Norse Gods Family Tree: Interactive Chart of Odin, Thor, Loki and the Vanir

This is the family tree of the Norse gods as the two Eddas tell it: from Ymir and the cow Auðhumla, through Bor and the giantess Bestla, to Odin and his sons, Thor’s wives and children, Loki’s children and the Vanir gods Njörðr, Freyr and Freyja. Select any name on the chart above to trace its line. Every link is tied to a passage in the Prose Edda or the Poetic Edda; each entry says when only Snorri Sturluson records it, and where a link rests on a single remark or the sources disagree, the line is dashed.

The Norse gods family tree at a glance

1. The first beings. Before the world there was Ginnungagap, a yawning void. Where the ice of the north met the heat of the south, the melting rime took shape as Ymir, the first frost giant, and as the cow Auðhumla, whose milk fed him (Gylfaginning 5–6).

2. Out of the ice. Auðhumla licked the salty ice-blocks, and over three days a man was freed from them: Buri, “fair of feature, great and mighty” (Gylfaginning 6). He is not born, so the line to him on the chart is dashed.

3. Odin’s parents. Buri’s son Bor married Bestla, daughter of the giant Bölþorn. Their sons were Odin, Vili and Vé, who killed Ymir and made the world from his body (Gylfaginning 6–8; Völuspá 4). From Odin’s generation on, then, the gods are half giant.

4. Odin’s wives and sons. Thor is the son of Odin and Jörð, the Earth. Baldr is his son by Frigg, Víðarr by the giantess Gríðr and Váli by Rindr (Gylfaginning 9, 30; Skáldskaparmál 5, 18). Snorri adds Höðr, Hermóðr, Bragi, Týr and Heimdallr, mostly without naming a mother.

5. Loki’s line. Loki is the son of the giant Fárbauti and Laufey. With the giantess Angrboða he has the wolf Fenrir, the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr and Hel; with his wife Sigyn, Narfi (Gylfaginning 33–34).

6. The Vanir. Njörðr came to the Æsir as a hostage after the war between the two families of gods. His children are Freyr and Freyja (Gylfaginning 23–24). Freyja’s daughter by her husband Óðr is Hnoss (Gylfaginning 35).

Odin’s sons and their mothers

Four sons of Odin have a named mother. Thor is the son of Jörð, the Earth, also called Fjörgyn and Hlóðyn; Lokasenna 58 calls him “the son of Earth”. Baldr is the son of Frigg. Víðarr, the silent god who avenges his father at Ragnarök, is the son of the giantess Gríðr. Váli is the son of Rindr, born to avenge Baldr, which he does when one night old (Baldrs draumar 11).

The rest come mostly from Snorri. Gylfaginning 49 calls Hermóðr Odin’s son; kennings in Skáldskaparmál call Týr, Bragi and Höðr sons of Odin (chapters 9, 10 and 13), and the Old Norse text of chapter 8 says the same of Heimdallr. No mother is named for any of them, and the chart draws these links with dashed lines. Two more sons are not on the chart: Meili, whom Thor calls his brother in Hárbarðsljóð 9, and Skjöldr, ancestor of the Danish kings (Skáldskaparmál 42). Ynglinga saga 8 also gives Odin sons by Skaði.

Frigg is often called the mother of Thor online. She is not: she is his stepmother. Snorri makes her the daughter of Fjörgynn, a masculine name that should not be confused with Fjörgyn, another name for Thor’s mother Jörð (Gylfaginning 9).

Is Loki Odin’s brother?

Not by birth. Odin’s brothers are Vili and Vé (Gylfaginning 6). Loki is the son of the giant Fárbauti and of Laufey, also called Nál, and his own brothers are Býleistr and Helblindi (Gylfaginning 33). What links him to Odin is an oath, known only from Loki’s own words. In Lokasenna, Loki reminds him: “Remember, Othin, in olden days / That we both our blood have mixed” (Lokasenna 9, Bellows’s translation). Odin then makes room for him at Ægir’s feast.

No source calls Loki Odin’s son. Lokasenna 16 does call him a “wish-son” of the gods, an adopted kinsman, but making him Odin’s adopted son belongs to modern comics and films.

Loki’s children

Loki has children by three partners, and is a mother as well as a father. With the giantess Angrboða he has the wolf Fenrir, the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr and Hel, ruler of the dead (Gylfaginning 34). The poem Hyndluljóð knows Angrboða only as the mother of the wolf (stanza 42); the serpent and Hel as her children come from Snorri.

With his wife Sigyn he has Narfi, also called Nari (Gylfaginning 33). After Baldr’s death the gods turn Loki’s son Váli into a wolf, he tears Narfi apart, and Loki is bound with Narfi’s entrails (Gylfaginning 50). The prose at the end of Lokasenna tells it the other way round. No source names Váli’s mother; Sigyn is usually assumed.

Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse, is Loki’s child too. When a giant builder was about to finish the wall of Asgard in time to win Freyja, the sun and the moon, Loki took the shape of a mare and lured away his stallion Svaðilfari. Some time later Loki gave birth to a grey foal with eight legs (Gylfaginning 42).

Thor’s family: Sif, Járnsaxa and their children

Thor’s wife Sif is the mother of his daughter Þrúðr and of Ullr, the archer and skier whose father is never named, which makes Thor his stepfather (Gylfaginning 31; Skáldskaparmál 14, 21). With the giantess Járnsaxa Thor has Magni, who at three nights old lifts the dead giant Hrungnir’s foot off his father (Skáldskaparmál 17). The mother of his other son Móði is never named.

Móði and Magni are among the gods who survive Ragnarök; Vafþrúðnismál 51 says they will have their father’s hammer Mjöllnir.

The Vanir: Njörðr, Freyr and Freyja

The Vanir are the second family of gods. After their war with the Æsir the two sides exchanged hostages: Njörðr went to the Æsir and Hœnir to the Vanir (Gylfaginning 23). Ynglinga saga 4 adds Freyr and Kvasir on one side and Mímir on the other, and says the Vanir cut off Mímir’s head and sent it to Odin.

Njörðr’s children are Freyr and Freyja. The Prose Edda names no mother, and Gylfaginning 24 has them born after Njörðr came to the gods. Snorri’s own Ynglinga saga 4 says he had them by his own sister, a custom the saga says the Vanir allowed, and Lokasenna 36 says the same of Freyr. Njörðr’s wife Skaði, daughter of the giant Þjazi, married him as compensation for her father’s death (Skáldskaparmál G56), and they parted because neither could bear the other’s home (Gylfaginning 23). No source says outright that she bore the twins, but in Skírnismál she speaks of Freyr as “our son”, the manuscript reading, which may mean no more than stepson. Freyr marries the giantess Gerðr, daughter of Gymir (Gylfaginning 37), and Freyja’s daughter by her husband Óðr is Hnoss (Gylfaginning 35).

Heimdallr’s nine mothers and Týr’s two fathers

Heimdallr, watchman of the gods, was born of nine sisters at once (Gylfaginning 27). Hyndluljóð 37–38 calls them giant women and names them: Gjálp, Greip, Eistla, Eyrgjafa, Úlfrún, Angeyja, Imðr, Atla and Járnsaxa. Only the Old Norse text of Skáldskaparmál 8 says that Odin was his father. The claim that the nine are the wave-daughters of the sea giant Ægir is a modern theory; their names are different.

Týr has two fathers in the sources. Skáldskaparmál 9 calls him a son of Odin. In Hymiskviða, though, Týr calls the giant Hymir “my father” (stanza 5), and his mother appears in Hymir’s hall. The chart shows Snorri’s version as a dashed line and gives the other in Týr’s entry.

Every figure on the chart, with parents and sources

The full guide: how the Norse gods are related

Ever wondered how Thor and Odin are actually related? Or why Loki seems to pop up everywhere in Norse mythology despite his complicated family status?

The Norse gods family tree is one of the most intricate genealogical networks in all of mythology — a web of divine relationships that spans generations, realms, and even species. From Odin's many sons to the complex marriage alliances between the Æsir and Vanir, understanding these family connections unlocks the deeper meaning behind every Norse myth and legend.

This complete guide maps out the entire Norse pantheon's family relationships using primary sources like Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda, revealing connections that most other guides miss entirely.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Who Are Odin's Children in Norse Mythology?

Odin, the All-Father, has more named sons than any other Norse god. His offspring span multiple mothers, realms, and even species.

Son with Frigg:

• Baldr — The beloved god of light and purity

Sons with Jörð (Earth personified):

• Thor — The thunder god and most famous of Odin's children

Sons with Gríðr (a giantess):

• Víðarr — The silent god who survives Ragnarök

Sons with Rindr:

• Váli — Born specifically to avenge Baldr's death

But wait — there's more. The Prose Edda names several other sons without naming their mothers: Höðr, the blind god who kills Baldr; Hermóðr, who rides to Hel for him; Heimdall (whose parentage is famously confusing); Tyr (in Snorri, though another poem gives him a giant father); and Bragi the skaldic god.

What makes Odin's family tree particularly fascinating is how his children represent different aspects of cosmic order. Thor protects Midgard, Baldr embodies divine perfection, Víðarr ensures continuity after Ragnarök — each son has a specific role in the grand mythological narrative.

How Are Thor and Loki Related?

Here's where things get complicated. Thor and Loki aren't brothers by blood — they're related through Odin's oath of brotherhood with Loki.

According to the Lokasenna (Loki's Flyting), Loki reminds Odin: “Remember, Othin, in olden days / That we both our blood have mixed” (Lokasenna 9, Bellows's translation). This blood-brotherhood made Loki Odin's sworn brother, which some retellings take to make him Thor's uncle, not his brother.

However, Norse family relationships rarely follow modern logic. The myths often portray Thor and Loki as companions, almost like cousins or close friends rather than nephew and uncle. They travel together, get into trouble together, and — crucially — their relationship becomes the template for countless “odd couple” narratives in modern fiction.

The Loki Family Complications:

• Loki's wife: Sigyn (loyal Æsir goddess)
• Loki's children with Sigyn: Narfi, and probably Váli, whose mother is never named (not to be confused with Odin's son Váli)
• Loki's children with Angrboða (giantess): Fenrir the wolf, Jörmungandr the world serpent, and Hel (goddess of death)
• Loki's most bizarre offspring: Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse — whom Loki actually gave birth to after shapeshifting into a mare

The relationship between Thor and Loki's children adds another layer of complexity. At Ragnarök, Thor dies fighting Jörmungandr, the son of his father's sworn brother, while Fenrir kills Odin, Loki's blood-brother. Norse family reunions must have been intense.

What Is the Difference Between Æsir and Vanir Gods?

The Norse pantheon isn't one big happy family — it's actually two formerly warring tribes of gods who eventually merged through marriage and political alliance.

The Æsir Gods:

• Primary residence: Asgard
• Focus: War, wisdom, order, justice
• Key figures: Odin, Thor, Frigg, Baldr, Tyr
• Leadership: Patriarchal, ruled by Odin

The Vanir Gods:

• Primary residence: Vanaheim
• Focus: Fertility, wisdom, prosperity, foresight
• Key figures: Njörðr, Freyr, Freyja

The Æsir-Vanir War ended with a hostage exchange that created some of the most important family connections in Norse mythology. The Vanir sent Njörðr to live among the Æsir (Ynglinga saga adds his son Freyr and the wise Kvasir), while the Æsir sent Hoenir and Mímir to the Vanir (that didn't go well — the Vanir eventually decapitated Mímir, though Odin kept his head talking for advice).

The hostages stayed and married among their hosts, creating the blended family structure we see in the mature Norse pantheon. Freyja, for example, becomes one of the most powerful goddesses in Asgard while maintaining her Vanir heritage and magical practices.

Who Survives Ragnarök in the Family Tree?

Ragnarök isn't just the end of the world — it's a massive family tragedy that wipes out most of the Norse pantheon. But some divine bloodlines survive to rebuild.

Survivors from Odin's Line:

• Víðarr — Odin's son with the giantess Gríðr, named with Váli among the survivors
• Váli — Odin's son born to avenge Baldr

Survivors from Thor's Line:

• Móði — Thor's son, inherits Mjolnir
• Magni — Thor's other son, also inherits the hammer

Returning from the Dead:

• Baldr — Returns from Hel after Ragnarök
• Höðr — Baldr's brother, also returns

Others: Hœnir and the sons of Odin's brothers Vili and Vé (Völuspá 63), the sun's daughter, who rides her mother's path in the new sky (Vafþrúðnismál 47), and the two humans Líf and Lífþrasir (Gylfaginning 53).

The survival pattern reveals the Norse understanding of generational change. The old guard — Odin, Thor, Týr, Freyr and Heimdall — falls, but their children carry forward the essential divine functions. It's not really an ending; it's a cosmic changing of the guard.

Interestingly, none of Loki's children is named among the survivors: Víðarr kills Fenrir, Jörmungandr and Thor kill each other, and the sources do not say what becomes of Hel.

Are Norse Gods Immortal or Mortal?

Norse gods occupy a unique middle ground in world mythology — they're not immortal like Greek gods, but they're not exactly mortal either.

What Makes Them Long-Lived:

• Iðunn's Apples: The goddess Iðunn provides apples that maintain the gods' youth and vitality
• Magical Knowledge: Access to runes, spells, and supernatural abilities

What Makes Them Mortal:

• Prophesied Deaths: Ragnarök shows that gods can and will die
• Vulnerability to Specific Threats: Baldr dies from mistletoe, others have individual weaknesses
• Need for Iðunn's Apples: When Þjazi carries Iðunn off, the gods grow old and grey (Skáldskaparmál G56)

This semi-mortal status makes Norse family relationships more poignant than in other mythologies. When Frigg mourns Baldr or Odin dreads his prophesied death at Fenrir's jaws, these aren't abstract concepts — they're real family tragedies with permanent consequences.

The gods' mortality also explains their desperate attempts to prevent Ragnarök and their complex relationships with fate. Unlike immortal deities who have eternity to work things out, Norse gods face genuine time pressure.

Lesser-Known Family Connections

Most Norse mythology guides stick to the main family lines, but the Eddas contain dozens of lesser-known relationships that add depth to the genealogical picture.

The Nine Mothers of Heimdall:

Heimdall, guardian of Bifrost, has nine mothers, all sisters. The Prose Edda says only that nine sisters bore him; the Poetic Edda poem Hyndluljóð names them: Gjalp, Greip, Eistla, Eyrgjafa, Ulfrun, Angeyja, Imth, Atla, and Jarnsaxa. Some modern writers identify them with the nine wave-daughters of the sea giant Ægir, but the names do not match. This makes Heimdall unique among Norse gods for his collective maternal heritage.

The Complicated Case of Sigyn:

Loki's wife Sigyn remains loyal even during his punishment after Baldr's death, holding a bowl to catch the venom dripping onto his face. Snorri counts her among the goddesses at Ægir's feast (Skáldskaparmál G55), but no source names her parents, which makes her one of mythology's most enigmatic figures.

Thor's Wives and Children:

While everyone knows Thor, fewer people realize he has two wives:

• Jarnsaxa (Iron-Knife): A giantess, mother of Magni
• Sif: The golden-haired goddess, mother of Thor's daughter Þrúðr (the mother of his son Móði is never named)

Sif also has a son by an unnamed father: Ullr, the god of skiing and hunting. This makes Thor a stepfather, adding another layer to his family dynamics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are Thor's parents?

Odin and Jörð, the Earth, also called Fjörgyn and Hlóðyn (Gylfaginning 9; Lokasenna 58 calls Thor “the son of Earth”). Her mother Nótt is a giantess, though Snorri counts Jörð among the goddesses. Frigg is Thor’s stepmother, not his mother.

Is Loki Odin's brother?

Not by birth. Odin’s brothers are Vili and Vé, and Loki is the son of the giant Fárbauti and Laufey (Gylfaginning 6, 33). Loki and Odin are sworn blood-brothers: in Lokasenna 9 Loki reminds Odin that they once mixed their blood.

Who are Loki's children?

With the giantess Angrboða: the wolf Fenrir, the Midgard Serpent Jörmungandr and Hel (Gylfaginning 34). With his wife Sigyn: Narfi, and he also has a son Váli (Gylfaginning 33, 50). As a mare he gave birth to Odin’s horse Sleipnir (Gylfaginning 42).

Who are Odin's sons?

Thor by Jörð, Baldr by Frigg, Víðarr by the giantess Gríðr and Váli by Rindr. Snorri Sturluson also calls Hermóðr, Heimdallr, Týr, Bragi and Höðr sons of Odin, without naming their mothers, and Hárbarðsljóð 9 names Thor’s brother Meili.

Who are Freyja's parents?

Her father is the Vanir god Njörðr. The Prose Edda names no mother; Snorri’s Ynglinga saga 4 says Njörðr had his children by his own sister. Skaði, Njörðr’s wife, is not named as her mother.

Who are Baldr's parents?

Odin and Frigg (Gylfaginning 22; Skáldskaparmál 5). His wife is Nanna and their son is Forseti, god of justice (Gylfaginning 32).

Who are Odin's parents?

Bor, son of Buri, and the giantess Bestla, daughter of the giant Bölþorn (Gylfaginning 6). His brothers are Vili and Vé.

Why does Heimdallr have nine mothers?

The myth says he was born of nine sisters, giant women, who bore him together (Gylfaginning 27; Hyndluljóð 37–38 names them). The texts give no explanation.

Q: Is Loki actually Odin's brother or adopted son?

A: Loki is Odin's blood-brother, not his biological brother or adopted son. In Lokasenna 9 Loki reminds Odin that they once mixed their blood, and Odin accepts the claim, though no story of the oath itself survives. No source calls Loki Thor's uncle; the two are portrayed as companions.

Q: Why do some sources contradict each other about family relationships?

A: Norse mythology comes from oral traditions that varied by region and time period. When Snorri Sturluson compiled the Prose Edda in the 13th century, he was working from multiple conflicting sources. Additionally, some contradictions may result from Christian influence on the transcription of pagan stories.

Q: Are there any female survivors of Ragnarök in the family tree?

A: Yes, one. The sun bears a daughter before the wolf swallows her, and the daughter rides her mother's path in the new world (Vafþrúðnismál 47; Gylfaginning 53). The woman Líf also survives. No goddess of the old world is named among the survivors, and Frigg's fate is not told.

Q: How do giant families connect to the gods?

A: Giants (Jötnar) frequently intermarry with gods, creating complex family networks. Many gods have giant ancestry — Odin's mother Bestla was a giant, Thor's mother Jörð represents the earth itself, and numerous gods take giant wives. These relationships often represent the gods' connection to primal natural forces.

Q: What role does adoption play in Norse divine families?

A: Fosterage, hostage-taking and sworn kinship all appear in the myths: Njörðr lives among the Æsir as a hostage, Loki claims blood-brotherhood with Odin, and Lokasenna calls Loki a “wish-son” of the gods. These chosen family relationships often prove stronger than biological ones, reflecting Norse cultural values about loyalty and honor.

Primary Sources for Norse Family Trees

Understanding Norse genealogy requires consulting multiple primary sources, each offering different perspectives on divine relationships.

The Prose Edda (c. 1220 CE):

Snorri Sturluson's compilation remains the most comprehensive source for Norse family relationships. Written as a handbook for poets, it systematically organizes divine genealogies and explains family connections. However, Snorri sometimes rationalized contradictory oral traditions, so his genealogies may not reflect original beliefs perfectly.

The Poetic Edda (various dates):

These older poems provide fragmentary but authentic glimpses of family relationships. The Poetic Edda often contradicts Snorri's systematic approach, suggesting that original Norse beliefs were more fluid and regionally variable.

Archaeological Evidence:

Picture stones and carvings show scenes from the myths, such as Thor fishing for the Midgard Serpent, but they say almost nothing about who is whose child. The family relationships themselves are known from the texts: the two Eddas, skaldic poetry and the sagas.

Modern Interpretations and Adaptations

Contemporary authors and scholars continue to reinterpret Norse family relationships, often filling gaps left by incomplete medieval sources.

Neil Gaiman's “Norse Mythology” emphasizes the dysfunctional family dynamics, portraying the gods as a quarrelsome extended family dealing with cosmic responsibilities. Marvel's interpretation radically restructures the relationships — making Loki Odin's adopted son rather than blood-brother, leaving most of Odin's other children out of the films, making Hela his daughter rather than Loki's, and focusing primarily on the Thor-Loki-Odin triangle.

Academic scholars like Rudolf Simek and John Lindow have worked to separate authentic medieval sources from later romantic interpretations, providing more historically accurate family trees based on textual evidence rather than modern assumptions.

Final Verdict: Mapping the Divine Dynasty

The Norse gods family tree represents one of mythology's most complex and fascinating genealogical networks. Unlike the neat hierarchies of other pantheons, Norse divine relationships reflect the messy, complicated nature of real family dynamics — complete with favoritism, feuds, complicated custody arrangements, and tragic losses.

For anyone serious about understanding these relationships, Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda remains essential reading, providing the systematic framework that most other sources lack. Pairing it with the Poetic Edda offers alternative perspectives that reveal the rich complexity of original Norse beliefs.

Whether you're a writer seeking inspiration, a mythology student, or simply curious about these fascinating divine dynasties, understanding Norse family relationships opens up deeper appreciation for some of humanity's most enduring and influential stories. After all, every great myth is ultimately a family story — and the Norse gods have one of the most complicated families in all of literature.

Sources used for this tree

• Snorri Sturluson, The Prose Edda (Gylfaginning and Skáldskaparmál), translated by A. G. Brodeur (1916); chapter numbers G55–G58 as in A. Faulkes’s edition.
• The Poetic Edda, translated by H. A. Bellows (1923): Völuspá, Hávamál, Vafþrúðnismál, Grímnismál, Skírnismál, Hárbarðsljóð, Hymiskviða, Lokasenna, Þrymskviða, Baldrs draumar and Hyndluljóð.
• Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla: Ynglinga saga, translated by S. Laing (cited here by the standard chapter numbers, which differ slightly from Laing’s).
• Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum book 3, for the Danish version of Baldr, Höðr and Rindr (variants only).

More mythology family trees

• Greek gods family tree: the same kind of chart for Hesiod’s gods, from Chaos to the Olympians.
• Egyptian gods family tree: the Ennead of Heliopolis, from Atum to Osiris, Isis and Horus.
• Norse gods and goddesses: a guide to the whole pantheon.
• Odin, the All-Father: the god at the centre of the tree.
• Ragnarök explained: who dies and who survives at the end of the world.