Quick Explanation of Names in Norse Mythology (Part 2)
In the previous blog post, we have discussed the names of four famous figures in Norse mythology including Odin, Thor, Loki, and Frigg. In this part 2, we are to explore why some other characters in Norse mythology are called so.
Fenrir
The name of Fenrir has always been a debate. And the most commonly accepted explanation for his name was "The One Who Dwells in the Marshes".
Fenrir was the son of Loki and giantess Angrboda. He was definitely the most infamous villain in Norse mythology. Fenrir was the main cause of Odin's death and the fall of Norse Pantheon. But in modern time, Fenrir also holds a significance.
Jörmungandr
Another son of Loki was Jormungandr the Midgard. Jormungandr was cast into the ocean by Odin when he was born. Jormungandr means "The Huge Monster". And yes, he was. Jormungandr grew up to the great size only to encircle the whole Midgard within his reach.
In the final battle Ragnarok, Jormungandr was slain by Thor. But the venom the serpent left put an end to Thor when he walked seven paces away from the corpse of the serpent.
Hel
Hel was the only daughter of Loki the Trickster. Hel was also the third of the most infamous children of Loki including Fenrir and Jormungand. Hel was thrown to the underworld when she was just a kid. There she gradually built her power and made herself the Queen of the Death.
"Hel" means "hidden". Many scholars believed that because the world of the death was beneath the ground so the name of the queen should be so.
In Ragnarok, Hel sent the ship full of corpse to come and support her father, Loki. She even released Nidhogg the Dragon to join the battle against the gods.
Baldur
Baldur was the only son of Frigg and Odin. He was the only one to inherit the throne of Odin in Asgard. He was the only prince of Asgard. His "Baldur" name means "Prince".
Baldur was loved by everyone in the Nine Worlds. He treated people with kindness and fair. Baldur was so beautiful that everyone in the cosmos loved him. The death of Baldur left everyone astonished and in pain. In the funeral of Baldur, Odin gave him Draupnir ring - a way to remind Baldur where he belonged and who he would be after Ragnarok.
