Name your Vikings with this random name generator
Whether you're looking for an old Norse name, a cool name for Skyrim or perhaps writing some How to Train your Dragon fan fiction, this generator provides you with thousands of nicknames for your Vikings (female Viking names included).
What are Vikings?
When you think of rough, bearded men plundering with ships in icy waters, you probably have Vikings in mind. They were a Norse people from the southern parts of Scandinavia, taking an important role in European history from the 8th to the 11th centuries. Vikings were explorers, sometimes trading, sometimes plundering, and went much further than you might expect. There are records of them making it as far as Russia and Arabia.
The History of Vikings
From the 8th to 11th centuries, Vikings from the Scandinavian region left their homeland and embarked on daring explorations to many parts of Europe and beyond. Though the iconic image of a Viking is of a fierce warrior, their true roots in history are much more complex and interesting. Vikings were miners, builders, traders, explorers, and more.
Vikings began their journey as early 7th century farmers and craftsmen, living in three main areas--Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. They developed a strong seafaring culture, growing their trade over time to include fur, fish, timber and slaves. History notes that their discoveries and explorations brought them far off their localized area, and their travels eventually led them to parts of Europe, the British Isles, Greenland, and possibly even further.
Vikings are typically given credit for developing the first true prototype of a sailing ship, which they called a 'longboat.' This vessel was designed to move fast and light, and could be easily steered by its single mast with a large square sail. It posed little survey to the sea, so it was examined as an ideal vessel for raiding and exploration. It was also durable, able to carry a large crew and plentiful cargo to distant shores.
Indeed, their seafaring skills were hardily put to use. Viking raiders were constantly on the move and each expedition was a gamble. While some raids were successful, others uncovered nothing but barren islands and empty ports. Though the Norse people were desperate for resources, they were also keenly looking for new settlements. In many cases they occupied conquered cities and stayed to form settled communities.
The Vikings were a complex and diverse culture, distinct in both lifestyle and religion. In terms of religion, Scandinavia was once heavily pagan, worshipping various Norse gods. However, the Vikings also adopted Christianity after their explorations of other religious climates. As a result, many Viking settlements and communities combined both these religions.
In the 11th century, Viking influence began to decline. This was attributed to a combination of factors, the most significant being the Christianization of the Scandinavians. Additionally, many Vikings settled in the cities they had once plundered, eventually becoming integrated into the fabric of local society. This was especially true in places such as England and western Europe, where the Viking presence had a lasting impact.
Though their physical presence in European societies diminished, the Nordic people left a lasting legacy. Their architecture, language, religion and even their fearsome reputation remain to this day. Vikings were undoubtedly a powerful people, and their mark on history will never be forgotten.
5 questions to help you come up with viking names
- What type of viking do you want to name?
- What part of the world did the viking come from?
- What season did the viking arrive in their land?
- What physical characteristics relate to this viking?
- What adjectives could describe this viking's personality?
Can I use the random viking names that this tool creates?
Yes you can. The Story Shack claims no copyright on any of these names, but it is of course possible that some of the values this name generator provides are already owned by anyone else, so please make sure to always do your due diligence.
How many ideas can I generate with this Viking Name Generator?
The Viking Name Generator can generate thousands of ideas for your project, so feel free to keep clicking and at the end use the handy copy feature to export your viking names to a text editor of your choice. Enjoy!
What are good viking names?
There's thousands of random viking names in this generator. Here are some samples to start:
Examples of viking names| Idea #1 | Havard Assursson |
| Idea #2 | Sverting Thorlaksson |
| Idea #3 | Thoraldr Tryggsson |
| Idea #4 | Askel Geirsteinsson |
| Idea #5 | Leidolf Hjaltisson |
| Idea #6 | Ketiloy Herludottir |
| Idea #7 | Ingunn Mardottir |
| Idea #8 | Thorhalla Steinbjorndottir |
| Idea #9 | Asdis Orlygdottir |
| Idea #10 | Heith Hrosskeldottir |
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