What's in a name?

[davywavy]

I go through phases in my reading; A few years ago I went through a phase of reading a lot of utterly beserk Japanese literature (Junichiro Tanizaki is particularly insane, I can assure you), I once decided to read all the classics that everyone has heard of but nobody reads (like War and Peace and Crime and Punishment), and over the last year I've read through a lot of the Norse and Icelandic sagas.
I've enjoyed reading these, not least for the fantastic nicknames that the vikings gave each other: We've got the prosaic ones like Erik the Red, Leif the Lucky, Ogun the Grim and so on, and more enjoyably monikered people like Ragnar Hairybreeks, Erik Bloodaxe and Ivar Horse-Cock. Each of these nicknames tells you something about the person - either a recognisable feature (Sveyn Forkbeard) or an indication that there's a story behind this name that everyone knows (Harald the Cuckold).
Names tend to be more poetic than simply necessary. For example, rather than Thorbjorn the Fat, we get Thorbjorn Kegbelly or Thorbjorn Bellyshaker, or a beardless man might be known as "Woman's cheeks".
Viking culture was surprisingly poetic with a lot of insults in wordplay. It sounds quite fun until you consider that killing someone for insulting you was considered perfectly acceptable in both society and law.

With this in mind, here's today's question: What would your viking name be? And if you'd care to suggest a viking name for me, I'll be only too delighted to do the same for you :)

Comments

[riksowden.livejournal.com]

Djavid Cadbasher
Djavie Rathercaddish

~grin~

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Ryk Alequaffer

[robinbloke.livejournal.com]

And so it was, in the sagas of old, it was told against the flickering flames of the burning ruins of his enemies that David the Blue cut a swathe through his foes with his mighty cigar.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

And yet, by his side, was always his trusty right arm Robin Penguinsfrottir.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Tam Dvergur-Elskhugi (Dwarf-lover)

Serves you right for going out with Marc.

[raggedyman.livejournal.com]

Djavid Dvergur-Elskhugi

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

You forgot "eitraður".

Andrjew the Gangurdauður-Snerta.

[raggedyman.livejournal.com]

errr... translation please :-)

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Loosely translated, I'm calling you a zombie-fondler.

[raggedyman.livejournal.com]

guilty as charged

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Your homepage: http://www.zombiepinups.com/

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Edward Lynndie-Pointer

[tooth-fairy.livejournal.com]

Is there any point in me asking for a viking name, will I just get Jeni Dvergur-Elskhugi? :p

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Why, no! You would be Jeni Mörgæs-Elskhugi!

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's good.
That's very good, in fact. I don't think I can do better off the top of my head, dammit.

[(Anonymous)]

I was impressed. I think there should be a prize.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I won't give him his regular smacking when I see him. That's reward enough for both of us.

[tooth-fairy.livejournal.com]

'Penguin Lover' right? :p

Ok for you, 'Menntr bani danzleikr gólf' which is an attempt at saying 'Well-bred slayer of dance floors' :p

[ddraiggwyrdd.livejournal.com]

You can have a welsh one instead
Dai Tryin'.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Not Dai Hard?

[ddraiggwyrdd.livejournal.com]

Really! I don't know you THAT well!

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I can get testimonials?

[ddraiggwyrdd.livejournal.com]

Hmmm.. In order to qualify for that title the testimolials would have to number more than four from different individuals, over the age of 18, with whom no money has changed hands.Also I think they should be acompanied by a photo of you with a bloody nose wearing a dirty vest.

[veridian-sylph.livejournal.com]

mine: Rauðrskinfaxi
rauðr = red
skinfaxi = sheen-mane, shiny mane

Yours:

DAVIÐ = Old Norse form of Hebrew David, meaning "beloved."
ofláti = dandy, gaudy person
Glíru- = wink-, Blink-
cobbled together make:
DAVIÐ Glíru-ofláti = David the Winking Dandy


Info gleaned from http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/norse/vikbynames.html and http://www.20000-names.com/male_norse_names.htm

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Crikey, you must have been pretty bored today to read this far back.