Diamondbacks manager)
• Peak Popularity: The name Kirk peaked during 1962 in the U.S. when 2,550 people were given the name. 

Kol

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Dark, victory of the people
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cole, Kole, Khol, Kohl
• Famous Namesakes: Cole Mitchell Sprouse (actor known for his role in the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)
• Peak Popularity: Cole saw its peak in the US during 2002 when 6,034 people were given the name. 

Loki

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Mischievous, trickster, god of destruction
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Loke
• Famous Namesakes: Loki (Norse God)
• Peak Popularity: Loki is a unique name that is not listed in the top 1,000.

Leif

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Successor, descendant, heir
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Leiv, Leiff
• Famous Namesakes: Leif Ericson (explorer considered to have discovered America before Christopher Columbus), Leif Garrett (U.S. singer, actor, and television personality)
• Peak Popularity: This name reached peak popularity in 1979 when 181 people in the U.S. were so named. 

Manning

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Powerful and valiant, son of man, son of the hero
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Manangi
• Famous Namesakes: Manning Force Hayes (son of President Rutherford B. Hayes)
• Peak Popularity: This name peaked during 1916 when 44 individuals received the name in the U.S. 

Oliver

• Origin: Viking, Germanic
• Meaning: Elf warrior, descendant
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Áleifr, Olaf, Olliver, Olivier
• Famous Namesakes: Oliver Stone (director of Scarface) Oliver Platt (U.S. actor and Golden Globe nominee)
• Peak Popularity: Oliver peaked in the U.S. during 2012, when 5,866 people received the name. 

Oscar

• Origin: Viking
• Meaning: Friend of the deer, God’s spear
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Oskar, Ásgeirr
• Famous Namesakes: Oscar Wilde (Irish Writer), Oscar de la Hoya (Mexican-American Boxer), Oscar de la Renta (fashion designer)
• Peak Popularity: The name Oscar peaked in 2006 when 3,552 people received the name.