Jan de Vries thought that his name meant 'the brave one', but this has since been rejected as it does not make sense in the context of the known myths. The origin of the name Baldr is uncertain, but it has been suggested that it means 'the shining one' or 'the lord'. After Ragnarok, Baldr will return from the underworld. In Norse mythology, Baldr is presented more as a passive god than an active one, but he is nevertheless given a central place in the great cosmological saga by several scholars since his death marks the beginning of the events leading to the end of the world. Only the mistletoe she had found so harmless that she did not think it necessary to swear to it. His mother had sworn all the things in the world would never harm him.

In the myth, Baldr is killed by an arrow made of mistletoe shot from his brother Hodr. The myth of Baldr's death is among the best known in Norse mythology, and it is retold or referenced in several other tales. Baldr is commonly described as the god of justice. Together with his wife Nanna, he has a son, Forseti.

He is referred to in the myths as the most beautiful of all the Aesir and the son of Odin and Frigg. Baldr is a Norse deity whose role in mythology is much disputed.

Balder the brave norse mythology