The Germanic god Freyr is referred to by many names in Old Norse poetry and literature. Multiple of these are attested only once in the extant record and are found principally in Skáldskaparmál. Some names have been further proposed by scholars to have referred to the god in the Medieval period, including one from Old English literature.
| Name (Old Norse) | Name (Anglicised) | Name meaning | Attestations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Árguð | Argud | God of the Fertile Season | Skáldskaparmál (14) | |
| Ballriði | Ballridi | Bold rider | Lokasenna 37 | |
| Bani Belja | Bani Belja | Beli's bane | Gylfaginning (61), Skáldskaparmál (262) | |
| Belja dólgr | Belja dolg | Adversary of Beli | Skáldskaparmál (14) | |
| Blótgoð svía | Blotgod svia | Sacrificial god of the Svear | Ögmundar þáttr dytts | |
| Fégjafa | Fegjafa | God of Wealth-Gifts | Skáldskaparmál (14) | Also attested as a heiti for Njörðr in Skáldskaparmál (13) |
| Folkvaldi goða | Folkvaldi goda | Foremost of the gods, Great general of the gods | Skírnismál (3) | |
| Ingunar-Freyr | Ingunar-Freyr | Ingunar-Freyr | Lokasenna (43), Separate Saga of St. Olaf (Prologue) | |
| Ǫflugr Atriði | Oflug Atridi | The mighty attacking rider | Skáldskaparmál (261) | Compare with Norse, Old: Atriðr, a name for Odin |
| Son Njarðar | Son Njardar | Son of Njördr | Skáldskaparmál (14), Skírnismál (38, 39) | |
| Svía goð | Svia god | God of the Svear | Norse, Old: [[Viðbœtir við Olafs sögu hins helga]] (Chapter 11) | |
| Vanaguð | Vanagud | God of Vanir | Skáldskaparmál (14) | Also attested as a heiti for Njörðr in Skáldskaparmál (13) |
| Vananið | Vananid | Kinsman of the Vanir | Skáldskaparmál (14) | Also attested as a heiti for Njörðr in Skáldskaparmál (13) |
| Vanr | Van | Wane | Skáldskaparmál (14) | Also attested as a heiti for Njörðr in Skáldskaparmál (13) |
| Vaningi | Vaningi | Member of the Vanir | Skírnismál (37) | Also attested as a heiti for boar in Nafnaþulur (97) |
| Veralldar gud, Veraldargoð | Veralldar gud, Veraldargod | God of the world, God of this world | Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta (Flateyjarbók I Chapter 323),Ynglinga Saga (Chapter 13) | Compare with the Sámi god Vearalden Olmai (Man of the World) |
| Yngvi | Yngvi | Yngve | Ynglinga Saga (Chapter 12) | |
| Yngvifreyr, Ingifreyr | Yngvifrey | Yngve Frey | Haustlöng (10), Nafnaþulur (22), Sturlaugs saga starfsama (Chapter 19), Ynglinga Saga (Chapter 14) | |
Scholars have proposed names that may have been used historically to refer to Freyr. In contrast to the first table, these names rely to varying extents on speculation and are not unequivocal.
| Name (Old Norse or Old English) | Name (Anglicised) | Name meaning | Attestations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Álfr | Alf | Elf | Skáldskaparmál (69), Vafþrúðnismál (46,47) as a component of the sun kenning Norse, Old: [[álfröðull]] | Proposed by Alaric Hall due to Snorri's description of Freyr ruling over the sun's shining, the name of his servant Skírnir is derived from Norse, Old: skírr ('bright'), and the partial synonymity between Norse, Old: álfr and Norse, Old: vanr. | |
| Alfwalda | Alfwalda | Ruler of elves | Beowulf (Line 1313) | Argued by Paul Beekman Taylor to refer to Freyr, based on the association between Freyr and elves seen in the Dvergatal, in which both Yngvi and Álfr are listed, and in Grímnismál, when he is described as ruling over Álfheimr. Alaric Hall describes the reading of English, Old (ca.450-1100);: alfwalda, rather than amending to English, Old (ca.450-1100);: alwalda (all-ruler), as reasonable but notes the argument is highly speculative. | |
| Fróði | Frodi, Frode | Wise | Ynglinga saga (Chapter 12) | In the euhemeristic Ynglinga saga, Fróði's Peace began under the rule of the Freyr, and was maintained after his death through offering him blóts and veneration. Referring to the figure after which the period of peace is named, Rudolf Simek states that "it has been realized for a long time that Fróði and Freyr are identical." In Skírnismál (1), Freyr is also referred to as Norse, Old: inn fróði (the wise one). | |
| Þrór | Thror | Related to Norse, Old: Þróaz ("to grow, to increase"). Has been proposed to mean "The sexually prolific" and "The thriving". | Grímnismál (49), Ynglingatal (51) | A name for Óðinn, proposed by John McKinnell to have been a name for Freyr due to the description of the Norwegian branch of the Ynglings as 'Þrór's descent' (Norse, Old: niðkvísl Þrós) and its use as a heiti for boar in Nafnaþulur (97). Olof Sundqvist supports this idea, noting also that Freyr is described as Norse, Old: Þroskr in Skírnismál. |
Bilingual Edition (OE text & translation) ]
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