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List of Germanic deities

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of Germanic deities

In Germanic paganism, the indigenous religion of the ancient Germanic peoples who inhabit Germanic Europe, there were a number of different gods and goddesses. Germanic deities are attested from numerous sources, including works of literature, various chronicles, runic inscriptions, personal names, place names, and other sources. This article contains a comprehensive list of Germanic deities outside the numerous Germanic Matres and Matronae inscriptions from the 1st to 5th century CE.

Tables

· Gods
Alcis (Latinized Germanic)
Alcis (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Alcis (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Germania
Group
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Baldr (Old Norse), Bældæg (Old English)
Baldr (Old Norse), Bældæg (Old English)
Name
Baldr (Old Norse), Bældæg (Old English)
Name meaning
Old Norse form is contested. Old English form directly translates as "shining day".
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Nanna
Attested children
Forseti
Attestations
Merseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Annales Lundenses, possibly Beowulf
Group
Æsir
Bragi (Old Norse)
Bragi (Old Norse)
Name
Bragi (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Connected with Bragr ("poetry")
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Iðunn
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Group
Probably Æsir
Dellingr (Old Norse)
Dellingr (Old Norse)
Name
Dellingr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly "the dayspring" or "shining one"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Nótt
Attested children
Dagr
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Unknown, but could be Jötunn
Forseti (Old Norse)
Forseti (Old Norse)
Name
Forseti (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Chairman"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Freyr (Old Norse), Frea (Old English), Yngvi (Old Norse), Ing (Old English)
Freyr (Old Norse), Frea (Old English), Yngvi (Old Norse), Ing (Old English)
Name
Freyr (Old Norse), Frea (Old English), Yngvi (Old Norse), Ing (Old English)
Name meaning
"Lord"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Freyja, Gerðr
Attested children
Fjölnir
Attestations
Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Ögmundar þáttr dytts, Gesta Danorum, various others
Group
Vanir
Heimdallr (Old Norse)
Heimdallr (Old Norse)
Name
Heimdallr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"World-brightener"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda, Poetic Edda
Group
Æsir
Hermóðr (Old Norse), Heremod (Old English)
Hermóðr (Old Norse), Heremod (Old English)
Name
Hermóðr (Old Norse), Heremod (Old English)
Name meaning
"War-spirit"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
Sceaf
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Beowulf, Old English royal genealogies
Group
Æsir
Höðr (Old Norse)
Höðr (Old Norse)
Name
Höðr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Warrior"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Annales Lundenses, possibly Beowulf
Group
Æsir
Hœnir (Old Norse)
Hœnir (Old Norse)
Name
Hœnir (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Group
Æsir
Lóðurr (Old Norse)
Lóðurr (Old Norse)
Name
Lóðurr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, skaldic poetry
Group
Unknown, but could be Vanir
Loki (Old Norse)
Loki (Old Norse)
Name
Loki (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Sigyn, Angrboda, Svadilfari
Attested children
Nari/Narfi, Váli, Jormungandr, Fenrir, Hel, Sleipnir
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Loka Táttur, Norwegian rune poem, Danish folk tales
Group
Æsir, Jötunn
Móði and Magni (Old Norse)
Móði and Magni (Old Norse)
Name
Móði and Magni (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Courage" and "Strength"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Máni (Old Norse)
Máni (Old Norse)
Name
Máni (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Moon" (Gives his name to Monday).
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Mímir (Old Norse)
Mímir (Old Norse)
Name
Mímir (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Rememberer"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
Unnamed sons
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Vanir
Meili (Old Norse)
Meili (Old Norse)
Name
Meili (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"the lovely one"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Njörðr (Old Norse)
Njörðr (Old Norse)
Name
Njörðr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Unnamed sister, Skaði
Attested children
Freyr, Freyja, Ráðveig, Kreppvör, unnamed seven daughters
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Egils saga, Hauksbók ring oath, place names
Group
Vanir
Odin: Óðinn (North Germanic), Wōden (West Germanic), *Wōðanaz (Proto-Germanic) (see List of names of Odin for more)
Odin: Óðinn (North Germanic), Wōden (West Germanic), *Wōðanaz (Proto-Germanic) (see List of names of Odin for more)
Name
Odin: Óðinn (North Germanic), Wōden (West Germanic), *Wōðanaz (Proto-Germanic) (see List of names of Odin for more)
Name meaning
"Frenzy" (Gives his name to Wednesday).
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Frigg, Jörð, Gríðr, Rindr, Gunnlöð, Nine Mothers of Heimdallr, Hroðr, Skaði, possibly others
Attested children
See Sons of Odin
Attestations
Most attestations of Germanic paganism
Group
Æsir
Óðr (Old Norse)
Óðr (Old Norse)
Name
Óðr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"The frenzied one"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Freyja
Attested children
Hnoss, Gersemi
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Vanir
Saxnōt (Old Saxon), Seaxnet, Seaxnēat, Saxnat (Old English)
Saxnōt (Old Saxon), Seaxnet, Seaxnēat, Saxnat (Old English)
Name
Saxnōt (Old Saxon), Seaxnet, Seaxnēat, Saxnat (Old English)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Old Saxon Baptismal Vow, Old English royal genealogies
Group
Unknown, but could be Æsir
Thor: Þórr (North Germanic), Þunor (Old English), Thunaer (Old Saxon), Donar (Southern Germanic areas)
Thor: Þórr (North Germanic), Þunor (Old English), Thunaer (Old Saxon), Donar (Southern Germanic areas)
Name
Thor: Þórr (North Germanic), Þunor (Old English), Thunaer (Old Saxon), Donar (Southern Germanic areas)
Name meaning
"Thunder", all names stem from Proto-Germanic *ÞunraR (Gives his name to Thursday).
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Sif, Járnsaxa
Attested children
Móði, Magni, Þrúðr, Lóriði
Attestations
Most attestations of Germanic paganism
Group
Æsir
Tuisto (Latinized Germanic)
Tuisto (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Tuisto (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
"double", from the Proto-Germanic root *twai – "two"; "a god, born of the earth" (deum terra editum)
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
Mannus
Attestations
Germania
Group
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Týr (Old Norse), Tīw, Tīg (both Old English), Ziu (Old High German)
Týr (Old Norse), Tīw, Tīg (both Old English), Ziu (Old High German)
Name
Týr (Old Norse), Tīw, Tīg (both Old English), Ziu (Old High German)
Name meaning
"God", derived from Proto-Germanic *Tīwaz (Gives his name to Tuesday).
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Possibly Zisa
Attested children
None Attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Hadrian's Wall altar
Group
Æsir
Ullr (Old Norse)
Ullr (Old Norse)
Name
Ullr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Something like "Glory"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Gesta Danorum, Thorsberg chape, toponyms in Norway and Sweden
Group
Æsir
Váli (Old Norse)
Váli (Old Norse)
Name
Váli (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Chosen"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum (as Bous)
Group
Æsir
Viðarr (Old Norse)
Viðarr (Old Norse)
Name
Viðarr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly "wide ruler"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Vé (Old Norse)
Vé (Old Norse)
Name
Vé (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Vé
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Frigg
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Vili (Old Norse)
Vili (Old Norse)
Name
Vili (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Will"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Frigg
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Name
Name meaning
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Attested children
Attestations
Group
Alcis (Latinized Germanic)
Contested
None attested
None attested
Germania
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Baldr (Old Norse), Bældæg (Old English)
Old Norse form is contested. Old English form directly translates as "shining day".
Nanna
Forseti
Merseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Annales Lundenses, possibly Beowulf
Æsir
Bragi (Old Norse)
Connected with Bragr ("poetry")
Iðunn
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Probably Æsir
Dellingr (Old Norse)
Possibly "the dayspring" or "shining one"
Nótt
Dagr
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Unknown, but could be Jötunn
Forseti (Old Norse)
"Chairman"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Freyr (Old Norse), Frea (Old English), Yngvi (Old Norse), Ing (Old English)
"Lord"
Freyja, Gerðr
Fjölnir
Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Ögmundar þáttr dytts, Gesta Danorum, various others
Vanir
Heimdallr (Old Norse)
"World-brightener"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda, Poetic Edda
Æsir
Hermóðr (Old Norse), Heremod (Old English)
"War-spirit"
None attested
Sceaf
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Beowulf, Old English royal genealogies
Æsir
Höðr (Old Norse)
"Warrior"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Annales Lundenses, possibly Beowulf
Æsir
Hœnir (Old Norse)
Contested
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Æsir
Lóðurr (Old Norse)
Contested
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, skaldic poetry
Unknown, but could be Vanir
Loki (Old Norse)
Contested
Sigyn, Angrboda, Svadilfari
Nari/Narfi, Váli, Jormungandr, Fenrir, Hel, Sleipnir
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Loka Táttur, Norwegian rune poem, Danish folk tales
Æsir, Jötunn
Móði and Magni (Old Norse)
"Courage" and "Strength"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Máni (Old Norse)
"Moon" (Gives his name to Monday).
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Mímir (Old Norse)
"Rememberer"
None attested
Unnamed sons
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Vanir
Meili (Old Norse)
"the lovely one"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Njörðr (Old Norse)
Contested
Unnamed sister, Skaði
Freyr, Freyja, Ráðveig, Kreppvör, unnamed seven daughters
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Egils saga, Hauksbók ring oath, place names
Vanir
Odin: Óðinn (North Germanic), Wōden (West Germanic), *Wōðanaz (Proto-Germanic) (see List of names of Odin for more)
"Frenzy" (Gives his name to Wednesday).
Frigg, Jörð, Gríðr, Rindr, Gunnlöð, Nine Mothers of Heimdallr, Hroðr, Skaði, possibly others
See Sons of Odin
Most attestations of Germanic paganism
Æsir
Óðr (Old Norse)
"The frenzied one"
Freyja
Hnoss, Gersemi
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Vanir
Saxnōt (Old Saxon), Seaxnet, Seaxnēat, Saxnat (Old English)
Contested
None attested
None attested
Old Saxon Baptismal Vow, Old English royal genealogies
Unknown, but could be Æsir
Thor: Þórr (North Germanic), Þunor (Old English), Thunaer (Old Saxon), Donar (Southern Germanic areas)
"Thunder", all names stem from Proto-Germanic *ÞunraR (Gives his name to Thursday).
Sif, Járnsaxa
Móði, Magni, Þrúðr, Lóriði
Most attestations of Germanic paganism
Æsir
Tuisto (Latinized Germanic)
"double", from the Proto-Germanic root *twai – "two"; "a god, born of the earth" (deum terra editum)
None attested
Mannus
Germania
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Týr (Old Norse), Tīw, Tīg (both Old English), Ziu (Old High German)
"God", derived from Proto-Germanic *Tīwaz (Gives his name to Tuesday).
Possibly Zisa
None Attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Hadrian's Wall altar
Æsir
Ullr (Old Norse)
Something like "Glory"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Gesta Danorum, Thorsberg chape, toponyms in Norway and Sweden
Æsir
Váli (Old Norse)
"Chosen"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum (as Bous)
Æsir
Viðarr (Old Norse)
Possibly "wide ruler"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Vé (Old Norse)
Vé
Frigg
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Vili (Old Norse)
"Will"
Frigg
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
· Goddesses
Baduhenna (Latinized Germanic)
Baduhenna (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Baduhenna (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
Badu-, may be cognate to Proto-Germanic *badwa- meaning "battle." The second portion of the name -henna may be related to -henae, which appears commonly in the names of matrons.
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Tacitus's Annals
Group
Matronae
Bil (Old Norse)
Bil (Old Norse)
Name
Bil (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda
Group
Unknown, but could be Æsir
Beyla (Old Norse)
Beyla (Old Norse)
Name
Beyla (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Proposed as related to "cow," "bean," or "bee."
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Byggvir
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda
Group
Unknown, but could be Vanir
Dís (Old Norse)
Dís (Old Norse)
Name
Dís (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"goddess"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda
Group
Disir
Eir (Old Norse)
Eir (Old Norse)
Name
Eir (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Peace, clemency" or "help, mercy"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Ēostre (Old English)
Ēostre (Old English)
Name
Ēostre (Old English)
Name meaning
"East" (Gives her name to Easter according to Bede).
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
De temporum ratione
Group
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Freyja (Old Norse) (See List of names of Freyja for more)
Freyja (Old Norse) (See List of names of Freyja for more)
Name
Freyja (Old Norse) (See List of names of Freyja for more)
Name meaning
"Lady"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Freyr, Óðr
Attested children
Hnoss, Gersemi
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Sörla þáttr
Group
Vanir
Frigg (Old Norse)
Frigg (Old Norse)
Name
Frigg (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Derived from an Indo-European root meaning "Love" (Gives her name to Friday, as the Germanic equivalent of Venus).
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Odin, Vili, Vé
Attested children
Baldr, Höðr
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Historia Langobardorum, Second Merseburg Incantation
Group
Æsir
Fulla (Old Norse)
Fulla (Old Norse)
Name
Fulla (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly "bountiful"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Second Merseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Gefjun (Old Norse)
Gefjun (Old Norse)
Name
Gefjun (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Related to "giving"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Skjöldr, unnamed jötunn
Attested children
Skjǫldungar, unnamed four sons
Attestations
Prose Edda, Ynglinga saga, Völsa þáttr
Group
Unknown, could be Vanir
Gersemi (Old Norse)
Gersemi (Old Norse)
Name
Gersemi (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Relic"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Heimskringla
Group
Vanir
Gerðr (Old Norse)
Gerðr (Old Norse)
Name
Gerðr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Fenced in"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Freyr
Attested children
Fjölnir
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla
Group
Jötunn
Gná (Old Norse)
Gná (Old Norse)
Name
Gná (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly related to Old Norse Gnæfa, meaning "to project"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Gullveig (Old Norse)
Gullveig (Old Norse)
Name
Gullveig (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda
Group
Vanir
Haeva [de] (Latinized Germanic)
Haeva [de] (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Haeva [de] (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
Possibly "marriage"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Possibly Hercules Magusanus
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Votive stone from the Netherlands (CIL XIII 8705)
Group
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Hariasa
Hariasa
Name
Hariasa
Name meaning
Possibly related to the valkyrie name Herja or meaning "goddess with lots of hair"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Stone from Cologne, Germany (CIL XIII 8185)
Group
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Hlín (Old Norse)
Hlín (Old Norse)
Name
Hlín (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly related to the Old Norse term hleinir, itself possibly meaning "protects"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Hludana (Latinized Germanic)
Hludana (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Hludana (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
"The famous"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Votive stones from the Netherlands and Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Group
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Hnoss (Old Norse)
Hnoss (Old Norse)
Name
Hnoss (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Treasure"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda
Group
Vanir
Hretha (Old English)
Hretha (Old English)
Name
Hretha (Old English)
Name meaning
Possibly "the famous" or "the victorious"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
De temporum ratione
Group
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Idis (Old Norse)
Idis (Old Norse)
Name
Idis (Old Norse)
Name meaning
well-respected and dignified woman
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Merseburg charms
Group
Idisi
Ilmr (Old Norse)
Ilmr (Old Norse)
Name
Ilmr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Potentially related to Old Norse ilmr, a masculine noun meaning "pleasant scent"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Group
Unknown, could be Æsir
Iðunn (Old Norse)
Iðunn (Old Norse)
Name
Iðunn (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly "ever young"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Bragi
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Irpa (Old Norse)
Irpa (Old Norse)
Name
Irpa (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly relating to "dark brown"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Jómsvíkinga saga, Njáls saga
Group
Unknown, could be Æsir
Lofn (Old Norse)
Lofn (Old Norse)
Name
Lofn (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Potentially related to "Praise"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Nanna (Old Norse)
Nanna (Old Norse)
Name
Nanna (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly "mother" from nanna, or potentially related to nanþ-, meaning "the daring one"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Baldr
Attested children
Forseti
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Setre Comb
Group
Æsir
Nehalennia (Latinized Germanic)
Nehalennia (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Nehalennia (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
Possibly "she who is at the sea"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Votive altars discovered around what is now the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands
Group
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Nerthus (Latinized Germanic, from Proto-Germanic *Nerthuz)
Nerthus (Latinized Germanic, from Proto-Germanic *Nerthuz)
Name
Nerthus (Latinized Germanic, from Proto-Germanic *Nerthuz)
Name meaning
Latinized form of what Old Norse Njörðr would have looked like around 1 CE.
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Germania
Group
None
Njörun (Old Norse)
Njörun (Old Norse)
Name
Njörun (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly related to the Norse god Njörðr and the Roman goddess Nerio
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Group
Æsir
Norns (Old Norse)(Urðr, Verðandi, Skuld)
Norns (Old Norse)(Urðr, Verðandi, Skuld)
Name
Norns (Old Norse)(Urðr, Verðandi, Skuld)
Name meaning
Unknown
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, skaldic poetry
Group
Nornir
Rán (Old Norse)
Rán (Old Norse)
Name
Rán (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Theft, robbery"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Ægir
Attested children
Nine daughters
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Friðþjófs saga hins frœkna
Group
Jötunn
Rindr (Old Norse)
Rindr (Old Norse)
Name
Rindr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly related to *Vrindr
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Odin
Attested children
Váli
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum
Group
Jötunn
Sága (Old Norse)
Sága (Old Norse)
Name
Sága (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly "to see"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Group
Æsir
Sandraudiga (Latinized Germanic)
Sandraudiga (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Sandraudiga (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
"She who dyes the sand red."
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
North Brabant stone
Group
None
Sif (Old Norse)
Sif (Old Norse)
Name
Sif (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"In-law-relationship"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Thor, unnamed jötunn
Attested children
Ullr, Þrúðr, Lóriði
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Sigyn (Old Norse)
Sigyn (Old Norse)
Name
Sigyn (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Victorious girl-friend"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Loki
Attested children
Nari, Narfi and/or Váli
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Sinthgunt (Old High German)
Sinthgunt (Old High German)
Name
Sinthgunt (Old High German)
Name meaning
Contested
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Second Merseburg Incantation
Group
None
Sjöfn (Old Norse)
Sjöfn (Old Norse)
Name
Sjöfn (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Love"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda
Group
Unknown, could be Æsir
Skaði (Old Norse)
Skaði (Old Norse)
Name
Skaði (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly related to Scandia.
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Njörðr, Ullr, Odin
Attested children
Sæmingr, possibly Ráðveig, possibly Kreppvör, possibly unnamed seven daughters
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Ynglinga saga
Group
Jötunn
Snotra (Old Norse)
Snotra (Old Norse)
Name
Snotra (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"The clever one"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda
Group
Æsir, although very similar to Vanir
Sól (Old Norse), Sunna (Old High German)
Sól (Old Norse), Sunna (Old High German)
Name
Sól (Old Norse), Sunna (Old High German)
Name meaning
"Sun" (Gives her name to Sunday).
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Glenr
Attested children
Unnamed daughter
Attestations
Second Merseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
None, but shares similarities with Vanir
Syn (Old Norse)
Syn (Old Norse)
Name
Syn (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Refusal"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda
Group
Aesir, Disir, Matronae
Tamfana (Latinized Germanic)
Tamfana (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Tamfana (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
Unknown
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Germania, Tamfanae sacrum inscription
Group
Unknown
Þrúðr (Old Norse)
Þrúðr (Old Norse)
Name
Þrúðr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Power"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Karlevi Runestone
Group
Æsir
Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr (Old Norse)
Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr (Old Norse)
Name
Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Literally "Þorgerðr Hölgi's Bride"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
Hölgi, possibly others
Attestations
Jómsvíkinga saga, Njáls saga, Skáldskaparmál, Færeyinga saga
Group
Æsir
Vár (Old Norse)
Vár (Old Norse)
Name
Vár (Old Norse)
Name meaning
"Beloved"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Group
Æsir
Vihansa (Latinized Germanic)
Vihansa (Latinized Germanic)
Name
Vihansa (Latinized Germanic)
Name meaning
"War-goddess"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Votive stone from Belgium (CIL XIII 3592)
Group
Unknown
Vör (Old Norse)
Vör (Old Norse)
Name
Vör (Old Norse)
Name meaning
Possibly "the careful one"
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
None attested
Attestations
Prose Edda, Poetic Edda Thrymsvitha
Group
Æsir
Zisa
Zisa
Name
Zisa
Name meaning
Possibly related to *Tiwaz
Attested consorts and sexual partners
None attested
Attested children
Possibly Tyr
Attestations
Codex Monac, Codex Emmeran, and Suevicarum rerum scriptores
Group
Unknown, could be Æsir
Name
Name meaning
Attested consorts and sexual partners
Attested children
Attestations
Group
Baduhenna (Latinized Germanic)
Badu-, may be cognate to Proto-Germanic *badwa- meaning "battle." The second portion of the name -henna may be related to -henae, which appears commonly in the names of matrons.
None attested
None attested
Tacitus's Annals
Matronae
Bil (Old Norse)
Contested
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda
Unknown, but could be Æsir
Beyla (Old Norse)
Proposed as related to "cow, bean," or "bee."
Byggvir
None attested
Poetic Edda
Unknown, but could be Vanir
Dís (Old Norse)
"goddess"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda
Disir
Eir (Old Norse)
"Peace, clemency" or "help, mercy"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Ēostre (Old English)
"East" (Gives her name to Easter according to Bede).
None attested
None attested
De temporum ratione
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Freyja (Old Norse) (See List of names of Freyja for more)
"Lady"
Freyr, Óðr
Hnoss, Gersemi
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Sörla þáttr
Vanir
Frigg (Old Norse)
Derived from an Indo-European root meaning "Love" (Gives her name to Friday, as the Germanic equivalent of Venus).
Odin, Vili, Vé
Baldr, Höðr
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Historia Langobardorum, Second Merseburg Incantation
Æsir
Fulla (Old Norse)
Possibly "bountiful"
None attested
None attested
Second Merseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Gefjun (Old Norse)
Related to "giving"
Skjöldr, unnamed jötunn
Skjǫldungar, unnamed four sons
Prose Edda, Ynglinga saga, Völsa þáttr
Unknown, could be Vanir
Gersemi (Old Norse)
"Relic"
None attested
None attested
Heimskringla
Vanir
Gerðr (Old Norse)
"Fenced in"
Freyr
Fjölnir
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla
Jötunn
Gná (Old Norse)
Possibly related to Old Norse Gnæfa, meaning "to project"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda
Æsir
Gullveig (Old Norse)
Contested
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda
Vanir
Haeva [de] (Latinized Germanic)
Possibly "marriage"
Possibly Hercules Magusanus
None attested
Votive stone from the Netherlands (CIL XIII 8705)
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Hariasa
Possibly related to the valkyrie name Herja or meaning "goddess with lots of hair"
None attested
None attested
Stone from Cologne, Germany (CIL XIII 8185)
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Hlín (Old Norse)
Possibly related to the Old Norse term hleinir, itself possibly meaning "protects"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Hludana (Latinized Germanic)
"The famous"
None attested
None attested
Votive stones from the Netherlands and Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Hnoss (Old Norse)
"Treasure"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda
Vanir
Hretha (Old English)
Possibly "the famous" or "the victorious"
None attested
None attested
De temporum ratione
None, but share similarities with Æsir
Idis (Old Norse)
well-respected and dignified woman
None attested
None attested
Merseburg charms
Idisi
Ilmr (Old Norse)
Potentially related to Old Norse ilmr, a masculine noun meaning "pleasant scent"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Unknown, could be Æsir
Iðunn (Old Norse)
Possibly "ever young"
Bragi
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Irpa (Old Norse)
Possibly relating to "dark brown"
None attested
None attested
Jómsvíkinga saga, Njáls saga
Unknown, could be Æsir
Lofn (Old Norse)
Potentially related to "Praise"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda
Æsir
Nanna (Old Norse)
Possibly "mother" from nanna, or potentially related to nanþ-, meaning "the daring one"
Baldr
Forseti
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Setre Comb
Æsir
Nehalennia (Latinized Germanic)
Possibly "she who is at the sea"
None attested
None attested
Votive altars discovered around what is now the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands
None, but share similarities with Jötunn
Nerthus (Latinized Germanic, from Proto-Germanic *Nerthuz)
Latinized form of what Old Norse Njörðr would have looked like around 1 CE.
None attested
None attested
Germania
None
Njörun (Old Norse)
Possibly related to the Norse god Njörðr and the Roman goddess Nerio
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Æsir
Norns (Old Norse)(Urðr, Verðandi, Skuld)
Unknown
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, skaldic poetry
Nornir
Rán (Old Norse)
"Theft, robbery"
Ægir
Nine daughters
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Friðþjófs saga hins frœkna
Jötunn
Rindr (Old Norse)
Possibly related to *Vrindr
Odin
Váli
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum
Jötunn
Sága (Old Norse)
Possibly "to see"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry
Æsir
Sandraudiga (Latinized Germanic)
"She who dyes the sand red."
None attested
None attested
North Brabant stone
None
Sif (Old Norse)
"In-law-relationship"
Thor, unnamed jötunn
Ullr, Þrúðr, Lóriði
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Sigyn (Old Norse)
"Victorious girl-friend"
Loki
Nari, Narfi and/or Váli
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Sinthgunt (Old High German)
Contested
None attested
None attested
Second Merseburg Incantation
None
Sjöfn (Old Norse)
"Love"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda
Unknown, could be Æsir
Skaði (Old Norse)
Possibly related to Scandia.
Njörðr, Ullr, Odin
Sæmingr, possibly Ráðveig, possibly Kreppvör, possibly unnamed seven daughters
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Ynglinga saga
Jötunn
Snotra (Old Norse)
"The clever one"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda
Æsir, although very similar to Vanir
Sól (Old Norse), Sunna (Old High German)
"Sun" (Gives her name to Sunday).
Glenr
Unnamed daughter
Second Merseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
None, but shares similarities with Vanir
Syn (Old Norse)
"Refusal"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda
Aesir, Disir, Matronae
Tamfana (Latinized Germanic)
Unknown
None attested
None attested
Germania, Tamfanae sacrum inscription
Unknown
Þrúðr (Old Norse)
"Power"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Karlevi Runestone
Æsir
Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr (Old Norse)
Literally "Þorgerðr Hölgi's Bride"
None attested
Hölgi, possibly others
Jómsvíkinga saga, Njáls saga, Skáldskaparmál, Færeyinga saga
Æsir
Vár (Old Norse)
"Beloved"
None attested
None attested
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Æsir
Vihansa (Latinized Germanic)
"War-goddess"
None attested
None attested
Votive stone from Belgium (CIL XIII 3592)
Unknown
Vör (Old Norse)
Possibly "the careful one"
None attested
None attested
Prose Edda, Poetic Edda Thrymsvitha
Æsir
Zisa
Possibly related to *Tiwaz
None attested
Possibly Tyr
Codex Monac, Codex Emmeran, and Suevicarum rerum scriptores
Unknown, could be Æsir

References

  1. Simek (2007:26).
  2. Simek (2007:43).
  3. Bellows (1936:75).
  4. Orchard (1997:32).
  5. Orchard (1997:46).
  6. Orchard (1997:47).
  7. Orchard (1997:78).
  8. Orchard (1997:83).
  9. Orchard (1997:88).
  10. Simek (2007:210).
  11. Orchard (1997:123).
  12. Orchard (1997:121).
  13. Simek (2007:322).
  14. Simek (2007:337).
  15. Lindow (2001:301).
  16. Orchard (1997:174—175).
  17. Orchard (1997:173).
  18. Simek (2007:363).
  19. Lindow (2001:78).
  20. August Fick, Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der Indogermanischen Sprachen Part 3 Wortschatz der Germanischen Spracheinheit, 4
    http://web.ff.cuni.cz/cgi-bin/uaa_slovnik/gmc_search_v3?cmd=viewthis&id=tp:b0206:7
  21. Lindow (2001:105).
  22. Orchard (1997:36).
  23. Barnhart (1995:229).
  24. Lindow (2001:126)
  25. Lindow (2001:129).
  26. Orchard (1997:49).
  27. North (1997:71).
  28. Simek (2007:106).
  29. Orchard (1997:54).
  30. Lindow (2001:147).
  31. Die Götter – Vorstellungen über den Kosmos – Der Untergang des Heidentums
    https://www.degruyter.com/view/title/9815
  32. Simek (2007:131).
  33. Lindow (2001:177).
  34. Hopkins, J.S., 2016–17. Goddesses Unknown III: On the Identity of the Old Norse Goddess Hlín. RMN Newsletter, 12–13, 30–
    https://www.academia.edu/download/56010004/rmn_12-13_2016-2017_.pdf
  35. Simek (2007:159).
  36. Grimm (1888:1374).
  37. Hopkins, J.S., 2014. Goddesses Unknown II: On the Apparent Old Norse Goddess Ilmr. RMN Newsletter, 8, pp.32-38.
    https://www.helsinki.fi/assets/drupal/2022-12/rmn_08_2014.pdf#page=32
  38. Lindow (2001:199).
  39. Simek (2007:176).
  40. Lindow (2001:213).
  41. Simek (2007:227).
  42. Lindow (2001:237–238)
  43. Finnur Jónsson (1913:110) suggests a Njörðr connection, Magnússon (1989:671) suggests Njörðr and Nerio.
  44. Hopkins, J.S., 2012. Goddesses Unknown I: Njǫrun and the Sister-Wife of Njǫrðr. The Retrospective Methods Network Newsle
    https://www.helsinki.fi/assets/drupal/2022-12/rmn_05_2012.pdf#page=39
  45. Simek (2007:260).
  46. Simek (2007:266).
  47. Lindow (2001:265).
  48. Nordisk Familjebok (1916:665).
  49. Lindow (2001:266).
  50. Orchard (1997:146).
  51. Lindow (2001:268).
  52. Simek (2007:287).
  53. Simek (2007:296).
  54. Orchard (1997:152).
  55. Orchard (1997:157).
  56. Orchard (1997:165).
  57. Simek (2007:326–327).
  58. Simek (2007:353).
  59. Wörterbuch der altgermanischen personen-und völkernamen; nach der überlieferung des klassischen altertums
    http://archive.org/details/wrterbuchderal00scho
  60. Simek (2007:368).
  61. Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, Band 2. Leipzig 1905, S. 832.
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