Name profile

GirlPronounced German /ˈɡuː.dʁuːn/Germanic Languages language family

Gudrun

A name of Old Norse origin meaning "god's secret lore".

Quick answer

Gudrun is a girl name with Old Norse roots meaning "god's secret lore".

Pronunciation: German /ˈɡuː.dʁuːn/.

GenderGirl
OriginOld Norse
Meaninggod's secret lore
PronunciationGerman /ˈɡuː.dʁuːn/
Language familyGermanic Languages

Meaning and history

This name comes from the Old Norse name Guðrún meaning "god's secret lore", derived from the elements guð "god" and rún "secret lore, rune". In Norse legend Gudrun was the wife of Sigurd. After his death she married Atli, but when he murdered her brothers, she killed her sons by him, fed him their hearts, and then slew him. Her story appears in Norse literature such as the Eddas and the Völsungasaga. She is called Kriemhild in German versions of the tale. This is also an unrelated character in the medieval German epic Kudrun.

Notes and context

Usage: norse mythology, swedish, norwegian, danish, german