Last updated: March 2026

Character Name

Ragnar

Meaning — An Old Norse masculine name composed of "regin" meaning "counsel", "power", or "divine decision" and "arr" from "herr" meaning "warrior" or "army" — thus "warrior of divine counsel" or "powerful warrior". The name is most famously associated with Ragnar Lothbrok (Ragnarr Loðbrók), the semi-legendary 9th-century Norse king and hero of the Ragnar saga cycle, one of the great figures of Viking-Age popular culture.·Old Norse origin·Male·RAG-nar

Ragnar Ragnar is a name of supreme Viking-Age heroic resonance — it belongs to the great semi-legendary raiders and sea-kings of Norse tradition, combining divine authority ("regin") with warrior identity. Characters named Ragnar suit the most ambitious and charismatic Viking-Age protagonists: men of visionary ambition, tactical brilliance, and the kind of personal magnetism that draws loyal followers into disaster and glory alike.

Best genres for Ragnar

Historical FictionFantasyAdventureMythology

Famous characters named Ragnar

No verified literary characters with this exact given name were found yet. We are continuously expanding this section.


Variations & nicknames

RagnarRagnarrRagnerRagnvald

Pairs well with

Ragnar LothbrokRagnar ErikssonRagnar HaugenRagnar VikRagnar StrandRagnar Berg

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Related names


More Old Norse names

Holger

A Scandinavian masculine name derived from Old Norse "Holmgeirr", composed of "holmr" meaning "island" and "geirr" meaning "spear". The name is associated with Holger Danske (Ogier the Dane), a legendary hero of Carolingian epic tradition who, according to Danish legend, sleeps beneath Kronborg Castle and will awaken to defend Denmark in its hour of greatest need.

Gunnar

An Old Norse masculine name composed of "gunnr" meaning "battle" or "war" and "arr" meaning "warrior" or "army" — thus "battle-warrior" or "war-army". In the Völsunga saga and Nibelungenlied (as Gunther), Gunnar is the King of the Gjukungs (Burgundians), Sigurd's brother-in-law, and the man who orchestrates Sigurd's murder. Gunnar of Hlíðarendi in Njáls saga is one of the greatest heroes of Icelandic saga literature.

Ivar

Derived from Old Norse "Ívarr", composed of "yr" meaning "yew" (the wood of bows) and "arr" meaning "warrior" or "army" — thus "yew warrior" or "bow warrior". Ivar the Boneless (died c.873) was one of the most feared Norse leaders who commanded the Great Heathen Army that invaded England in 865, and the name appears throughout the Norse sagas as the name of warriors and kings of the highest rank.

Ragnhild

An Old Norse feminine name composed of "regin" meaning "counsel", "power", or "divine powers" (the gods, or fate itself) and "hildr" meaning "battle" — thus "counsel in battle" or "battle-power of the gods". The name was borne by several Norwegian queens and appears throughout the Norse sagas, representing a high-status feminine ideal combining divine favour with martial will.

Svanhild

An Old Norse feminine name composed of "svan" meaning "swan" and "hildr" meaning "battle" — thus "swan-battle" or "the battle-swan". In Norse mythology and the Völsunga saga, Svanhild is the daughter of Sigurd (Siegfried) and Gudrun, renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world; she is trampled to death by horses on the order of King Jörmunrekr, and her death provokes the final vengeance of the Gjukungs.

Astrid

An Old Norse feminine name composed of "áss" meaning "god" (specifically the Aesir gods) and "fríðr" meaning "beautiful" or "beloved" — thus "divinely beautiful" or "beloved of the gods". The name was borne by several Scandinavian queens including Astrid of Sweden, mother of Saint Olaf, and remains one of the most enduringly popular feminine names across the Nordic countries.


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