Viking Names
I am reading a book about the Old Norse (a.k.a. "Vikings). Particularly interesting is their manner of naming themselves and each other. Most commonly boys took the name of their father ("Eric Son of John"). Sometimes it was a matter of appearance ("Leif the Red") or achievement ("Hakon the Bold.") Some names were descriptive ("Eric the Silent" and even "Harald the Sarcastic.") One warrior was named "Haldar the Walker" because no horse could carry him. I will merely mention "Ivor the Horsedick" without further comment.
The names of women were also often evocative, for example "Aud the Deep Minded," "Gunnhild Kingsmother" and "Thorbjorg Shipbreast’. The source of this last lady’s name probably has to do with the tendency for Viking vessels (typically called knorr) to be very large in the front. In fact a common Norse endearment was knerra-bringa - "a woman with a chest like a knorr." Other feminine names were less endearing - "Hilda the Bossy," "Inga the Scold" and "Thora the Gossip." I rather hope "Guthroth Tranquil Snow" was as charming as her name.