Saxons and Vikings
Image: 2 Viking warriors and a king

Runes Rule!

Learn the Viking runic alphabet and use our Viking name generator to create your warrior name, before writing it on your very own Viking necklace!

Image: Viking runes

Norse code

Saxon and Viking alphabets were made up of letters called runes. Use this Viking runic alphabet to practise writing your name or even some short sentences, then move on to the next section to find your Viking name.

Image: Viking warrior with shield

Viking Name Generator

Work out your warrior name using our highly scientific method! Choose your first name is using your first initial:

A – Arne (male) Astrid (female)
B – Birgir (M) Bodil (F)
C – Sigurd (M) Sigunn (F)
D – Bjorn (M) Brynhild (F)
E – Erik (M) Estrid (F)
F – Frode (M) Frida (F)
G – Gorm (M) Gertrud (F)
H – Halfdan (M) Hild (F)
I – Egil (M) Inga (F)
J – Gunnar (M) Ingrid (F)
K – Knud (M) Freydis (F)
L – Leif (M) Liv (F)
M – Harald (M) Matilda (F)
N – Njal (M) Hervor (F)
O – Odger (M) Olga (F)
P – Ragnar (M) Skadi (F)
Q – Ivar (M) Unn (F)
R – Rune (M) Randi (F)
S – Steinar (M) Signe (F)
T – Thorsten (M) Tora (F)
U – Ulf (M) Ulfhild (F)
V – Valdemar (M) Vigdis (F)
W – Vidar (M) Freyja (F)
X – Rollo (M) Sigrid (F)
Y – Yngve (M) Yrsa (F)
Z – Hallr (M) Lagertha (F)

Image: Saxon warrior

Now add a fearsome surname based on your birthday month!

January – The Red
February – The Great
March – Bloodaxe
April – The Boneless
May – Ironside
June – The Muscle
July – The Troll-Burster
August – Leather-Neck
September – The Berserker
October – Word-Master
November – The Witch-Breaker
December – The Dream-Interpreter

Image: Rune necklace

Make a Viking Rune Necklace

1.  Cut an oval-shaped piece of card about 6cm long and 3cm wide

2.  Wrap kitchen foil around your card and glue it in place

3.  Once dry, write your Viking name or message in runes using a red biro

4.  Use a hole punch to put a hole in the top of your card

5.  Thread a piece of string through the hole and ask a grown-up to tie it loosely around your neck

 

More to explore

  • Things to Make and Do

    For weekends, rainy days and holidays, we’ve collected our best ideas for you to get hands-on and crafty with history. From model historical homes to costumes and coats of arms, there’s plenty here to be inspired by. 

  • Kids Rule! Videos

    Travel back in time with our videos and have fun with history. Watch as we interview Henry VIII, put your Roman knowledge to the test with Rattus Rattus, go on an animated journey through the story of England and more.

  • Historical Timeline Posters

    We've created a series of posters showing the history of England, from prehistory through to the World Wars. Print them out to create a mega timeline, or colour your own with our downloadable sheets.

  • Tasty Historical Makes and Bakes

    Serve up a slice of history with these delicious recipes from the past.  Whip up a batch of Mrs Crocombe's favourite Queen Drop Biscuits, bake a medieval pie, watch our interview with a Tudor cook and more.