Sigurd

Gender: Masculine

Origin: Norse

Meaning: “Protector of victory.”

Pronunciation: (SEE-gur); (SIH-gur)

Nicknames: Sig, Sjur

Detail: From the Old Norse name Sigurðr, which was derived from the elements sigr “victory” and varðr “guardian”.

Sigurd is a hero in Norse legend, which tells how his foster-father Regin sent him to recover a hoard of gold guarded by the dragon Fafnir. After slaying the dragon, Sigurd tasted some of its blood, enabling him to understand the language of birds. By listening to the birds Sigurd learned that Regin was planning to betray him.

4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

Fenrir

Gender: Masculine

Origin: Old Norse

Pronunciation: (FEHN-rir)

Nicknames: Fen, Fenno

Detail: The meaning Fenrir is disputed on is thought to be the Old Norse “fen-dweller”. Another idea is the short form of Fenrisúlfr. Which means “Fenris-wolf”, derived from the name Fenris combined with Old Norse úlfr “wolf.” The etymology of the name Fenris is uncertain; it is thought that it is derived from Old Norse fen “moor, marsh, swamp” and Old Norse hris “brushwood, shrub.”

In Norse mythology, Fenrir is a monstrous wolf and is foretold to kill the god Odin during the events of Ragnarök (the end of the world).

J. K. Rowling also uses the name for one of her werewolf characters, Fenrir Greyback, in the popular Harry Potter series.

Embla

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Norse

Meaning: “Elm tree.”

Pronunciation: (EM-blah)

Nicknames: Emb, Emmie

Detail: According to Norse mythology, the first humans were carved from trees by Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve. They cut down an Ash tree and from it made the first man, Ask. From an elm tree they carved the first woman, Embla.

Freyja

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Norse

Meaning: “Lady.”

Pronunciation: (FREY-yah)

Nicknames: Frey, Fay, Reya, Ray

Detail: Freyja is a goddess in Norse mythology associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr (witchcraft), war, and death.

In most Germanic languages the day is named after Freyja, such as Frīatag (Old High German), Freitag (Modern German), Freyjudagr (Old Norse), Vrijdag (Dutch), Fredag (Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish)

Variations:

• Freia
• Freja
• Freya
• Freyja

Finn

Gender: Masculine

Origin: Old Norse

Meaning: “Fair; Wanderer.”

Pronunciation: (fin)

Detail: Huckleberry Finn is the title character of the Mark Twain novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

In the Prose Edda, Finn is of the lineage of Thor.

Male Variations:

• Finn
• Finnr (Old Norse)
• Finnur
• Fionn (Gaelic)

Female Variations:

• Finn
• Finna

Idunn

Idun by Arthur Rackham

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Norse

Meaning: “Ever young; rejuvenator.”

Pronunciation: (EE-doon) [“oo” short like in “book”]

Detail: In Norse mythology Idunn is the goddess of spring and wife of Bragi. She is the keeper of the apples of the gods. Whoever eats of these apples will be granted eternal life and youth.

Variations:

• Idonea
• Idonia
• Idony (ID-uh-nee)
• Idun
• Idunn
• Ithun (EE-thoon)
• Ydun

Lokasenna

Gender: Feminine

Origin: Norse

Meaning: “Loki’s flyting; Loki’s quarrel.”

Pronunciation: (LOK-a-SEN-na)

Nicknames: Loka, Lok, Loki, Senna

Detail: Lokasenna is one of the poems of the Poetic Edda. In this poem the gods exchange insults with Loki.