Hrafn

Hrafn is a word of Old Norse origin meaning raven. In Icelandic and other North Germanic languages the term hrafn continues to denote the bird; the modern Icelandic name is commonly used as a masculine given name, and it appears in historical and literary contexts as a name element in compound names and place names.

In Norse mythology, ravens are associated with the god Odin, who is said to have two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, who fly across the world to bring information. This association has made hrafn a symbol of wisdom, memory, and prophecy in medieval and later Scandinavian literature.

As a personal name, hrafn is most often used in Icelandic contexts, where it functions as a given name; it can appear in modern and traditional name constructions. In Icelandic patronymic naming, related forms such as Hrafnsson or Hrafnsdóttir would indicate "son of Hrafn" or "daughter of Hrafn."

The term also appears in place names and in modern fiction and media, where it may evoke Norse heritage or imagery of ravens. In scholarly and linguistic works, hrafn is cited as an example of a North Germanic word for raven and as a traditional name element.