Huld

Huld is an Old Norse feminine name, serving as a variant of Hulda 1. The root name derives from Old Norse hulda, meaning "hiding, secrecy," and also relates to archaic Swedish huld, meaning "gracious, sweet, lovable." In Norse mythology, Huld appears as a seeress (völva) or practitioner of seiðr (sorcery). She is mentioned in the Ynglinga saga, Sturlunga saga, and a late medieval Icelandic tale. Her name connects her to the hulder of Scandinavian folklore and the German figure Holda.

Mythological Attestations

In the Ynglinga saga, written by Snorri Sturluson, Huld was hired by Queen Drífa to kill King Vanlade of Sweden using sorcery—she "hag-rode" him to death, a method of magical attack. Snorri quotes lines from the 9th-century poem Ynglingatal that recount this event. Later, Vanlade's grandchildren also employed Huld to assassinate his son Visbur. In the 13th century, the Icelandic chieftain and historian Sturla Þórðarson entertained King Magnús lagabœtir with a tale about Huld, which he told to great acclaim.

In the late medieval Icelandic tale, Huld becomes Odin's mistress and the mother of the demi-goddesses Þorgerðr and Irpa. This reflects her enduring role in Norse legend as a powerful, enigmatic female figure intertwined with magic and fate. The name Huld, through its mythological associations, evokes secrecy, sorcery, and the hidden forces of nature.