ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3392 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3392 ************************************ 02 Nov 2009 From: Julia Smith Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked about the name (where the represents an acute accent over the previous letter) as the name for a 9th century Old Norse feminine name. This is what we have found. First, we'd like to apologize for the time this letter has taken; we hope the information is still of use to you. The name was frequent in both Norway and Iceland throughout the Viking period. [1] We could only find the byname (note that descriptive bynames in Old Norse were normally not capitalized), meaning 'wolf; thief, robber, miscreant; outlaw,' from the 12th century, but we wouldn't be surprised if it were used earlier. [2] A different option for your byname would be to use one of two Old Norse words that mean "she-wolf." We believe either of these words to be a plausible byname in Old Norse. The first, , was used at least once to describe human women. We have no evidence that it was used as a byname, however. [3] The second, , is found in kennings that describe people. [4] Later, a related form, , is found in a byname around 1400. [5] We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Talan Gwynek, Gunnvor silfraharr, Brian Dorcha ua Connail, Coblaith Mhuimhneach, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, and Ursula Georges. For the Academy, Juliana de Luna 6 October 2009 References [1] Lind, E.H. Norsk-Isla"ndska Dopnamn ock Fingerade Namn fra*n Medeltiden (Uppsala & Leipzig: 1905-1915, sup. Oslo, Uppsala and Kobenhavn: 1931); s.n. Ka/ri. (Here stands for a-umlaut, and stands for an with a small circle directly above it.) [2] Lind, E.H., _Norsk-Isla"ndska Personbinamn fra*n Medeltiden_ (Uppsala: 1920-21), s.n. vargr. (Here stands for a-umlaut, and stands for an with a small circle directly above it.) [3] Cleasby, R., G. Vigfusson, & W. Craigie, _An Icelandic-English Dictionary_ (Oxford: At the University Press, 1975), s.n. vargynja. In the Poetic Edda, Thor describes women who attacked his ship as "she-wolves." [4] Egilsson, Sveinbjo"rn, _Lexicon Poeticum, Antiquae Linguae Septentrionalis_ (Kopehagen: 1931) s.vv. ylgr, ylgteitir, einagi. The most directly relevant is , literally 'cloak's she-wolf, mantle's she-wolf', for a greedy woman. [5] Lind, E.H., _Norsk-Isla"ndska Personbinamn fra*n Medeltiden_ (Uppsala: 1920-21), s.n. Ylgja. The form is .