geirr

Geirr is a term from Old Norse that primarily denotes a spear. In Old Norse, geirr functioned as a weapon noun and appears in sagas and poetry as a conventional name for a spear-bearing weapon. The word is part of the broader Germanic tradition of weapon-based terminology and is related to other Germanic words for spear in neighboring languages. The form geirr is the standard Old Norse spelling; modern Icelandic and Norwegian spellings often render the element as Geir or Geirr, with Geir being the more common contemporary form in Icelandic.

Geirr is also used as a masculine given name in Nordic contexts. It is derived directly from the noun and reflects a common Norse naming practice that used weapon terms as personal names. In medieval texts, persons named Geirr appear in various sagas, and in modern times the name persists in occasional use, though less common than the simplified Geir variant. As a name element, geirr may appear in compound given names and surnames in historical records. The name is associated with traits implied by the spear motif, such as strength and prowess, though usage is purely nominal and cultural rather than symbolic.