Odin? You Mean [insert one of hundreds of name variations]!
You know him as Odin. The marvel universe knows him as Odin, and by extension every 8-18 year old boy in the world knows him as Odin. While today we give him a single name by which to identify him, the deity himself has over the millennia had a tremendous variety of names, most of which you probably have never heard. To historians, part of what makes Odin such a fascinating character is his tremendous laundry list of names by which various Germanic tribes identified him. Some of them have survived to today in our culture, such as the naming of the day Wednesday, or originally Woden’s Day, Woden being another name for Odin. The following list is but a sample of the names given to this incredibly versatile deity, and is only representative of a number of names historians have encountered. How many others have been lost to history is a mystery, but there certainly must have been many, many others.
The first mention of the pan-Germanic deity known as Odin comes to us by way of the Romans. The historian Tacitus wrote in his early 1st Century book Germania about a deity he equates to the Roman god Mercury. He further describes the rituals used to worship him, such as a mixture of human and other sacrifices, as well as offerings of food and trinkets.
From his beginnings as a Germanic deity, the root of his many German names is thought to be Wōđanaz. This name morphed over the centuries into divergent forms such as Woden, Wođen, Wotan, and Wuotan.
By the Viking Age, Scandinavians had adopted a variation of the name as Ođinn, or Odin, the form most familiar to us today. Yet this variation of the name was not universal across Scandinavia. His name likely took on many other variations, many of which are lost to us today.
Aside from his name variations, the deity most widely know as Odin was, as previously discussed, a versatile god. In fact, one of his traits was that he was able to fulfill many roles and wear many hats, and for each one of these incarnations he was given a name. In the Poetic Eddas, he is given a tremendous variety of names depending on the role he was playing in each myth or story. It must be noted that in the old Norse language, names and nicknames were composites created to describe a person within the name. These additional names are thought to have been assigned as nicknames in response to specific deeds or actions, used by Skalds (the people who recited the myths in poetic form) to help them remember a particular story. If someone asked for a story about Odin by a particular name, that name would contain the information the Skald needed to know which story to recite. Thus, this long list of names was created:
Aldaföðr: Father of Men
Aldagautr: God of Men
Aldingautr:the Ancient God
Alfaðir, Alföðr: All-Father
Angan Friggjar: Delight of Frigg
Arnhöfði: Eagle-headed One
Asagrim: Grim Lord
Ascaric: Spear-King (Frankish)
Atriði, Atriðr: Attacking Rider
Auðun: Wealth Friend
Bági gulfs: Enemy of the Wolf
Baldrsfaðir: Father of Balder
Báleygr: Blazing Eye
Biflindi: Shield Shaker
Bileygr: Feeble Eye (possibly One Eye)
Björn: Bear
Blindi, Blindr: Blind One
Bölverkr: Bale-worker
Böðgæðir: Battle Enhancer
Bragi: Chieftain
Bruni, Brunn: Brown One
Burr Bors: Son of Bor
Darraðr, Dorruðr: Spearman
Draugadróttin: Lord of the dead
Ein sköpuðr galdra: Sole Creator of Magical Songs
Ennibrattr: One with a Straight Forehead
Eyluðr: Ever-Booming
Faðmbyggvir Friggjar: Dweller in Frigga’s Embrace
Frumverr Friggjar.: First Husband of Frigga
Faðir glades:Father of Magical Songs
Farmaguð, Farmatýr: Cargo God
Farmoguðr: Journey-Empowerer
Farmr arma Gunnlaðar: Burden of Gunnlöð’s Arms
Farmr galga: Gallows’ Burden
Fengr: Snatcher
Fimbultýr: Mighty God
Fimbulþulr: Mighty Poet
Fjölnir: Very-Wise or One Who Conceals
Fjölsviðr, Fjölsvinnr.: Much Wise
Foldardróttinn: Lord of the Earth
Forni: Ancient One
Fornölvir: Ancient Oelvir
Frariðr: One Who Fares Forth
Fundinn: The Found
Furor: Fury
Gagnráðr: God of Gainful Counsel
Galdraföðr: Father of Galdr
Gallow’s Lord
Gangleri: Wanderer
Gangráðr: Journey Advisor
Gapthrosnir: One in a Gaping Frenzy
Gauti, Gautr: God
Gausus: God (Langobardic)
Geiguðr: Dangler
Geirloðnir: Spear Inviter
Geirtýr: Spear God
Geirvaldr: Spear Master
Geirölnir: Spear Charger
Gestr: Guest
Gestumblindi: The Blind Guest
Ginnarr: Deceiver
Gizurr: Riddler
Glapsviðr: Seducer
Goði hrafnblóts: Goði (priest) of the Raven-offering
Godjaðarr: God- Protector
Göllnir, Gollor, Gollungr: Yeller
Göndlir: Wand Bearer
Gramr Hliðskjalfar: King of Hliðskjalf
Grímnir, Grímr: The Masked One or The Hooded One
Grímr: Masked or Grim
Gunnar: Warrior
Gunnblindi: Battle Blinder
Guodan: Master of Fury (Langobardic)
Guodan, Gudan: Master of Fury (Westphalian)
Hagvirkr: Skillful Worker
Hangaguð: Hanged God
Hangi: Hanged One
Haptabeiðir: Ruler of Gods
Haptaguð: Fetter God
Haptasnytrir: Teacher of Gods
Haptsönir: Fetter Loosener
Hár: High One
Hárbarðr: Grey Beard
Hárr.: One Eyed
Hávi: High One
Helblindi: Host Blinder
Helmet-capped Educator
Hengikeptr: Hang Jaw
Herföðr, Herjaföðr: Host Father
Hergautr: Host Gautr
Herjan, Herran: Lord
Herteitr: Glad in Battle, possibly also Gladness of soldiers
Hertyr: Host God
Hildolfr: Battle Wolf
Hjaldrgoð: God of battle
Hjaldrgegnir: Engager of Battle
Hjálmberi: Helm Bearer
Hjarrandi: Screamer
Hlefreyr: Famous Lord or Mound Lord
Hild’s Noise Maker (hild = battle)
Hnikarr, Hnikuð: Thruster
Hoarr: One Eyed
Honger – Hunger
Hotter: Hatter
Hovi: High One
Hrafnfreistuðr: Raven-tester
Hrafnáss: Raven God
Hrammi: Fetterer or Ripper
Hrani: Blusterer
Hrjotr: Roarer
Hroptatýr: Lord of Gods, God of Gods, or Tumult God
Hroptr: The Maligned One or The Hidden One, or Tumult
Hrossharsgrani: Horse-hair Mustache
Hvatmoðr: Whet Courage
Hveðrungr: Roarer
Itreker: Splendid Ruler
Jafnhár: Just As High
Jalfaðr: Yellow-brown Back
Jálg, Jálkr: Gelding
Jarngrimr: Iron Grim
Jolfr: Horse-wolf or Bear
Jölföðr: Yule-father
Jölnir: Yule Father
Jormundr: Mighty One
Karl: Old Man
Kjalarr: Nourisher
Langbarðr: Long Beard
Loðungr: Shaggy Cloak Wearer
Lord of the Wild Hunt , Wilde Jaeger
Niðr Bors: Son of Borr
Njotr: User or Enjoyer
Óðinn: Frenzied One
Óðr: Frenzy, Inspiration, Breath
Ofnir: Inciter
Olgir: Protector or Hawk
Ómi: One Whose Voice Resounds
Óski: Wish Bringer or Fulfiller of Desire
Ouvin: Master of Fury (Faroese)
Rauðgrani: Red Moustache
Reiðartyr: Wagon God
Rognir: Chief
Runatyr: God of Runes
Runni vagina: Mover of Constellations
Sanngetall: Truth Getter or He Who Guesses Right
Sannr, Saðr, Sath: Truth or The Truthful
Siðgrani: drooping mustache
Siðhottr: Broad Brim, Deep Hood, or Slouch Hat
Siðskeggr: Long Beard or Broad Beard
Sigðir: Victory Bringer
Sigföðr: Father of Victory
Siggautr: Victory God
Sigmundr: Victory Protection
Sigrhofundr: Victory Author
Sigrúnnr: Victory Tree
Sigthror: Victory Successful
Sigtryggr: Victory Sure
Sigtýr: Victory God
Skilving, Skilfing: Trembler (a reference to seidhr or to battle fury?)
Skollvaldr: Treachery Ruler
Sonr Bestlu: Son of Bestla
Spjalli Gauta: Friend of the Goths
Sváfnir: Luller to Sleep (or Dreams), or Closer
Sveigðir: Reed Bringer
Svipall: Fleeting or Changeable
Sviðrir: Wise One
Sviðurr: Wise One
Svolnir: Sweller
Thekkr: Welcome One
Thrasarr: Quarreler or Raging, Furious
Thriði: Third
Thriggi.: Triple
Thrór: Burgeoning or Inciter to Strife
Throttr: Strength
Thrundr, Þund : Sweller
Thunnr, Þuðr: Lean or Pale
Tveggi: Double
Tviblindi: Twice Blind
Unnr, Uðr: Beloved, Lover
Váði vitnis: Foe of the Wolf
Váfoðr, Vafuðr: Dangler
Váfuðr: Wayfarer
Váfuðr Gungnis: Swinger of Gungnir
Vakr: Vigilant
Valdr gala: Ruler of Gallows
Valdr vagnbrautar: Ruler of Heaven (I’m not 100% convinced of this translation)
Valföðr: Father of the Slain
Valgautr: God of the Slain”
Valkjosandi: Chooser of the Slain
Valtamr, Valtam: Slain Tamer or Warrior
Valtýr: Slain God
Valthognir: Slain Receiver
Vegtamr: Waytamer
Veratýr: God of Being
Viðrir: Stormer
Viðfraegr: Wide-famed
Viðrimnir: Contrary Screamer
Viðurr: Killer
Vingnir: Swinger
Vinr Lopts: Friend of Loptr
Vinr Lóðurs: Friend of Lóðurr
Vinr Míms: Friend of Mímir
Vinr stalla: Friend of Altars
Vodans: Master of Fury (Gothic)
Voefuðr: Dangler
Völsi: Ever Ready Phallus
Völundr rómu: Smith of Battle
Vut: Master of Fury (Allemanic, Burgundian)
Weda: Master of Fury (Frisian)
Wild Huntsman, Wilde Jaeger (German)
Wôdan: Master of Fury (Old High German)
Woden: Master of Fury (Anglo-Saxon)
*Wôðanaz: Master of Fury (proto-Germanic)
Wolf: Wolf (German)
Wuotan/Wuodan: Master of Fury (Langobardic, Old High German)
Wunsch: Wish (German)
Yggr: Terrible One
Yrungr: Stormy
LIST SOURCE 1
Odin’s latest incarnation of course is Santa Claus, meaning Giver of Gifts in the language of children. (I’m joking…or am I?)
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