Norse Runes – Meaning and the Elder Futhark
Runes were the ancient script of the Germanic peoples and later the Vikings. Each sign had a sound, a name and a meaning, which is why runes still fascinate as symbols – on amulets, tattoos, and on silver coins and bars. Here is what the Elder Futhark runic alphabet is, where runes came from and what each rune means.
What are runes?
Runes are the letters of the oldest Germanic script, used in Scandinavia and northern Europe from roughly the 2nd to the 11th century, and locally even longer. The word rune comes from a Germanic root meaning secret or mystery. The signs were carved into wood, bone, metal and stone, so they have simple, angular shapes without curves – easy to cut with a knife or chisel.
The runic alphabet – what is the futhark?
The runic alphabet is called the futhark after its first six letters: F, U, Th, A, R, K – just as "alphabet" comes from the Greek alpha and beta. There are three main versions:
- Elder Futhark – 24 runes, c. 2nd–8th century; the version most often seen on amulets and in books about runes,
- Younger Futhark – 16 runes, the Viking Age (8th–11th century); used on most Scandinavian runestones,
- Anglo-Saxon Futhorc – an extended version used in England, up to 33 signs.
The Elder Futhark is divided into three groups of eight runes called ættir (families): Freyr's, Hagal's (Heimdall's) and Tyr's.
Where did runes come from? Odin and Yggdrasil
In Norse mythology the runes were won by the god Odin. In the poem Hávamál he tells how he hung on the world tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nights, wounded by a spear, without food or drink – until he saw the runes and took them up with a cry. Through this sacrifice he learned their power and gave them to people.
Historians see it more simply: runes were most likely modelled on alphabets used in northern Italy and the Alps, which the Germanic peoples encountered through contact with Rome. The oldest known runic inscriptions date from the 2nd century AD.
Runes and their meanings – the 24 Elder Futhark runes
Below are the rune names and meanings. The first word is the literal meaning of the name (preserved in medieval "rune poems"), the rest is the symbolism attributed to the runes today.
| # | Rune | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ᚠ | Fehu | cattle, wealth, prosperity |
| 2 | ᚢ | Uruz | aurochs, strength, health |
| 3 | ᚦ | Thurisaz | giant, thorn, defence |
| 4 | ᚨ | Ansuz | god (Odin), speech, wisdom |
| 5 | ᚱ | Raidho | ride, journey, path |
| 6 | ᚲ | Kenaz | torch, knowledge, light |
| 7 | ᚷ | Gebo | gift, exchange, partnership |
| 8 | ᚹ | Wunjo | joy, happiness, harmony |
| 9 | ᚺ | Hagalaz | hail, sudden change |
| 10 | ᚾ | Nauthiz | need, hardship |
| 11 | ᛁ | Isa | ice, stillness |
| 12 | ᛃ | Jera | year, harvest, reward |
| 13 | ᛇ | Eihwaz | yew, endurance, transformation |
| 14 | ᛈ | Perthro | fate, mystery |
| 15 | ᛉ | Algiz | elk, protection |
| 16 | ᛊ | Sowilo | sun, victory |
| 17 | ᛏ | Tiwaz | the god Tyr, justice, courage |
| 18 | ᛒ | Berkano | birch, birth, family |
| 19 | ᛖ | Ehwaz | horse, teamwork, movement |
| 20 | ᛗ | Mannaz | man, humankind |
| 21 | ᛚ | Laguz | water, intuition |
| 22 | ᛜ | Ingwaz | the god Ing (Freyr), fertility |
| 23 | ᛞ | Dagaz | day, breakthrough, new beginning |
| 24 | ᛟ | Othala | inheritance, home, ancestry |
Good to know: Germanic peoples and Vikings used runes mainly for writing – names, memorial inscriptions, marks of ownership. Rune divination in its modern form, with fixed meanings "for luck" or "for protection", developed mostly in the 20th century.
The most popular runes
- Fehu – the rune of wealth and prosperity that opens the alphabet; a favourite "money" talisman,
- Uruz – strength and health, symbolised by the wild aurochs,
- Ansuz – the rune of Odin, wisdom and speech,
- Wunjo – joy and fulfilment,
- Algiz – the best-known protection rune, resembling elk antlers or a hand raised in defence,
- Dagaz – the rune of day, breakthrough and new beginnings.
Viking runes and runestones
The Vikings wrote in the Younger Futhark. Most of their inscriptions survive on runestones – Sweden alone has about 2,500. The most famous are the Jelling stones in Denmark, raised by King Harald Bluetooth around 965 and called "Denmark's baptismal certificate", and the Rök stone in Sweden with the longest known runic inscription.
Fun fact: the Bluetooth logo combines two Younger Futhark runes – the initials of Harald Bluetooth (H and B), after whose nickname the technology is named.
Silver runes and Viking coins at Magikos-Coins
The German Germania Mint released a series of silver runes – 1 oz cast bars of 999.9 silver. Each has an individual number and a mint mark, and a hidden colour appears only under a UV torch. The series is sold out, but you can still see the individual runes:
- Fehu rune – wealth,
- Uruz rune – strength,
- Ansuz rune – wisdom,
- Wunjo rune – joy,
- Algiz rune – protection,
- Dagaz rune – new beginnings.
Coins with heroes of the Viking Age are available:
- Sail with the Vikings (Niue 2026) – 1 oz silver shaped like a Viking longship, gilded, only 99 pieces per design: Ragnar Lothbrok, Lagertha, Freydís Eiríksdóttir, Harald Fairhair and Eric Bloodaxe,
- The Way to Valhalla (MINT XXI, Cameroon) – 2 oz silver, high relief, antique finish, mintage 500: Harald Hardrada, Lagertha, Eric Bloodaxe (sold out),
- Viking – Warriors Through Time (Samoa 2025) – 2 oz silver with Norse symbols and gilding, mintage 399, available for pre-order.
From sold-out issues of The Way to Valhalla, see Leif Eriksson, who reached America 500 years before Columbus, and Björn Ironside.
All our Viking coins and runes are in one category, together with the history of real Viking coins, from the Hedeby pennies to the 2026 Rena hoard.
Frequently asked questions
How many runes are there?
The Elder Futhark has 24 runes, the Younger Futhark (Viking Age) 16, and the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc up to 33.
What does the Algiz rune mean?
Algiz is the rune of protection. Its name means elk, and its shape resembles antlers or a raised hand.
What does the Fehu rune mean?
Fehu literally means "cattle", an old measure of wealth. It symbolises wealth, prosperity and success.
Which rune brings good luck?
Wunjo (joy), Fehu (prosperity) and Jera (good harvest) are most often seen as lucky runes. This is modern symbolism, though – historically runes were used mainly for writing.
Summary
Runes are not only magical symbols but above all a script that Germanic peoples and Vikings used to record names, events and stories. If you like the Norse theme, browse the silver Viking coins at Magikos-Coins or contact us – we will help you choose a gift.