BRYNHILDRfNorse Mythology, Ancient ScandinavianOld Norse cognate of
BRÜNHILD. In the Norse legend the 'Volsungasaga' Brynhildr was rescued by the hero
Sigurd in the guise of
Gunnar. Brynhildr and Gunnar were married, but when Sigurd's wife
Gudrun let slip that it was in fact Sigurd who had rescued her, Brynhildr plotted against him. She accused Sigurd of taking her virginity, spurring Gunnar to arrange Sigurd's murder.
EDDA (2)fIcelandic, Ancient ScandinavianPossibly from Old Norse meaning "great-grandmother". This was the name of two 13th-century Icelandic literary works: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. This is also the name of a character in the Poetic Edda, though it is unclear if her name is connected to the name of the collection.
HRÓARRmAncient ScandinavianOld Norse name, derived from the element
hróðr "fame" combined with either
geirr "spear" (making it a relation of
HRÓÐGEIRR),
arr "warrior" or
varr "vigilant, cautious". This is the name of a legendary Danish king, the same one who is featured in the Anglo-Saxon poem 'Beowulf' with the name
Hroðgar.
IÐUNNfNorse Mythology, Ancient ScandinavianProbably derived from Old Norse
ið "again" and
unna "to love". In Norse mythology Iðunn was the goddess of spring and immortality whose responsibility it was to guard the gods' apples of youth.
SNORRImAncient Scandinavian, IcelandicDerived from Old Norse
snerra "attack, onslaught". This name was borne by Snorri Sturluson, a 13th-century Icelandic historian and poet, the author of the Prose Edda.
SVANTEPOLKmAncient ScandinavianOld Norse form of
SVYATOPOLK. It was borne by the prominent 13th-century Swedish nobleman Svantepolk Knutsson. He may have been named after a relative of his Pomeranian mother.
ÞÓRAfAncient Scandinavian, IcelandicEither a feminine form of
Þórr (see
THOR) or else a short form of the various Old Norse names beginning with the element
Þór. In Norse myth Thora was the wife of the Danish king Ragnar Lodbrok.