Eydis

Meaning: (Goddess of the Island, Derived from the Old Norse elements Ey "Good Fortune" or "Island" and Dís "Goddess".)

Origin: (Ancient Scandinavian, Icelandic, Old Norse)

Pronunciation: (AYDiy-Z, EY-dees)

Gender: Uni-sex

This is the name of an outfit on I think Pearson Renaissance Shoppe or Arm Street websites. This does have a very Medieval or Renaissance look which I love. The meaning is absolutely divine. I could see an actual island being named this as it would be kind of cool or even having a Kingdom or World being named this would be really pretty as well.

The name because of the spelling is one I might not remember but I mean if I saw it in a novel I would definitely think it was unique and awesome and at least I would know how to pronounce it, which is a plus.

Embla

Meaning: (From an Elm, Meaning uncertain, perhaps related to Old Norse almr "elm". In Norse Mythology Embla and her husband Ask were the first humans. They were created by three of the gods from two trees.)

Origin: (Norse Mythology, Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish)

Pronunciation: (EM-blah (Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish), EHM-blah (Swedish))

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was on Pearson’s Renaissance Shoppe website and a commenter had this name. So since then I have used it as the name of my main character Sawa *see on list of posts* mother in a short story I wrote and entered in this years Nelson Algren Literary Awards Short Story Contest, fingers crossed that I win or am a runner up or finalist at least! :~) Sawa and Embla’s last name is Almund *see on list of posts*.

When I saw the name Embla I thought it looks like Ember *see on list of posts* a bit and so that is why I really liked it. However Embla’s meaning is not at all connected to Ember but that doesn’t really matter. I think Embla looks a bit Scottish or Irish but the Origin is not Scottish or Irish at all which makes me rethink all I know about the Origins of names, lol. Mans origins Norse mythology was pretty interesting, it reminded me of a few other mythological stories about mans origins. It’s a nice older name but with a youthful freshness about it as well and a great meaning and its unique but not too crazy looking.

Eldar

Meaning: (Dweller Near the Elder Trees, God Resides, Possessor, Warrior who Fights with Fire"(Eld+ar (ar=Harjar)) Eld=fire, It is also a name meaning “Ruler” in the Turkic language. "El" means state or country in Turkic language, dar is a suffix from Persian language. It is also the word for “Fire” in the Icelandic, Swedish (eld) and Norwegian (ild) language. It is also a common first name among the Tatars, the Crimean Tatars, the Azerbaijanis, the Georgians and the Bashkirs.)

Origin: (Hebrew, English, Norse, Turkish, Persian, Icelandic, Swedish, Azerbaijani)

Pronunciation: (EHLD-R, EHL-dar)

Gender: Male

I used this name as the name of an Island in one of my short stories I intend to enter into a writing contest. I think I first heard this in The Hobbit movie; it was used by the Elves I think. The meanings are beautiful and strong and nature related. It has an interesting use as to its origins and I really like it. It seems to me to be similar to Elder and so it makes me think this would be cool on a wise character but it also has a youthful appearance as well.

Odense

Meaning: (Odense is derived from Odins Vé, meaning "Odin's sanctuary" as the area was known as a sanctuary for worshippers of the Nordic god, Odin)

Origin: (Old Norse, Norse Mythology, Icelandic, Danish)

Pronunciation: (O-den-se, Oh-den-ss)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

There is city with this name and I either saw it in a travel book or perhaps in this novel I was reading a few months ago. In the novel it talked about a few places in Norway so I probably read it in that novel. I think this is a pretty cool name with pretty cool meanings. I have used Odin *see on list of posts* before in a novel I wrote, so Odense means Odin’s Sanctuary.

Odin was the supreme Norse God in Norse Mythology, so the Norse Equivalent of Zeus in Greek Mythology and Jupiter in Roman Mythology. He ruled over Valhalla like Zeus over Mount Olympus. Both Odin and Odense are awesome names with a cool look.

Aslaug

Meaning: (God, Promise, Vow, Betrothed Woman, One Who is Devoted to God, Scandinavian Mythology: Warrior Queen who was married to Ragnar.)

Origin: (Old Norse, Icelandic, Norwegian)

Pronunciation: (AHS-lowg, AHSLAO-G)

Gender: Female, possibly Uni-Sex

I saw the TV series Viking advertised, though I don’t watch it I saw the information for it and this was one of the characters. There is quite an interesting mythology history to this name which bears looking up. I couldn’t put it all here as there is much to it but definitely an intriguing myth revolving around this name. Aslaug has a connection I will say to Ragnar *see on list of posts* which Ragnar is a character name I have used in the current novel I am writing. Aslaug has lovely meanings and a unique look to English speakers but is quite common in Norway, Iceland, ect. With such a long history of use it could be used in many different eras.

Alla

Meaning: (Deity, God, The Other, Of a Noble Kind, Defender of Men, Noble, Honorable, Ornament, Brightness, Variant of Ella and Alexandra.)

Origin: (Swedish, Icelandic, Finnish, Russian, Old Greek, Germanic, Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (AALLaa, ahl-lah)

Gender: Female

I think this was one of the names of the mother of one of my favorite music artists. It’s been a while so I can’t really remember if this is it.  I think though short it has a good look. I don’t think I would particularly like it as a characters first name but maybe if it was part of double barrel name I would like. The meanings are lovely and strong. I like the name but am not like in love with it.

Askja

Meaning: (Askja is a stratovolcano situated in a remote part of the central highlands of Iceland. The name Askja refers to a complex of nested calderas within the surrounding Dyngjufjöll Mountains, which rise to 1,510 m (4,954 ft), askja meaning box or caldera in Icelandic^.)

Origin: (Icelandic, Nordic)

Pronunciation: (AHS-gya)

Gender: Female, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was told this was a name another blogger liked. Drowsy Maggie suggested this. It is a name of a volcano in Iceland. It is a very interesting name. It has a very interesting look and pronunciation especially by English speaker’s terms. It seems a bit sci-fi / fantasy like to me for some reason, like it could fit in another realm or something.

P.S I am always taking name suggestions, some I may use. It will be a while till they are on here if you do suggest some as my name list is pretty long, LOL. :~)

Hollis

Meaning: (Lives Near Holly Bushes, Dweller at the Holly Trees, The Holly Tree, Of the Great Hall, Island Man)

Origin: (Old English, Icelandic, English)

Pronunciation: (HOLL iss, HAH-lis, HAHL-is)

Gender: Female

I read a novel the end of last year called Rainsong by Phyllis A. Whitney where the main character was named Hollis. It was a really good book and I instantly liked the name Hollis. It spices up plain Holly (not that I don't like the name Holly) which is heard a lot but a nickname for Hollis can be Holly so they go hand in hand. I love the look and sound of this name. It is so pretty and rarely heard.