List of valkyrie names

List of valkyrie names

In Norse mythology, a valkyrie (from Old Norse valkyrja "chooser of the slain") is one of a host of female figures who decide who will die in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field Flkvangr), the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin. There, when the einherjar are not preparing for the events of Ragnark, the valkyries bear them mead. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals, where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens, and sometimes connected to swans.

"Walkyrien" (1905) by Emil Doepler

The Old Norse poems Vlusp, Grmnisml, Darraarlj, and the Nafnaulur section of the Prose Edda book Skldskaparml provide lists of valkyrie names. Other valkyrie names appear solely outside these lists, such as Sigrn (who is attested in the poems Helgakvia Hundingsbana I and Helgakvia Hundingsbana II). Valkyrie names commonly emphasize associations with battle and, in many cases, with the speara weapon heavily associated with the god Odin.[1] Scholars such as Hilda Ellis Davidson and Rudolf Simek propose that the names of the valkyries themselves contain no individuality, but are rather descriptive of the traits and nature of war-goddesses, and are possibly the descriptive creations of skalds, a type of traditional Scandinavian poet.[2] Some valkyrie names may be descriptive of the roles and abilities of the valkyries. The valkyrie name Herja may point to an etymological connection to Hariasa, a Germanic goddess attested on a stone from 187 CE.[3] The name Herfjtur has been theorized as pointing to the ability of the valkyries to place fetters, which would connect the valkyries to the earlier Idisi.[4] The name Svipul may be descriptive of the influence the valkyries have over wyrd or rloga Germanic concept of fate.[5]

Valkyrie names
Name Brynhildr Eir Geirah Name meaning "Armor battle" or "bright battle" "Peace, clemency"
[7] [6] [8]

Referred to as a valkyrie in Skldskaparml Nafnaulur Appears in some manuscripts of Grmnisml in place of the [9] valkyrie name Geirlul Nafnaulur

or "help, mercy"

Connected to the Old Norse words geirr ("spear") and h [9] ("battle").
[9] [9]

Geiravr Geirdriful Geirnul, Geirrnul, Geirmul, Geirlul (various spellings)

"Spear-vr"

"Spear-flinger"

Nafnaulur

Uncertain; possibly connected to the Odinic name Geirlnir and the Grmnisml, Nafnaulur [9] dwarf name lnir. Possibly meaning "the one charging forth with [9] the spear". The form Geirlul may be connected to the runic charm [9] word alu. "Spear-skgul" "Tumult"
[11] [10]

Geirskgul Gll

(see Skgul entry below)

[12]

Hkonarml, Vlusp, Nafnaulur Grmnisml, Nafnaulur

or "noise, battle"

List of valkyrie names

2
[11] [13]

Gndul Gur or Gunnr Herfjtur Herja

"Wand-wielder" "War"
[11]

Vlusp, Nafnaulur Vlusp, Darraarlj, Gylfaginning, Nafnaulur

[4]

or "battle"
[11]

"Host-fetter"

or "fetter of the army"

Grmnisml, Nafnaulur Nafnaulur

Related to the Old Norse herja and Old High German herjn [14] (meaning "devastate") "Hlagur swan-white" "Battle"
[16] [15]

Hlagur svanhvt Hildr Hjalmrimul Hervr alvitr Hjrrimul

Vlundarkvia Vlusp, Grmnisml, Darraarlj, Nafnaulur

[17] [18]

Possibly "Helmet clatterer" or "female warrior"

Nafnaulur Vlundarkvia

Alvitr possibly means "all-wise" or "strange creature"

"The sword warrioress," derived from Old Norse hjrr ("sword") and Darraarlj, Nafnaulur [17] rima ("battle, noise") "Noise, battle"
[11]

Hlkk Hrist

Grmnisml, Nafnaulur Grmnisml, Nafnaulur

Related to Old Norse hrista (meaning "shake, quake") and therefore [19] meaning "the quaking one" "Pricker"
[11]

Hrund Kra

Nafnaulur Helgakvia Hundingsbana II

Either "the wild, stormy one" (based on Old Norse afkrr, meaning [20] "wild") or "curl" or "the curly one" "Cloud" or "Mist"
[21] [22] [23]

Mist lrn Randgrr, Randgrid Rgrr Reginleif Rta

Grmnisml, Nafnaulur Vlundarkvia Grmnisml, Nafnaulur Grmnisml, Nafnaulur Grmnisml, Nafnaulur Gylfaginning

Possibly "ale-rune" "Shield-truce"

[11]

or possibly "shield-destroyer" or possibly "the bossy"

[24] [25]

"Council-truce" "Power-trace"

[11]

[11]

or "daughter of the gods"

Possibly connected to the Old Norse noun rta (meaning "sleet and [26] storm") "Very violent, very cruel" "Victory-urger" "Victory rune" "Sword-time" "Axe-age" "Shaker"
[11] [27] [28]

Sanngrir Sigrdrfa Sigrn Skalmld Skeggld or Skeggjld Skgul Skuld Svei Svipul

Darraarlj Sigrdrfuml Helgakvia Hundingsbana I, Helgakvia Hundingsbana II Nafnaulur Grmnisml, Nafnaulur

[1]

or "inciter to victory"

[11]

[29]

[11]

[11]

or possibly "high-towering"
[30]

Hkonarml, Vlusp, Grmnisml, Nafnaulur Vlusp, Gylfaginning, Nafnaulur

Possibly "debt" or "future"

Unclear; possibly "vibration" or "noise" "Changeable"

[5]

[31]

Nafnaulur Darraarlj, Nafnaulur

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[32]

gn rima rr

"Silence" "Fight"

Nafnaulur Nafnaulur or "power"

[35]

[33] [34]

"Strength"

Grmnisml, Nafnaulur

Notes
[1] Davidson (1988:96). [2] Examples include Davidson (1988:9697) and Simek (2007:349). [3] Simek (2007:143). For Hariasa, Simek (2007:131). [4] Simek (2007:142). [5] Simek (2007:308). [6] For "armor battle", see Haymes (2010:27). For "bright battle", see Orchard (1997:193). [7] Lindow (2001:105). [8] Orchard (1997:36). [9] Simek (2007:102). [10] Orchard (1997:193). [11] Orchard (1997:194). [12] Simek (2007:115). [13] Simek (2007:125). [14] Simek (2007:143). [15] Simek (2007:151). [16] Orchard (1997:192). [17] Simek (2007:150). [18] Orchard (1997:83). [19] Simek (2007:160). [20] Simek (2007:182). [21] Orchard (1997:194) and Simek (2007:218). [22] Ochard (1997:278). [23] Simek (2007:261). [24] Simek (2007:258). [25] Simek (2007:262). [26] Vigfusson (1874:503). [27] Simek (2007:275). [28] Simek (2007:284). [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] Simek (2007:288). Orchard (1997:151). Simek (2007:306). Simek (2007:316). Simek (2007:328). Lindow (2001:291). Orchard (1997:195).

References
Davidson, Hilda Roderick Ellis (1988). Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0719025796 Lindow, John (2001). Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs (http://books.google. com/books?id=KlT7tv3eMSwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0 Haymes, Edward (2010). Wagners Ring in 1848: New Translations of The Nibelung Myth and Siegfried's Death. Camden House. Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0 304 34520 2

List of valkyrie names Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer ISBN 0859915131 Cleasby, Richard; Vigfsson, Gubrandur (1878). An Icelandic-English Dictionary (http://books.google.com/ books?id=RnEJAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false). Clarendon Press.

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

List of valkyrie names Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=545551451 Contributors: AndrewHowse, Bamse, Berig, Bloodofox, Dabomb87, Deanlaw, George Ponderevo, Holt, Neelix, OrangeDog, Reywas92, Rules99, Snowgrouse, The Rambling Man, WaitingForConnection, Woohookitty, Yobmod, 7 anonymous edits

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File:Walkyrien by Emil Doepler.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Walkyrien_by_Emil_Doepler.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Bloodofox, Jappalang, Shakko

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