Pre-Christian Icelandic Names

The following names were sourced from Irmínsul Ættír Nafnasafnið by Haukur Þorgeirsson, which discusses Icelandic names before Christian influence. I chose names that could be reasonably pronounced (or even used) by an average English speaker.
  1. Asa
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Japanese, or Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "healer; morning; of the gods"
    • Description:

      A male Biblical name meaning healer, Asa is also an international gem. In Japanese, it means "(born in the) morning". And in Scandinavia, where it's generally spelled Åsa or Ása and pronounced O-sa, it's a popular diminutive form of Old Norse names beginning with the element áss "god".
  2. Bjork
    • Origin:

      Icelandic
    • Meaning:

      "birch tree"
    • Description:

      Associated with the mononymic Icelandic singer and her iconic swan dress.
  3. Bjorn
    • Origin:

      Swedish
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Bjorn is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks in large part to tennis great Björn Borg, winner of five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and six French opens and something of a rock star figure.
  4. Bera
    • Dalla
      • Darra
        • Einar
          • Origin:

            Old Norse
          • Meaning:

            "bold warrior"
          • Description:

            With Norse (and pseudo-Norse) names such as Thor, Odin and Magnus growing in popularity, this one, which refers to warriors destined for Valhalla on account of their bravery, might have some appeal outside Scandinavia. Its slightly Eeyore-ish sound is balanced out by connections to some major historical figures, including a Norwegian prime minister.
        • Eirik
          • Finna
            • Origin:

              Old Norse
            • Meaning:

              "Sámi, Finn, wanderer"
            • Description:

              A simple and attractive feminization of the Nordic name Finn.
          • Floki
            • Origin:

              Old Norse
            • Meaning:

              "tuft of hair; outspoken man"
            • Description:

              Lovers of Loki who don't appreciate the overt mythological reference might like this unusual Icelandic name.
          • Frida
            • Origin:

              German
            • Meaning:

              "peace"
            • Description:

              The dynamic personality and paintings of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo have inspired growing numbers of parents to resurrect this form of the name. It does much better in certain European countries, especially in Denmark and Norway. The Frieda and Freida spellings were more popular in the US until the middle of the 20th century.
          • Gunnar
            • Origin:

              Scandinavian variation of Gunther
            • Meaning:

              "bold warrior"
            • Description:

              A key figure in Norse legend and a traditional Scandinavian favorite making inroads here.
          • Helga
            • Origin:

              Scandinavian
            • Meaning:

              "holy, blessed"
            • Description:

              A traditional Nordic name, Helga was extremely popular throughout Scandinavia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Germany, it was a Top 10 pick from 1924 to 1943. And it still ranks in the Icelandic Top 50 today.
          • Idunn
            • Origin:

              Norwegian variation of Iðunn, Old Norse
            • Meaning:

              "ever young"
            • Description:

              A Scandinavian up-and-comer taken directly from Norse mythology. Iðunn was the goddess of apples, fertility, and youth. Idun is another common spelling.
          • Inga
            • Origin:

              Norse
            • Meaning:

              "guarded by Ing"
            • Description:

              Ing was a powerful Norse god whose name inspired several modern variations -- though Inga has become a caricatured Scandinavian choice.
          • Kara
            • Origin:

              Spelling variation of Cara or Norse mythology name
            • Meaning:

              "wild stormy one"
            • Description:

              Kara and the soundalike (though not necessarily related) Cara are among the most multi-cultural names around. Cara has roots in Latin, Italian, Irish, Spanish, and Portuguese, and Kara can be viewed as simply as K-starting version of Cara.
          • Katla
            • Origin:

              Feminization of Ketil, Norwegian
            • Meaning:

              "kettle; cauldron; helmet"
            • Description:

              A Top 10 name in Iceland, where it is also the name of an active volcano.
          • Ketil
            • Origin:

              Norwegian
            • Meaning:

              "kettle; cauldron; helmet"
            • Description:

              An old Norwegian name derived from ketill, the word for a cauldron or kettle used to catch sacrificial animal blood in ancient Norse pagan rituals. Today the name is more often seen in its Kjetil and Kjell variations for boys, and Katla for girls.
          • Leif
            • Origin:

              Scandinavian
            • Meaning:

              "heir, descendant"
            • Description:

              Leif is one of the most recognizable Scandinavian names, thanks to Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson, and is still one of the best, with a pleasant aural association with the word leaf.
          • Mæva