In Germanic paganism, the indigenous religion of the ancient Germanic peoples who inhabit Germanic Europe, there were a number of different gods and goddesses. Germanic deities are attested from numerous sources, including works of literature, various chronicles, runic inscriptions, personal names, place names, and other sources. This article contains a comprehensive list of Germanic deities outside the numerous Germanic Matres and Matronae inscriptions from the 1st to 5th century CE.
Gods NameName meaningAttested consorts and sexual partnersAttested childrenAttestationsGroupAlcis (Latinized Germanic)Elk or Temple, ContestedNone attestedNone attestedGermaniaNone, but share similarities with JötunnBaldr (Old Norse), Bældæg (Old English), Balder (Old High German)Old Norse form is contested. Old English form directly translates as "shining day".Simek (2007:26).NannaForsetiMerseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Annales Lundenses, possibly BeowulfÆsirBragi (Old Norse)Connected with Bragr ("poetry")Simek (2007:43).IðunnNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetryProbably ÆsirByggvir (Old Norse), and maybe Beowa (Old English)"Barley"BeylaNone attestedPoetic Edda: Lokasenna, Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies, maybe Beowulf?UnknownDagr (Old Norse)"Day"None attestedUnnamed "sons of Dagr"Poetic Edda, Prose EddaUnknownDellingr (Old Norse)Possibly "the dayspring"Bellows (1936:75). or "shining one"Orchard (1997:32).NóttDagrPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, Hervarar saga ok HeiðreksÆsirForseti (Old Norse)"Chairman"Orchard (1997:46).None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsirFreyr (Old Norse), Frea (Old English), Yngvi (Old Norse), Ing (Old English)"Lord"Orchard (1997:47).Freyja, GerðrFjölnir Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Ögmundar þáttr dytts, Gesta Danorum, various othersVanirHeimdallr (Old Norse)"World-brightener"Orchard (1997:78).None attestedNone attestedProse Edda, Poetic EddaÆsirHermóðr (Old Norse), Heremod (Old English)"War-spirit"Orchard (1997:83).None attestedSceaf Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Beowulf, Old English royal genealogiesÆsirHöðr (Old Norse)"Warrior"Orchard (1997:88).None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Annales Lundenses, possibly BeowulfÆsirHœnir (Old Norse)ContestedNone attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetryÆsirÍtreksjóð (Old Norse)Literally "repeated seething/boil" from the verbs "ítreka" (to repeat, to reiterate) and sjóða (to seethe, to boil).None attestedNone attestedProse Edda: Skáldskaparmál: NafnaþulurÆsirLóðurr (Old Norse)ContestedNone attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, skaldic poetryUnknown, but could be VanirLoki (Old Norse)ContestedSigyn, Angrboda, SvadilfariNari/Narfi, Váli, Jormungandr, Fenrir, Hel, SleipnirPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Loka Táttur, Norwegian rune poem, Danish folk talesÆsir, JötunnMannus (Latinized Germanic)"Man", from the Proto-Germanic root *mann- – "man"None attestedIngaevones, Herminones, IstvaeonesGermaniaUncertainMóði and Magni (Old Norse)"Courage" and "Strength"None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsirMáni (Old Norse)"Moon" (Gives his name to Monday).None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsirMímir (Old Norse)"Rememberer"None attestedUnnamed sonsPoetic Edda, Prose EddaVanirMeili (Old Norse)"the lovely one"Simek (2007:210).None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsirNari/Narfi (Old Norse)ContestedNone attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaUncertainNjörðr (Old Norse)ContestedUnnamed sister, SkaðiFreyr, Freyja, Ráðveig, Kreppvör, unnamed seven daughtersPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Egils saga, Hauksbók ring oath, place namesVanirOdin: Óðinn (North Germanic), Wōden (West Germanic), *Wōðanaz (Proto-Germanic) (see List of names of Odin for more)"Frenzy"Orchard (1997:123). (Gives his name to Wednesday). Frigg, Jörð, Gríðr, Rindr, Gunnlöð, Nine Mothers of Heimdallr, Hroðr, Skaði, possibly othersSee Sons of OdinMost attestations of Germanic paganismÆsirÓðr (Old Norse) "The frenzied one"Orchard (1997:121).FreyjaHnoss, GersemiPoetic Edda: Völuspá and Hyndluljóð, Prose Edda: Gylfaginning and Skáldskaparmál, Ynglinga saga: HeimskringlaVanirSaxnōt (Old Saxon), Seaxnet, Seaxnēat, Saxnat (Old English)ContestedNone attestedNone attestedOld Saxon Baptismal Vow, Old English royal genealogiesUnknown, but could be ÆsirThor: Þórr (North Germanic), Þunor (Old English), Thunaer (Old Saxon), Donar (Southern Germanic areas)"Thunder", all names stem from Proto-Germanic *ÞunraRSimek (2007:322). (Gives his name to Thursday). Sif, JárnsaxaMóði and Magni, ÞrúðrMost attestations of Germanic paganismÆsirTuisto (Latinized Germanic)"double", from the Proto-Germanic root *twai – "two"; "a god, born of the earth" (deum terra editum)None attestedMannusGermaniaNone, but share similarities with JötunnTýr (Old Norse), Tīw, Tīg (both Old English), Ziu (Old High German)"God", derived from Proto-Germanic *TīwazSimek (2007:337). (Gives his name to Tuesday). Possibly ZisaNone AttestedPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Hadrian's Wall altarÆsirUllr (Old Norse)Something like "Glory"Lindow (2001:301).None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Gesta Danorum, Thorsberg chape, toponyms in Norway and SwedenÆsirVáli (Old Norse)"Chosen"None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum (as Bous)ÆsirViðarr (Old Norse)Possibly "wide ruler"Orchard (1997:174—175).None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsirVé (Old Norse)VéOrchard (1997:173).FriggNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsirVili (Old Norse)"Will"Simek (2007:363).FriggNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsir
Goddesses NameName meaningAttested consorts and sexual partnersAttested childrenAttestationsGroupBaduhenna (Latinized Germanic)Badu-, may be cognate to Proto-Germanic *badwa- meaning "battle." The second portion of the name -henna may be related to -henae, which appears commonly in the names of matrons.Simek (2007:26).None attestedNone attestedTacitus's AnnalsMatronaeBil (Old Norse)ContestedNone attestedNone attestedProse EddaUnknown, but could be ÆsirBeyla (Old Norse)Proposed as related to "cow," "bean," or "bee."Lindow (2001:78).ByggvirNone attestedPoetic EddaUnknown, but could be VanirDís (Old Norse)"goddess"August Fick, Vergleichendes Wörterbuch der Indogermanischen Sprachen Part 3 Wortschatz der Germanischen Spracheinheit, 4th ed. rev. Alf Torp, Hjalmar Falk, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1909, OCLC 491891019, "dîsî, dîsi," p. 206 .None attestedNone attestedPoetic EddaDisirEir (Old Norse)"Peace, clemency"Lindow (2001:105). or "help, mercy"Orchard (1997:36).None attestedNone attestedPoetic Edda, Prose EddaÆsirĒostre (Old English)"East"Barnhart (1995:229). (Gives her name to Easter according to Bede).None attestedNone attestedDe temporum rationeNone, but share similarities with JötunnFreyja (Old Norse) (See List of names of Freyja for more)"Lady"Lindow (2001:126)Freyr, ÓðrHnoss, GersemiPoetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Sörla þáttrVanirFrigg (Old Norse)Derived from an Indo-European root meaning "Love"Lindow (2001:129).