There is something that happens when you see your own name written in runes for the first time. The marks feel older than they should. More personal than you expected.
It makes sense. The Elder Futhark is one of the oldest symbolic alphabets in the Northern European tradition. When you write a modern name in these marks, you are connecting two very different points in time.
Here is how to do it properly.
How runic transliteration actually works
The first thing to understand is that runes are sounds, not letters. The Elder Futhark was built around the sounds of Proto-Germanic language — not the Latin alphabet we use today. So when you write your name in runes, you are not converting letters one-to-one. You are converting the sounds your name makes.
This matters for a few reasons.
Silent letters in English do not need a rune. The name "Kate" is written with three runes — K, A, T — not four. The silent E at the end carries no sound, so it gets no rune.
Double letters are usually written as single runes. "Anna" becomes A-N-A in Elder Futhark — two N's in a row collapses to one, since the sound is not doubled in speech.
Some modern sounds have no direct rune. Letters like C, Q, W, X, and Y do not exist in the Elder Futhark. You substitute the closest sound instead.
Common letter substitutions
Here is how to handle letters that do not have a direct rune equivalent:
C — use K (hard C as in "Carl") or S (soft C as in "Celia")
Q — use KW ("Quincy" becomes KW-I-N-S-I)
W — use V (the closest sound in Elder Futhark is the Uruz or Wunjo rune, depending on your tradition — but V is most commonly used)
X — use KS ("Alex" becomes A-L-E-KS)
Y — use I or J depending on the sound ("Yara" uses J, "Lyra" uses I)
TH — this one has a direct rune: Thurisaz (ᚦ)
NG — use Ingwaz (ᛜ)
OO — use Uruz (ᚢ) as in "moon" or "June"
The Elder Futhark sounds at a glance
These are the 24 runes and the sounds they carry:
ᚠ Fehu — F
ᚢ Uruz — U / OO
ᚦ Thurisaz — TH
ᚨ Ansuz — A
ᚱ Raidho — R
ᚲ Kaunan — K / C (hard)
ᚷ Gebo — G
ᚹ Wunjo — W / V
ᚺ Hagalaz — H
ᚾ Naudhiz — N
ᛁ Isaz — I / EE
ᛃ Jera — J / Y
ᛇ Eihwaz — EI / AY
ᛈ Perthro — P
ᛉ Algiz — Z / R (in some traditions)
ᛋ Sowilo — S
ᛏ Tiwaz — T
ᛒ Berkanan — B
ᛖ Ehwaz — E
ᛗ Mannaz — M
ᛚ Laguz — L
ᛜ Ingwaz — NG
ᛞ Dagaz — D
ᛟ Othalan — O
How to write your name — step by step
Let's walk through a couple of examples.
Sarah
Say it aloud: S-A-R-A-H
Runes: ᛋ ᚨ ᚱ ᚨ ᚺ
The H at the end is pronounced, so it gets a rune (Hagalaz).
Michael
Say it aloud: M-I-K-E-L (the CH makes a K sound, the AE is just E)
Runes: ᛗ ᛁ ᚲ ᚨ ᛚ
Five sounds, five runes.
Christopher
Say it aloud: K-R-I-S-T-O-F-E-R
Runes: ᚲ ᚱ ᛁ ᛋ ᛏ ᛟ ᚠ ᛖ ᚱ
The CH becomes K. The PH becomes F. Nine sounds, nine runes.
Emma
Say it aloud: E-M-A
Runes: ᛖ ᛗ ᚨ
Double M collapses to single M. Three runes total.
A note on accuracy
There is no single "correct" way to write modern names in Elder Futhark. The alphabet was built for a language that no longer exists in its original form, and different runic traditions make slightly different choices about sound substitutions.
What matters is that you are consistent within your own transliteration, and that you are working from sounds rather than letters. A rune tattooed phonetically is more defensible — and more meaningful — than one copied directly from a letter chart without understanding how the sounds work.
Try the Rune Name Converter
If you want to see your name in Elder Futhark instantly, try the Runestone Norway Rune Name Converter. Enter any name and see it rendered in real Elder Futhark runes — a useful starting point before you choose a design, plan a tattoo, or pick a personalised gift.
Looking for a gift with someone's name in runes? Browse our Personalized Rune Gifts collection — Norse-inspired pieces designed around real rune symbolism, created in Norway.
Frequently asked questions
Can you write any name in Elder Futhark runes?
Yes, though some modern sounds require substitution since the Elder Futhark was built for Proto-Germanic. The key is to work from how the name sounds, not how it is spelled. Our Rune Name Converter handles this automatically.
Should I use Elder Futhark or Younger Futhark for my name?
Most people today use the Elder Futhark — it has 24 runes, more complete sound coverage, and is the most widely recognised runic alphabet. The Younger Futhark (used in the Viking Age proper) has only 16 runes and actually represents fewer sounds despite being more "historically Viking." For names, Elder Futhark gives better results.
Do double letters get written twice?
Generally no. If the sound is not doubled in speech, you write it once. "Anna" = A-N-A in runes, not A-N-N-A.
What about silent letters?
Skip them. Runes represent sounds. A silent letter carries no sound, so it gets no rune.
Is it disrespectful to write my name in runes?
No. Runes were a living alphabet used by real people to write real names and words. Using them today — especially with care for how they work — is a genuine way of engaging with the old North.
Where can I get a personalized rune design?
Our Personalized Rune Gifts collection features Norse-inspired pieces built around rune symbolism, designed in Norway for those who want to carry the old marks with them.
Want more rune guides, Norse symbol meanings, and stories from the old North? Join the Rune Circle — Runestone Norway's community for those drawn to the old symbols and the old ways.
You might also enjoy: What Do Viking Runes Actually Mean? | The Perfect Viking Gift Guide