Old Norse Names, Surnames and Nicknames
Five sourced guides: what real Old Norse names mean, how Vikings handled last names and nicknames, what the TV show’s names mean, and how to say it all.
- 5 guides
- Sourced
- Updated November 1, 2026
Background reading to go with the name generators: real historical names, surnames and nicknames, and how Old Norse actually sounds.
Real Old Norse Names and Their Meanings
A glossary of actual attested Old Norse names, what they meant, and how patronymic naming worked.
How Old Norse Actually Sounds
The general sound system behind Old Norse: stress, special letters, and common patterns.
Viking Last Names: What Real Norse Surnames Looked Like
How -son and -dóttir patronymics worked, what bynames were, when fixed surnames began, and which English surnames come from Old Norse.
Viking Nicknames: Real Bynames and What They Meant
Recorded nicknames from the sagas, sorted by type, with the Old Norse where known and the stories behind them.
Vikings TV Show Names: What They Mean and Who Was Real
What Ragnar, Lothbrok, Floki, Lagertha and Ivar mean, and which characters were real, legendary or invented.