Namesakes: Inge Krokann, a Norwegian writer most known for the book I Dovre Sno (1929). Inge Faes, a member of the Belgian Senate in 2010. Viking names are experiencing a resurgence in popularity these days. From well-known heroes to ancient Norse deities, these colorful, often influential names are many. It can be hard to figure out which one is the best choice for the baby boy or girl you’re expecting.

Namesakes: Sven Alkalaj, the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN. Sven Nykvist, a Swedish cinematographer known for working with director Ingmar Bergman. Aptly meaning “lord and ruler”, Harald is the name of the Viking king Harald Bluetooth, who conquered Denmark and Norway and succeeded in converting Denmark to Christianity in the tenth century. During the twentieth century, Viking names with more gentle or natural origins, such as Björn (meaning “bear”) and Arne (meaning “eagle”) were popular, but these too are less common now.Alternatively, you could just opt for the simple, self-explanatory Sune, which means “son”. How to pronounce Viking names Namesakes: Siegrun Klemmer, a German politician and member of the German Bundestag from 1990 to 2002. Of Norse origins, the name Sigurd means “guardian of victory”. In Norse mythology, the legendary Viking warrior Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye killed a dragon and is thought to have been king of Denmark in the ninth century. Skade Your UKS2 class will explore the characters by answering questions and making deductions, ‘what does this tell us?’ Famous Namesakes: Leif Ericson (explorer considered to have discovered America before Christopher Columbus), Leif Garrett (U.S. singer, actor, and television personality)

The explorer Erik Thorvaldsson, better known as Erik the Red due to the colour of his hair and beard, featured in the Icelandic sagas and founded the first Viking settlement on Greenland in the tenth century. Frode Namesakes: Brenna O’Brien, a Canadian actress known for voice work in the anime series Inuyasha. Brenna Hassett, an American-British archaeologist who founded TrowelBlazers, championing women archaeologists. Namesakes: Kirk O’Bee, an American road racing cyclist who won the USPRO pursuit championship in 1997. But, as good as the characters are, the world was even better. While it was set on Earth in a real time period, and while it was very realistically written, it had a really nice "supernatural" (religious? mythical?) element as well: All the viking stories were real, all the gods and mythical beings really existed and sometimes took interest in mortals. Many of the names have several variations in how they can be spelled, so expectant parents can play around with them however they like to make them perfect for their kids.

Tony Bradman has been involved in the world of children's books for more than 30 years, as an award-winning writer, an editor and a reviewer. He has written poetry, picture books and fiction books for all ages, and has edited many anthologies of short stories and poetry. In recent years he has also written a number of books with his son Tom, including Titanic: Death in the Water which won a Young Quills Award from the Historical Association in 2012. This book promises ‘Blood. Fire. Vengeance’ and it doesn’t disappoint. Gunnar is the Viking boy of the title who is forced to run away to save himself after his homestead is raided and his father is murdered by the Wolf Men – ‘bringers of fire and slaughter’. His long journey to the Land of Ice and Fire is filled with many dangers, but he has to find Valhalla, for that is where Brunhild, Queen of the Valkyries, has taken his father - to the Hall of Fallen Heroes - and where Gunnar has to become a warrior. Some of the most popular Viking boy names include Bjørn, Erik, Magnus, Ivar, Leif, Thor, Loki, Ulf, Knut, and Ragnar.