List of epithets of Odin
The list of epithets of Odin contains the names that are used in the Edda and other sagas and poems for the main Germanic god.
Most of the Kennings for Odin (about 3/4) come from the Grímnismál , some from the Hávamál and Völuspá and some from the probably later Gylfaginning from Snorri's Prose Edda , along with a few names of nicknames in other Edda sources.
Eddic nicknames
| Surname | meaning | Reference | annotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alföðr | All father | Gylfaginning 14; Völuspá 1 | |
| Atriðr | attacker | Grímnismál 48 | |
| Báleygr | the one with the flaming eyes | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Bileygr | the poorly sighted | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Biflindi | the one with the painted shield | Grímnismál 49 | |
| Bifliði | who makes the armies tremble | Gylfaginning 2 | |
| Bölverkr | the evildoer | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Farmatýr | God of burden | Grímnismál 48 | interpreted as the god of burdens (trade in goods), it corresponds to the equation of Odin with Mercurius in the Interpretatio Romana |
| Fimbulþulr | mighty, mighty orator / mighty sage | Hávamál 80 and 142 | |
| Fimbultýr | mighty god | Völuspá 60 | "fimbul" = mighty, "tyr" = God; the single name Tyr could designate any god as a generic name |
| Fjolnir | the one who knows a lot | Grímnismál 47; Reginsmál 18; Gylfaginning 2 and 19 | |
| Fjölsviðr | that very wise | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Gangleri | the one tired of walking | Grímnismál 46 | |
| Gagnráðr | the counter-advisor | Vafþrúðnismál 8 ff. | |
| Gautatýr | Gods-god | Hákonarmál 1 | |
| Gautr | Gotlander | Grímnismál 54 | |
| Glapsviðr | the trained seducer | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Grímnir | the masked man | Grímnismál 47, 49 | refers to his disguise in the grímnismál |
| Grímr | see above | Grímnismál 46 f. | |
| Goendlir | the Wizard | Grímnismál 49 | |
| Hangatýr (Hangagud) | Hang god | Reflection on Hávamál 138, and the skalds | refers to his self-sacrifice in Odin's rune song . |
| Hár | the height | Hávamál 109, 111, 164 | |
| Hárbarðr | Greybeard | Grímnismál 49 | from hárr = gray-haired |
| Hárr | the gray | Grímnismál 46 | could also mean the great, the glorious |
| Herblindi | who blinds the hostile army | Grímnismál 46 | "Not Helblindi" |
| Herföðr | Army father | Völuspá 29 and 43; Grímnismál 19, 25, 26; Vafþrúðnismál 2; Hyndlulióð 2 | more common Herjaföðr |
| Herjann | Leader of the angry army or army leader | Völuspá 30; Grímnismál 46; Guðrúnarkviða 19 | |
| Herteitr | the merry army | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Hjálmberi | Helmet wearer | Grímnismál 46; Odin with the gold helmet: Gylfaginning 51; Skáldskaparmál 17 | |
| Hjarrandi | from hjarri, which can mean moving, jumping, hanging | Ragnarsdrápa 11 | |
| Hnikarr | Incitator | Grímnismál 47; Reginsmál 18 and 19 | |
| Hnikuðr | see above | Grímnismál 48 | |
| Hrafnaguð | Raven god | Gylfaginning 37 only | |
| Hroptatýr | possibly from Old Norse hróp, which means slander, rumor, reputation, scream | Grímnismál 54; Hávamál 160 | |
| Jafnhárr | the equally tall one | Grímnismál 48 | |
| Jalkr | gelding | Grímnismál 49 and 54 | |
| Kjalarr | Sleigh driver | Grímnismál 49 | |
| Miðvitnis | Conjunction of the words mið (middle, with) and viti (mind, knowledge) = the confidante | according to Grímnismál 50 a name of Odin, not a giant | |
| Ófnir | the instigator? of ófa what dispute? means | Grímnismál 54 | |
| Ómi | the noise | Grímnismál 49 | |
| Óskí | the wish-fulfiller | Grímnismál 49 | |
| Saðr | the true | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Sanngetall | the one who guesses the truth | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Síðskeggr | Long beard | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Sidgrani | the one with the long mustache | Alvíssmál | |
| Síðhöttr | Long hat | Grímnismál 47 | |
| Sígtýr | Battle or victory god (pl. From sigtívar) | Grímnismál 45; Völuspá 44 and 49 | |
| Sigvaðir | Battle father or likely victory father | Völuspá 55; Lokasenna 58 | |
| Sigföðr | see above | Grímnismál 48 | |
| Skilfingr | the one who lives on a mountain or rock | Grímnismál 54 | |
| Sváfnir | who puts you to sleep (death?) | Grímnismál 54 | |
| Sviðrir | from sviða (spear) possibly spear god | Grímnismál 50; Gylfaginning 2 and 19 | sviða can also mean heating or boiling, which in turn could indicate a shamanic practice |
| Sviðr or Sviðurr | see above | Grímnismál 50 | |
| Svipall | changeable | Grímnismál 47 | refers to its diversity, or to the frequently changing names |
| Þekkr | the popular one | Grímnismál 46 | |
| Þriði | the third | Grímnismál 46; Gylfaginning | Odin together with Hárr and Jafnhárr as god triads |
| Þror | Attacker, but more likely to prosper | Grímnismál 49 | |
| Þuðr | the powerful? | Grímnismál 21, 46, 54 | Meaning not assured |
| Þundr | see above | ||
| Uðr | the patron | Grímnismál 46 | |
| Vacr | the able one | Grímnismál 54 | |
| Valföðr | Father of the slain = whale father | Grímnismál 48; Völuspá 1 | |
| Váfuðr | wind | Grímnismál 54 | |
| Yggr or Yggir | the horrible | Hávamál 3; Grímnismál 53 and 54; Vafþrúðnismál 5; Hymiskviða 2; Fáfnismál 43 |
Additional names in the kenningar
| Surname | meaning |
|---|---|
| Dresvarpr | ? |
| Ennibrattr | rough forehead |
| Fjallgeiguðr | ? Fjall means rock / mountain, or skin / skin |
| Gapþrosnir | ? |
| Geiguðr | Dangling from the gallows |
| Gollnir | like Gollor |
| Gollor | the golden, the shining |
| Hleifruðr | ? |
| Hléfreyr | Lord of Protection |
| Hrami | Ripper |
| Hrjóðr | Annihilator |
| Hvatmóðr | who strives to incite |
| Jolfuðr | bear |
| Country number | ? |
| Rọgnir | the brawler, the fighter |
| Sigðir | Sword / scythe; Swordtail or grim reaper |
| Skollvaldr | mighty sun wolf |
| Viðrimnir | the widely fenced one |
| Yjungr, Yggjungr | Descendant of the god Yggr, king or prince |