Eiliv

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

• Eilev (also from Eileifr)
• Eilif (newer borrowing from the Old Norse written form)

Etymology

From Old Norse Eilífr, from Proto-Norse *ᚨᛁᚹᚨᛚᛁᛒᚨᛉ (*aiwalibaʀ) or *ᚨᛁᚾᚨᛚᛁᛒᚨᛉ (*ainalibaʀ). Cognate with Faroese Eilívur, Icelandic Eilífur and Swedish Eliv.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²ɛɪːlɪv/, [²ɛ̝ɪ̯ːlɪʋ], [²æɪ̯ːlɪʋ], [²a̝ɪ̯ːlɪʋ], (newer, from the Old Norse spelling) /²ɛɪːlɪf/

Proper noun

Eiliv m (definite Eiliven)

1. a male given name from Old Norse

   Eilivane i Naustdal ― the Eilivs of Naustdal (a powerful family in the 13th and 14th century)

   • 1900, Snorri Sturluson, translated by Steinar Schjøtt, Kongesogur, Kristiania: Stenersen, page 284:

     Daa han sette seg ned, stod Eiliv upp og tok til orde, men i de same stod Tore Lange upp og drog sverde og hogg Eiliv i halsen, so hovude gjekk av.

     When he sat down, Eiliv stood up and began to speak, but in the same moment, Tore Lange stood up, pulled his sword and hewed Eiliv in the neck, so his head fell off.

   • 1864, Karl Jónsson, translated by Eirik M. Torvaldsson Sommer, Saga um Sverre Magnus Sigurdsson, Noregs Konung, Trondheim: At Jacob Andersen’s widow, pages 65–66:

     Konungen sende eit annat Brev imot, som let so: „So framt du, Magnus Konung, gjerer Havle mein elder Skade, daa skal eg lata drepa Eiliv Eplastong, Skudo-Eirik og Eindride Slandre fyre dykker; fyre di deira Søner ero med dykker, Tore Knapp, Son hans Eindride, Ulv Kverre, Eiriks Son, Gunna, Eilivs Son; slik Daudahaatt skula dei hava, som de gjeva Havle; og detta skal Øyolv gjera.”

     The King caused another letter to be written, in which he said, “If you, King Magnus, do harm or hurt to Afli, I will slay Eilif Eplastong, Skudu-Eirik, and Eindridi Slandri. You have with you their sons: Thori Knapp, Eindridi’s son; Ulf Kneiti, Eirik’s son; and Gunnar, Eiliv’s son. The death you inflict on Afli, such shall they die, at the hands of Eyolf.”

   • 1510 August 3, DN 3.1050‎^[1], Asdal:

     Ollom monnom them som thetta bref see eller høyra helser jek [Orm] Anundzson presther a Skeide i Bamble Eiliff Gudulfson Hauord Haluardzson logretesmen ther

     All men, them who this letter see or hear, I, [Orm] Anundsson, priest in Skeide in Bamble; Eiliv Gudulvsson; Håvard Halvardsson, lay judge, greet you […]

   • 1465 April 19, DN 2.856‎^[2], Oslo:

     Ollom monnom þeim som þetta breeff see æder høyra heilsa wii Eilifer Yriensson Pædher Nielsson prebendati at domkirkionne i Oslo Biorn Guttormsson oc Alfer Þorbiornsson borghara oc swornæ logrettissmen […]

     All men, them who this letter see or hear, we, Eiliv Yrjansson; Per Nilsson, prebendary at the cathedral in Oslo; Bjørn Gudtormsson, and Alv Torbjørnsson, citizens and sworn lay judges, greet […]

Usage notes

As with many other Old Norse-derived names, the <f> in Old Norse Eilífr has been misinterpreted as /f/ and influenced the modern pronunciation of the name (whence also the spelling Eilif). Compare Rolv, Toralv and Leidulv occasionally pronounced with /f/.

Patronymics:

• son of Eiliv: Eilivsson
• daughter of Eiliv: Eilivsdotter

References

• Eivind Vågslid (1988) “Eiliv”, in Norderlendske fyrenamn (in Norwegian Nynorsk), →ISBN
• Statistisk sentralbyrå, Namnestatistikk: 176 males with the given name Eiliv living in Norway on January 1st 2024. Accessed on 29th November, 2024.