The child was often named after some renowned kinsmen or friends; and sometimes the person who performed the rite gave his own name, and it was believed that the luck of the namesake would follow the child through life: thus Sigurd, one of the famous sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, was named after his grandfather Sigurd Hring.[47] The one who gave a name to the child always made it a present, which was called _nafnfesti_ (name-fastening), and consisted either of rings, weapons, farms, or lands. Helgi, the son of Borghild, at whose birth the Nornir were present, was given presents at his _name-fastening_. The birth of Sigurd, son of Ragnar Lodbrok, is thus described. “The time arrived when she (Kráka or Aslaug) was confined and bore a son, whom the servant-maids took and showed to her. She bade them carry him to Ragnar (Lodbrok), and let him see him; the boy was taken into the hall and placed in the fold of Ragnar’s cloak. When he saw the boy Ragnar was asked what he should be named; he sang: Sigurd shall the boy be named, He will fight battles, And be much like his mother, And be called his father’s son; He will of Odin’s family The foremost man be called; That serpent is in his eye[48] Which another slew. “He drew a gold ring from his hand, and gave it to the boy as name-fastening” (Ragnar Lodbrok’s Saga, c. 8). The following stanzas give the account of Helgi’s birth:— It was in early ages When eagles screamed, Holy waters glided From the heaven-mountains; Then Borghild bore The high-minded Helgi In Brálund. It became night in the house; The nornir came Who for the hero Shaped his life; They bade him become The most renowned of _Fylkirs_ And of _Budlungs_— Seem the best. Powerfully they spun The threads of fate, When burghs were broken In Brálund; They unravelled The golden threads, And fastened them Under the middle of the moon’s hall.[49] In the east and the west They hid the ends; There owned the _Lofdung_[50] Land between; The kinswoman of Neri[51] Flung one string[52] On northern roads, Bid it hold for ever.