How to Write Your Name in Runes (Elder Futhark and Anglo-Saxon)
To write your name in runes, spell it by sound, not by English spelling: say the name aloud, break it into sounds, and give each sound its matching rune. For most people the Elder Futhark, the oldest 24-rune alphabet, is the natural choice, while the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc offers extra runes that fit English names more closely.
Runes were a writing system long before they became a divination tool, so writing a name is one of the most authentic things you can do with them. People carved their own names, the names of the dead and the names of objects' owners into stone, metal and wood.
This guide gives you a letter-to-rune list, explains the tricky letters, works through three example names and shows how the Anglo-Saxon runes differ. At the end there is an honest note on using a runic name as a tattoo.
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Why runes follow sound, not spelling
Runes were never a cipher for the English alphabet. Each rune stood for a sound in an early Germanic language, and people spelled words the way they heard them. There was no fixed standard spelling, and inscriptions often vary.
That is why direct "letter swap" converters can give odd results. English spelling is full of silent letters and letters that make several sounds: the C in "Cecilia" makes two different sounds, and the "ph" in "Sophia" is simply an F. A runic version should capture how your name sounds when you say it.
The Elder Futhark was used from about the 2nd to the 8th century, mainly in Scandinavia and other Germanic-speaking areas. If you want to know more about the runes themselves before writing with them, see what runes are and the guide to all 24 rune meanings.
Want every rune at your fingertips? The 24 Norse Runes Guide covers every Elder Futhark rune: the signs it shows up, what to avoid, and simple actions for the next 7 days. 122-page phone-friendly PDF, $20.
Letter-to-rune list for the Elder Futhark
Use this list for the basic sounds. Where English letters have no direct rune, the next section explains what to do.
A (as in "father"): ᚨ Ansuz
B: ᛒ Berkana
C: ᚲ Kenaz for a hard "k" sound, ᛊ Sowilo for a soft "s" sound
D: ᛞ Dagaz
E: ᛖ Ehwaz
F: ᚠ Fehu
G (hard, as in "go"): ᚷ Gebo
H: ᚺ Hagalaz
I (as in "machine"): ᛁ Isa
J (as the "y" in "yes"): ᛃ Jera
K: ᚲ Kenaz
L: ᛚ Laguz
M: ᛗ Mannaz
N: ᚾ Nauthiz
O: ᛟ Othala
P: ᛈ Perthro
Q: ᚲ Kenaz (see below)
R: ᚱ Raido
S: ᛊ Sowilo
T: ᛏ Tiwaz
U (as in "rule"): ᚢ Uruz
V: ᚹ Wunjo or ᚠ Fehu (see below)
W: ᚹ Wunjo
X: ᚲᛊ Kenaz plus Sowilo
Y: ᛃ Jera as a consonant, ᛁ Isa as a vowel
Z: ᛉ Algiz, which originally stood for a z-like sound
Two sounds have their own runes and should not be spelled with two letters:
TH (as in "thorn"): ᚦ Thurisaz
NG (as in "king"): ᛜ Ingwaz
Each rune also has a meaning, which is part of why people enjoy seeing their name in runes. You can look up any letter's rune on its own page, such as Ansuz, and read your name as a small chain of meanings.
Tricky letters: C, Q, V, X, double letters, TH and NG
Most difficulties come from English spelling rules that runes simply do not have.
C and Q
There is no separate C rune in the Elder Futhark. Listen to your name: "Carl" and "Nicole" take ᚲ Kenaz, while "Cecilia" or "Lucy" take ᛊ Sowilo for the soft C. Q is always a "k" sound, so it takes ᚲ, and "qu" is usually written ᚲᚹ (k plus w), as in "Quinn".
V
The Elder Futhark has no dedicated V rune. Modern transcribers usually choose ᚹ Wunjo, because it is the closest sound, or ᚠ Fehu, because an f sound could be voiced to v between vowels in early Germanic speech. Either is defensible; pick one and use it consistently.
X
X is really two sounds, "k" and "s", so write it ᚲᛊ. If your name starts with an X pronounced as Z, as in "Xena", use ᛉ instead.
Double letters
Viking Age inscriptions normally did not write the same rune twice in a row, even where a word had a double consonant. So "Anna" is usually written with a single N: ᚨᚾᚨ. You can keep both if you prefer the visual balance, but one rune is closer to how rune carvers actually wrote.
TH, NG, silent letters and vowel combinations
Write "th" as ᚦ only when it actually sounds like "th" in "thin" or "this". In "Thomas" the TH is just a T, so it takes ᛏ. Write NG as ᛜ when you hear the single sound in "Inga" or "Ming".
Drop silent letters: the H in "Sarah", the final E in "Grace", the GH in "Hugh". For vowel sounds that English spells strangely, write what you hear: "Michael" sounds like "mai-kel", so the first vowel becomes ᚨᛁ.
Three worked examples
These examples show the method step by step. Read the runes from left to right.
Emma
Say it: e-m-a.
The double M is one sound, so it takes one rune.
Result: ᛖᛗᚨ (Ehwaz, Mannaz, Ansuz).
The meanings form a pleasant small sentence: trust and partnership, the human self, and the voice or inspiration.
Thomas
Say it: t-o-m-a-s. The TH is a plain T.
T is ᛏ, O is ᛟ, M is ᛗ, A is ᚨ, S is ᛊ.
Result: ᛏᛟᛗᚨᛊ (Tiwaz, Othala, Mannaz, Ansuz, Sowilo).
A common mistake would be to start with ᚦ Thurisaz. That is the rune for the sound in "thorn", which Thomas does not have.
Sophia
Say it: s-o-f-i-a. The PH is an F sound.
S is ᛊ, O is ᛟ, F is ᚠ, I is ᛁ, A is ᚨ.
Result: ᛊᛟᚠᛁᚨ (Sowilo, Othala, Fehu, Isa, Ansuz).
If you are unsure about a name, say it slowly several times and write down each sound before you choose a rune. Names with accents or non-English pronunciation follow the same rule: write the sounds, not the letters.
Writing your name in Anglo-Saxon runes (Futhorc)
The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc developed from the Elder Futhark in England and Frisia. It began with 26 runes and in its later English form grew to around 33, adding signs for vowel and consonant sounds that Old English needed. For English names it can be a more precise choice.
The main differences when writing a name:
A in "father" is ᚪ (ac), and the "a" in "cat" is ᚫ (æsc).
O is ᚩ (os), while ᛟ (ethel) stands for a sound like the "ö" in German.
Y as a vowel can be ᚣ (yr).
S is usually ᛋ (sigel), a different shape from the Elder Futhark S.
C and K sounds are written with ᚳ (cen), which could also stand for the "ch" sound in "church".
J and consonant Y sounds use ᛄ (ger).
H is ᚻ (hægl), with a double cross-stroke.
NG is ᛝ (ing).
X can be written with ᛉ (eolhx), which in manuscripts stands for Latin x, though this was rare in inscriptions.
So "Sophia" in the Futhorc would be ᛋᚩᚠᛁᚪ, and "Thomas" would be ᛏᚩᛗᚪᛋ. Choose the Futhorc if your name is English and you like its closer fit; choose the Elder Futhark if you want the oldest and most widely recognised runes. Just do not mix the two in one name.
How to display and use your runic name
Once you have your spelling, there are many ways to use it.
Draw it by hand. Use straight lines, which suit carving. The guide on how to draw runes covers correct shapes and stroke order.
Carve it. Wood, leather and clay take runes well, and a name carved on a personal object follows the oldest runic tradition.
Add a word divider. Inscriptions often separated words with dots or small marks, which you can use between a first and last name.
Choose a personal rune. Some people pair their name with a single personal rune that reflects their character.
Writing a name is not the same as making a bindrune. A name is spelled out rune by rune; a bindrune merges runes into one sign for a purpose. If you want to merge your initials or an intention into a single symbol, see the planned guide on how to make a bindrune.
Before you tattoo your runic name
A runic name is one of the most popular rune tattoos, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Take a few precautions.
Double-check the spelling by sound. Most errors come from swapping letters directly, especially TH, C and silent letters.
Pick one alphabet. Mixing Elder Futhark and Futhorc forms, or adding fantasy "runes" from games and films, is the most common mistake.
Check the shapes. Some runes look very similar or are easily drawn mirrored. Make sure your artist copies the exact form.
Mind the reading direction. Write from left to right, and remember the tattoo will be read by others the same way.
Be careful with fonts. Runic fonts and computer characters can display differently; give your artist a clear drawing, not only typed text.
Runic writing has also been misused by extremist groups, mostly through a few specific symbols rather than ordinary name spelling. A plain runic name is not one of those, but it is worth knowing the context. The rune tattoo guide covers this in detail.
If you want something more personal than a spelled-out name, such as a single symbol that combines your initials and your intention, a custom bindrune can be designed and checked for you.
Need a formula made for one specific goal? A Custom Bindrune is built around your intention: every rune explained, plus how to activate and work with it. Delivered within 48 hours of your form. $249.
FAQ
Which rune alphabet should I use for my name?
Most people use the Elder Futhark, the oldest and best-known 24-rune set. If your name is English and you want closer sound matches, the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc has extra runes for vowels and for sounds like "ch". Choose one and do not mix them.
Is there a rune for every letter of the alphabet?
No. Runes follow sounds, not letters. There is no separate rune for C, Q, V or X, so you write the sound they make, such as ᚲ for a hard C or ᚲᛊ for X.
Should I write double letters twice?
Historical inscriptions usually wrote a doubled sound with a single rune, so "Anna" becomes ᚨᚾᚨ. Writing it twice is not wrong in a modern design, but one rune is closer to tradition.
How do I write "th" in runes?
Use ᚦ Thurisaz only when the name has the "th" sound in "thin" or "this". If the TH is pronounced as a plain T, as in "Thomas", write ᛏ Tiwaz.
Can an online rune converter do this for me?
A converter can give you a starting point, but many swap letters one by one and ignore pronunciation. Check its output against the sound of your name before using it, especially for anything permanent.
Does writing my name in runes have magical meaning?
Historically, names in runes were mostly about marking identity, ownership or memory. In modern practice, some people see the runes of their name as a reflection of their qualities, which is a personal interpretation rather than a historical rule.
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