Viking rune translator: turn your text into runes

Want to turn your name or a short phrase into Viking runes? Our Viking rune translator lets you instantly convert modern English into runic script using three different alphabets.

Whether you’re designing a tattoo, creating a unique name, or just curious how your words would look in runes, this tool gives you a quick and fun way to explore ancient writing systems.

Important: This rune translator is designed for fun and inspiration. Runic writing didn’t map directly to modern English, so results are approximate rather than historically exact.

How to use the Viking rune translator and turn your text into runes

1. Type in the text you want to translate. For example, translate your name, a phrase, or anything else.
2. Choose your rune type: Elder Futhark, Younger Futhark, or Anglo-Saxon Futhorc (there’s more on what each one means below!)
3. Click the button and watch the magic happen. Your text will appear in runes before your eyes, ready for you to copy-paste elsewhere. Not all modern letters can be converted into runes, so you may notice that some runes represent multiple English characters.

Which type of rune should I choose?

Elder Futhark

Elder Futhark is the oldest runic alphabet, used from roughly the 2nd to 8th centuries. It predates the Viking Age, but is often used today when people want a “classic” runic look. It’s perfect for showing off your Viking name in runes! (Note: in this tool, we use the long-branch runes, rather than the short-twig runes).

Younger Futhark

Evolving from the Elder Futhark runes in the 8th century, Younger Futhark has fewer runes, but was still widely used during the latter part of the Viking Age.

Anglo-Saxon Futhorc

An extended version of the Elder Futhark with additional runes, Anglo-Saxon Futhorc was used in England and Frisia.

Limitations of the Viking rune translator

Our rune translator is nifty, but keep in mind:

1. Not all English letters have direct rune equivalents. Our tool does its best to approximate.
2. Runes evolved over time. Our translations are based on historical mappings but may not reflect every nuance.
3. The tool is for fun. For scholarly work, you might need more detailed research.
4. Thinking of using runes for a tattoo? It’s worth double-checking your translation before committing — small differences in spelling or rune choice can completely change the meaning.

Examples of English words and phrases in runes

Curious to see some examples? Here’s how common English phrases or names look in runes!

Explore more Viking language and culture

Curious to learn more about Viking language and symbols? Dive deeper with our guides to Viking runes explained, where we break down how runes were actually used, or try our Viking name generator to create your own Norse-style name.

You might also be interested in learning more about Viking life and history — from how tall were the Vikings? to a list of famous Vikings you should know about.

Looking for more inspiration? Browse our guides to cool male Viking names and their meanings and cool female Viking names and their meanings to discover strong and meaningful Norse-inspired names.

Got a word or name you’ve translated into runes? Share it in the comments below — we’d love to see what you come up with!