Names of Odin and What They Mean

Odin never traveled under one name for long. The Norse poets called him Grímnir, the Masked One; Hárbarðr, Greybeard; Yggr, the Terrible One; and more than 150 other names, while each showed a different face: wanderer, war-father, poet, hanged god, trickster. In fact, learning the names of Odin is one of the best ways to understand the most complicated god of the Norse world. So this page gathers the names of Odin from A to Z, with what each one means and where it is found.

Best-Known Names of Odin

Short on time? Then these ten names of Odin are the ones you will meet most often in the myths. Each one also links to its letter in the full A to Z list.

• Alfǫðr – All-father, the name most readers already know
• Grímnir – hooded or masked one
• Hárbarðr – hoary beard or gray beard
• Yggr – terrible one
• Valfǫðr – father of the slain
• Gangleri – the one tired from walking
• Vegtam – wanderer or way-tame
• Bǫlverkr – evil-doer or malefactor
• Hárr – High
• Sigfǫðr – father of victory or war father

Want a name of your own? Try our free Viking Name Generator, then write it in runes.

What Does the Name Odin Mean?

Professor Jackson Crawford, an American scholar and translator of Old Norse, says that Odin’s name could come from one of three cognates. First, the “Od” could represent anger or insanity, and Adam of Bremen, writing around 1075, explained the name in Latin as “Wodan, id est furor,” “Wodan, that is, fury.” In that case, this would make Odin “the mad one.” Another possibility is that the “Od” comes from an uncommon word meaning “mind, spirit, or character.” Finally, the last cognate is another rare word meaning “song, poem, or ode.” Still, Crawford thinks the first interpretation is probably the most correct. He also walks through all three in a short video at the end of this page.

Wotan, Wodan, and Godan: Other Names of Odin

Odin’s name changes accent as it travels. Odin is the Old Norse form, and Odin is its modern English spelling. For example, the Anglo-Saxons called him Wōden; the Old High German form was Wuotan (made famous as Wotan in Wagner’s operas); and the Lombards of northern Italy knew him as Godan or Wodan. Ultimately, all of them descend from Proto-Germanic *Wōðanaz. That is why the middle of our week is Wednesday: Old English Wōdnesdæg, ‘Woden’s day.’ Finally, Crawford compares Odin, Wotan, and Woden in the second video below.

How Many Names of Odin Are There?

In fact, no one can give a single number. The poems, sagas, and old name lists record more than 150 names of Odin. So when counted with their variant spellings, they fill the 191 entries below. Some are true names, some are nicknames, and some are kennings, poetic phrases such as Farmr galga, “gallows’ burden.” Odin himself says as much:

A single name have I never had
Since first among men I fared.

Odin in Grímnismál, stanza 48, translated by Henry Adams Bellows (1923)

Most of the names of Odin come from a few places. First, in the Eddic poem Grímnismál, Odin, disguised as Grímnir, reveals himself by reciting a long run of his own names. Then Snorri Sturluson repeats many of them in Gylfaginning. In addition, Óðins nǫfn (“Odin’s names”) adds dozens more. It is one of the þulur, verse lists of poetic names copied at the end of Snorri’s Skáldskaparmál in some manuscripts, so it is the source you will see most often below. Finally, the rest are scattered through skaldic verse, the sagas, and later Icelandic rímur. Also, for the other gods and beings named here, see our Norse Mythology Vocabulary.

The Names of Odin, A to Z

Many names have more than one possible translation, and the poets often enjoyed more than one meaning at once, so where scholars disagree we list the options. However, where an entry names no poem or saga, our reference lists record the name without one. Also, no names in the list begin with C, M, P, or Q. The names of Odin include the following:

Jump to: A · B · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · N · O · R · S · T · U · V · Y

Names of Odin Starting With A

• Aldafaðr or Aldafǫðr – the father of human beings, found in Óðins nǫfn and Vafþrúðnismál.
• Aldagautr – Man-Gautr or man-god, found in Baldrs draumar.
• Alfǫðr or Alfodr – the well-known appellation “All-father,” found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Algingautr – the aged Gautr or aged god, found in the Icelandic Rune Poem.
• Angan Friggjar – delight of Frigg, found in Vǫluspá.
• Arnhǫfði – the one with the eagle’s head, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Asagrim or Ásagrimmr – Lord of the Aesir, found in Stolt Herr Alf.
• Atriðr or Atriði – attacker, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Auðun – friend of wealth, a name cognate with English Edwin and Lombard Audoin, found in Óðins nǫfn.

B

• Bági ulfs – enemy of the wolf, found in Sonatorrek.
• Baldrs faðir – Baldur’s father, found in a lausavísa (a single free-standing stanza) in Styrbjarnar þáttr Svíakappa.
• Báleygr or Baleyg – the one with flaming eyes, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál, Hallfreðr (Ottarsson) Vandræðaskáld’s Hákonardrápa, Gísl Illugason’s Erfikvæði um Magnús berfœtt, þulur, Óðins nǫfn, and Grettisrímur V.
• Biflindi – the one with the painted shield, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Bileygr or Bileyg – the one with poor sight, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Blindi or Blindr – the blind one, found in Gylfaginning and the prose Helgakviða Hundingsbana II.
• Brúni or Brúnn – the brown one or the one with bushy eyebrows, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Bǫðgæðir (genitive bǫðgœðis) – battle-promoter, found in a verse by the skald Hofgarða-Refr Gestsson.
• Bǫlverkr – evil-doer or malefactor, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Hávamál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn. Odin took this name when he went to win the mead of poetry.
• Bors niðr or Bors niðjar – Bor’s kinsman, found in a verse by Egill Skallagrímsson.
• Bragi – chieftain or lord, found in Höfuðlausn.
• Bróðir Vilis or Bróðir Vilja – Vili’s brother, found in Sonatorrek.
• Burs arfþegi – Bor’s heir, found in Hyndluljóð 30.
• Byrlindi – a distorted version of Biflindi, the one with the painted shield, found in Sturlaugsrímur III.

D

• Darraðr or Dorruðr – spearman, found in Blumetti’s The Norse Gods and Their Myths.
• Draugadróttinn – Lord of the undead or Lord of ghosts, found in Ynglinga saga, ch. 7.
• Dresvarpr – the real translation of this name is unknown, though one scholar suggests it means slander-thrower or instigator of slander, found in Óðins nǫfn.

E

• Eylúðr – the ever-booming, found in Óðins nǫfn.

F

• Faðmbyggvir Friggjar – dweller in Frigg’s embrace, found in Blumetti’s The Norse Gods and Their Myths.
• Farmagnuðr or Farmǫgnuðr – journey empowerer, found in Háleygjatal and Skáldskaparmál.
• Farmaguð, Farmagud, Farmatýr, or Farmatyr – god of burdens, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Farmr galga – gallows’ burden, found in Hávamál.
• Fengr – catch, catcher, or the one who leads the fallen heroes to Valhalla, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Fimbulþulr or Fimbulthul – mighty thuler (keeper of tradition), mighty speaker, or mighty wise one, found in Hávamál.
• Fimbultýr or Fimbultyr – mighty god, found in Vǫluspá.
• Fjallgeiguðr – shape (-shifting) god, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Fjǫlnir or Fjolnir – the one who knows much, found in Grímnismál, Reginsmál, Gylfaginning, þulur, Óðins nǫfn, Skíðaríma, and many skaldic poems.
• Fjǫlsviðr, Fjolsvid, or Fjolsvin – the very wise one, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Fornǫlvir – heathen ǫlvir, found in Óðins nǫfn. One translation of “ǫlvir” is “holy man” or “holy warrior.”
• Fráríðr or Fráríði – the one riding away, found in Óðins nǫfn, Grettisrímur III, and Sturlaugsrímur VI.
• Fundinn – the found one, found in Óláfsrímur Tryggvasonar AIII. Some scholars do not believe this refers to Odin.

G

• Gagnráðr, Gangráðr, Gagnrad, or Gangrad – the one who advises against, found in Vafþrúðnismál.
• Gangleri – the one tired from walking, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Gautatýr or Gautatyr – Gautland-god, found in Skáldskaparmál and Eyvindr Skáldaspillir’s Hákonarmál.
• Gautr, Gauti, or Gaut – the Gaut (Geat), linking Odin to the Gautar of what is now Götaland in Sweden, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál, Óðins nǫfn, Friðþjófsrímur, Skíðaríma, Landrésrímur, Hjálmþérsrímur, Geiplur, Bjarkarímur, Griplur, Þrændlur, Skáldhelgarímur, Blávusrímur, Geirarðsrímur, and Vǫlsungsrímur.
• Geirlǫðnir – the one who invites to the spear-battle, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Geirǫlnir – spear charger, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Geirtýr – gore- or spear god.
• Geirvaldr – gore- or spear master.
• Geldnir – gelding.
• Gestumblindi – blind guest, found in Hervarar saga, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Ginnarr – deceiver, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Gizurr – riddler, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Glapsviðr, Glapsvid, or Glapsvin – swift in deceit, swift tricker, maddener, or wise in magical spells, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Godan or Goden – the Lombard name for Odin, recorded by Paul the Deacon in his History of the Lombards (translated by W. D. Foulke).
• Goði hrafnblóts – Goði of the Raven-offering.
• Goðjaðarr – god protector, found in Sonatorrek.
• Gǫllnir, Gollorr, or Gǫllungr – yeller, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Gǫndlir or Gondlir – wand-bearer or wand-wielder, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Gramr Hliðskjálfar – Lord of the High Seat or King of Hliðskjalf, found in Skáldskaparmál.
• Grímnir or Grimnir – hooded or masked one, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld’s lausavísur, Eilífr Goðrúnarson’s Þórsdrápa, Húsdrápa, Rǫgnvaldr kali Kolsson’s lausavísur, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Grímr or Grim – mask, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Gunnblindi – battle blinder, found in Óðins nǫfn.

Names of Odin Starting With H

• Hagvirkr – skillful worker, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Hangadróttinn – lord of the hanged, found in Ynglinga saga.
• Hangaguð, Hangatýr, Hangagud, or Hangatyr – god of the hanged, found in Gylfaginning and Skáldskaparmál.
• Hangi – hanged one.
• Haptabeiðir – commander of leaders.
• Haptaguð or Haptagud – god of prisoners, found in Gylfaginning.
• Haptasnytrir – teacher of gods, found in the þulur.
• Haptsǫnirî – fetter loosener.
• Hárbarðr or Harbard – hoary beard or gray beard, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, Hárbarðsljóð, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Hárr or Har – High, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Harri Hliðskjálfar – lord of Hliðskjalf.
• Hávi or Havi – High One, found in Hávamál and Óðins nǫfn.
• Heimþinguðr hanga – visitor of the hanged, found in Gylfaginning.
• Helblindi – Hel blinder, found in Gylfaginning and Grímnismál.
• Hengikeptr or Hengikjopt – hang jaw, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Herblindi – host blinder, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Herfǫðr, Herjafǫðr, Herfodr, or Herjafodr – father of hosts, found in Gylfaginning, Vǫluspá, Vafþrúðnismál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Hergautr – Host Gautr, found in the þulur.
• Herjan – warrior, harrier, lord, or leader of hosts, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, Óðins nǫfn, and Vǫluspá.
• Herteitr or Herteit – glad of war, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Hertýr or Hertyr – host-tyr or god of hosts, found in Skáldskaparmál.
• Hildolfr – battle wolf, found in Hárbarðsljóð.
• Hjaldrgegnir – engager of battle, found in the þulur.
• Hjaldrgoð – god of battle, found in the þulur.
• Hjálmberi or Hjalmberi – helmet bearer, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Hjarrandi – screamer, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Hléfreyr – famous or barrow lord, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Hleifruðr – way finder, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Hnikarr or Hnikar – overthrower or thruster, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, Reginsmál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Hnikuðr or Hnikud – overthrower, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Hoárr – one-eyed.
• Hǫtter – hatter, hooded one, or hat-wearer, found in the þulur.
• Hovi – high one, found in Hávamál.
• Hrafnaguð, Hrafnáss, or Hrafnagud – raven god, found in Gylfaginning.
• Hrafnfreistuðr – raven tester or raven tempter.
• Hrami – fetterer or ripper, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Hrani – blusterer, found in Hrólfs saga kraka.
• Hrjóðr – roarer, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Hroptr, Hroptatýr, Hropt, or Hroptatyr – some scholars say this means ‘sage’, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Hákonarmál, Úlfr Uggason’s Húsdrápa, Hávamál, Grímnismál, Sigrdrífumál, Óðins nǫfn, and Vǫluspá.
• Hrosshársgrani – horse hair mustache, found in Gautreks saga and Óðins nǫfn.
• Hvatmóðr – keen-spirited or bold of mood, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Hveðrungr – roarer or weather-maker, found in Óðins nǫfn.

I

• Ít-rekr – glorious ruler, inferred from the Nafnaþulur, where Odin’s son with another god are called Ítreksjóð.

J

• Jafnhárr or Jafnhar – “Evenhigh,” just as high, or equally high, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Jalfaðr – yellow-brown back, found in Grímnismál.
• Jálg, Jálkr, or Jalk – gelding, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Járngrímr – iron mask.
• Jólnir or Jǫlnir – Yule figure, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Jolfr – horse-wolf or bear.
• Jǫlfuðr or Jǫlfǫðr – Yule father, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Jǫrmunr – the mighty one or cosmic, found in Óðins nǫfn.

K

• Kjalarr or Kjalar – keel or nourisher, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.

L

• Langbarðr or Langbard – long beard, found in þulur and Óðins nǫfn.
• Lǫndungr or Loðungr – shaggy cloak wearer, found in Óðins nǫfn.

N

• Njótr – user, enjoyer, or needed one, found in Óðins nǫfn.

O

• Odin – frenzy, rage, or inspiration (see the meaning of Odin’s name above).
• Ófnir – inciter, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Olgr – protector or hawk, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Ómi or Omi – resounding one, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Óski or Oski – god of wishes or wished for, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.

R

• Rauðgrani – red mustache, found in Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss and Örvar-Odds saga.
• Reiðartýr – wagon god or god of riders.
• Rǫgnir – chief or he who reigns, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Rúnatýr – god of runes.
• Runni vagna – mover of constellations.

Names of Odin Starting With S

• Saðr, Sadr, or Sann – truthful or sooth, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Sanngetall – finder of truth or sooth, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Síðgrani or Sidgrani – long beard, found in Alvíssmál.
• Síðhǫttr or Sidhott – broad hat, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Síðskeggr or Sidskegg – long beard, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Sigðir – victory giver, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Sigfǫðr or Sigfodr – father of victory or war father, found in Gylfaginning, Vǫluspá, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Siggautr – victory Geat, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Sigmundr – victory protection, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Sigrhofundr – victory author, found in Sonatorrek.
• Sigrúnnr – victory tree.
• Sigtryggr – sure of victory or victory-true, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Sigtýr or Sigtyr – god of victory or war god, found in Skáldskaparmál, Atlakviða, and Glúmr Geirason’s Gráfeldardrápa.
• Sigþrór – successful in victory or thriving in victory, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Skilfingr or Skilfing – trembler or he of Hliðskjálf, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Skollvaldr – ruler of treachery, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Sonr Bestlu – son of Bestla.
• Spjalli Gauta – confidant of the Gauts (Geats), found in Sonatorrek.
• Sváfnir or Svafnir – sleep bringer or closer, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Sveigðir – reed bringer.
• Sviðarr or Svidar – the burner or destroyer, found in Gylfaginning.
• Sviðrir or Svidrir – calmer, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Sviðuðr – the burner or destroyer, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Sviðurr or Svidur – wise one, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Svipall – changing, fleeting, or shape-shifter, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Svǫlnir or Svolnir – cooler, found in Skáldskaparmál and Óðins nǫfn.

T

• Tveggi – double or twofold, found in Óðins nǫfn and Vǫluspá.
• Tvíblindi or Tviblindi – twice blind, found in þulur and Óðins nǫfn.
• Þekkr or Thekk – known or welcome one, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Þrasarr – quarreler, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Þriði or Thridi – third, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Þriggi – triple, found in Grímnismál and Óðins nǫfn.
• Þrór or Thror – burgeoning or thriving, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Þróttr or Thrott – strength, found in Glymdrápa.
• Þuðr, Thud, or Thunn – lean or pale, found in Gylfaginning and Óðins nǫfn.
• Þundr or Thund – thunderer, found in Gylfaginning, Hávamál, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.

U

• Uðr, Ud, or Unn – loved, beloved, or striver, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.

V

• Váfuðr or Vafud – wanderer, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, and Grímnismál.
• Váfuðr Gungnis – swinger of Gungnir (Odin’s spear).
• Váði vitnis – foe of the wolf.
• Vakr or Vak – wakeful or awakener, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Valdr galga – ruler of gallows.
• Valdr vagnbrautar – ruler of heaven.
• Valfǫðr or Valfodr – father of the slain, found in Gylfaginning, Vǫluspá, Grímnismál, þulur, and Óðins nǫfn.
• Valgautr or Valgaut – slaughter-Geat or Geat of the slain, found in Skáldskaparmál and Óðins nǫfn.
• Valkjosandi – chooser of the slain, the same title the valkyries carry.
• Valtamr or Valtam – ‘slain-tame’ (one at home among the slain), the name Odin gives as his father when he travels in disguise as Vegtam in Baldrs draumar.
• Valtýr – slain god.
• Valþognir – slain receiver, found in the þulur.
• Vegtam – wanderer or way-tame, found in Baldrs draumar.
• Veratýr or Veratyr – god of men or god of being, found in Gylfaginning and Óðins nǫfn.
• Víðfrægr – wide-famed.
• Viðrir or Vidrir – stormer, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Lokasenna, and Hrafnagaldr Óðins.
• Viðrímnir or Viðhrimnir – contrary screamer or wide hoary-beard, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Viðurr or Vidur – killer, found in Gylfaginning, Grímnismál, Óðins nǫfn, and the Karlevi Runestone.
• Vingnir – swinger, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Vinr Lopts – friend of Loptr, another name for Loki.
• Vinr Lóðurs – friend of Lóðurr.
• Vinr Míms – friend of Mimir, found in Sonatorrek.
• Vinr stalla – friend of altars.
• Vófuðr – dangler, found in Óðins nǫfn.
• Vǫlundr rómu – smith of battle, found in Þiðrekssaga.

Y

• Yggr or Ygg – terrible one, found in Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Vǫluspá, Grímnismál, and Óðins nǫfn. The world tree Yggdrasil is generally read as “Yggr’s horse,” a poetic name for Odin’s gallows.
• Ýjungr or Ýrungr – stormy or of the primal streams, found in Óðins nǫfn.