Question · Norse Lore
What Are Odin's Ravens Called?
[lore] Odin's two ravens are called Huginn (Old Norse: Huginn, meaning "Thought") and Muninn (Old Norse: Muninn, meaning "Memory"). Their names are given in Grímnismál, stanza 20 — the only surviving Old Norse verse that names both ravens together. The poem is preserved in the Codex Regius (c. 1270 CE).
The Source: Grímnismál Stanza 20
[lore] The names Huginn and Muninn appear in the Old Norse Eddic poem Grímnismál ("The Sayings of Grímnir"), stanza 20:
"Huginn ok Muninn / fljúga hverjan dag / Jörmungrund yfir…"
Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (c. 1220 CE), Gylfaginning chapter 38, confirms the names and adds that the ravens sit on Odin's shoulders and return each morning with news of the world.
What the Names Mean
- Huginn
- From Old Norse hugr = "thought", "mind", or "intention". Universally translated as "Thought".
- Muninn
- From Old Norse muna = "to remember" or munr = "mind/memory/desire". Most often translated as "Memory", but some scholars (including Anthony Faulkes) note "desire" or "longing" as alternate meanings.
Odin's Fear for Muninn
[lore] The stanza continues: "I fear for Huginn that he may not return, yet I fear more for Muninn." This line has fascinated scholars — why does Odin fear more for Memory than for Thought? The most cited interpretation is that memory, once lost, cannot be regained: thought can begin again, but memory is irreplaceable. See: Grímnismál Stanza 20 — full analysis.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Huginn and Muninn mean in English?
Huginn means "Thought" in Old Norse (from hugr, "thought/mind"). Muninn means "Memory" (from muna, "to remember"), though some scholars also translate it as "desire" or "mind". The names appear in Grímnismál stanza 20, the only surviving verse that names both ravens.
Which raven is Huginn and which is Muninn?
No primary source assigns specific roles to each raven individually — they appear as a pair that together gather news. Grímnismál stanza 20 mentions Odin's greater fear for Muninn's return, but does not specify which raven handles which type of information.
Did Odin have more than two ravens?
No primary source gives Odin more than two ravens. Grímnismál stanza 20 names Huginn and Muninn as a pair, and Gylfaginning ch. 38 confirms two ravens. No other named ravens are attributed to Odin in the surviving Eddas.
Sources
- The Codex Regius (GkS 2365 4°), c. 1270 CE. — primary manuscript; Grímnismál stanza 20.
- Larrington, C. (1996). The Poetic Edda (trans.). Oxford University Press. p. 56. — translation.
- Faulkes, A. (ed., 1987). Edda. Everyman. p. 33. — Prose Edda; name etymology note.
- Simek, R. (1993). Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer. p. 160. — name meanings.
[lore] named cultural/historical source