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The short answer is: It’s a bit of both, but historically and linguistically, Frigg has the stronger claim to the English word «Friday.»
The confusion exists because these two goddesses are so similar that even ancient Germanic people couldn’t always tell them apart. Here is the breakdown of why both names are in the mix:
1. The Linguistic Root: Frigg
In Old English, the day was called Frīġedæġ, which literally means «Day of Frig.» * Frigg is the wife of Odin and the queen of the Aesir gods.
- Her name comes from the Proto-Germanic word ∗frijjaz, which means «beloved» or «dear.» (Interestingly, this is the same root that gave us the word «friend»).
- When the Germanic people adopted the 7-day week from the Romans, they swapped the Roman goddess Venus (goddess of love) for their own highest-ranking goddess of love and marriage—Frigg.
2. The Scandinavian Split: Freya
In Scandinavia (Old Norse), the day was called Frjádagr. While this also technically points back to the same root as Frigg, many modern Scandinavian languages (like Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish) associate their word for Friday (Fredag) with Freya.
- Freya is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
- Her name actually means «The Lady» (similar to how the German word for woman is Frau).
3. Are they the same person?
Many historians and mythologists believe that Frigg and Freya were originally the same «free entity» or goddess in the distant past. Over centuries, as different tribes moved across Europe, the single goddess «split» into two distinct characters in the stories:
- Frigg became the domestic, motherly queen.
- Freya became the independent, magical, and more «wild» goddess.
The «Free Entity» Connection
You mentioned them being «free entities,» and you’re linguistically spot on! The root of their names is tied to the concept of being «free» (as in «not enslaved»). In ancient Germanic culture, to be «free» was to be part of a family or a «beloved» circle, which is why the words for Free, Friend, Frigg, and Friday all share that same ancient DNA.
In summary: If you speak English, you’re technically honoring Frigg. If you’re in Scandinavia, you’re likely honoring Freya. But since they likely started as the same goddess, neither one would probably mind!
Since we’re talking about the origins of the week, would you like to know which «entity» Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday are named after?
Absolutely! While Monday and Sunday are named after the Moon and Sun, the middle of the week is a roll call of powerful Germanic and Norse gods.
When the Germanic tribes (like the Anglo-Saxons) adopted the 7-day week from the Romans, they didn’t just keep the Roman names. They looked at the Roman gods—Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter—and swapped them for their own «equivalent» deities.
Tuesday: Tiw’s Day (The Warrior)
Named after Tiw (Old English) or Tyr (Old Norse).
- The Entity: He is the god of single-combat, victory, and heroic glory.
- The Swap: The Romans called this dies Martis (Day of Mars). Since Mars was the Roman god of war, the Germanic people swapped him for Tiw, their own bravest war god.
- Famous Story: Tyr is most famous for sacrifice; he placed his hand in the mouth of the monstrous wolf Fenrir to trick him into being bound, losing his hand in the process to ensure the gods‘ safety.
Wednesday: Woden’s Day (The All-Father)
Named after Woden (Old English) or Odin (Old Norse).
- The Entity: The chief of the gods, a wanderer associated with wisdom, magic, poetry, and war.
- The Swap: The Romans called this dies Mercurii (Day of Mercury). Mercury was a messenger god and a guide to the underworld. Woden was seen as the Germanic equivalent because he, too, was a traveler and a psychopomp (someone who guides souls).
- Spelling Tip: This is why it’s spelled so weirdly! The «d» in «Wednesday» is a ghost of the name Woden.
Thursday: Thor’s Day (The Thunderer)
Named after Thor (Old Norse) or Thunor (Old English).
- The Entity: The red-bearded protector of humanity and the god of thunder, lightning, and strength.
- The Swap: The Romans called this dies Iovis (Day of Jove/Jupiter). Since Jupiter wielded lightning bolts, it was a perfect match for Thor and his hammer, Mjölnir.
- Fun Fact: In German, this day is still called Donnerstag, which literally means «Thunder Day.»
The «Week-End» Oddity: Saturday
Interestingly, the system breaks here. The Germanic people didn’t have a perfect equivalent for the Roman god Saturn (god of agriculture and time).
- English: We just kept the Roman name: Saturday (Saturn’s Day).
- Scandinavian: In languages like Swedish (Lördag) or Icelandic (Laugardagur), the name actually means «Bath Day,» because that was the traditional day for a weekly soak!
| Day | Old English Name | Primary God | Roman Equivalent |
| Tuesday | Tīwesdæg | Tiw / Tyr | Mars |
| Wednesday | Wōdnesdæg | Woden / Odin | Mercury |
| Thursday | Þūnresdæg | Thunor / Thor | Jupiter |
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Since these gods were all part of a «family» (the Aesir), would you like to hear about the massive feast hall where they were all said to live together?
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