Entry № 969 · Old Norse origin

Brynhild Brynhild — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ BRIN-hild /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Old Norse

Meaning

"Armored battle, bright battle"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 0

First recorded

Ancient (Old Norse)

The meaning

A name that means "armored battle, bright battle".

Brynhild (Brynhildr) combines the Old Norse brynja (armor, mail-coat) and hildr (battle) — meaning "armored for battle." In Norse mythology, Brynhild is a Valkyrie cursed by Odin to sleep until awakened by a hero.

Wagner's Ring cycle (1869-1876) immortalizes Brünhilde — perhaps the most famous opera character in German tradition.

Armored Valkyrie. Wagner's heroine.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

Brynhildr

Transliteration: Brynhildr
Pronunciation: / ˈbrɪn.hɪld /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Brynhild stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Brynhild · last year

87 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Brynhilds before her.

Real people

Brynhild

Rare; few well-known bearers.

In fiction

Brünhilde

Heroine of Wagner's Ring cycle.

1869 onward

Names connected to Brynhild.

Numerology

The number behind Brynhild.

The Nurturer

Brynhild reduces to six — the number of armored devotion.

Parents on Brynhild

Why families chose this name.

"Wagner's Valkyrie. The armored Norse heroine. Brynhild."

Greta · Mother of one · Munich