Bragi explains the mythological bases for Odin's many names and kennings: Alfaðir, Hangaguð, Herjafaðir, Yggr, and other epithets rooted in his deeds and sacrificial rites.
Hvernig skal kenna Óðin? Svá at kalla hann Alfǫðr, Herjaföður, Hanga goð ok Farmatý. Hann er kallaðr Alfǫðr þvíat hann er faðir allra guðanna. Hann er Hangaguð þvíat hann hekk í Yggdrasili níu nætr ok gaf sik sjálfan sjálfum sér til íþróttaleysis. Yggr er nefnt af honum Yggdrasill.
How shall one name Odin? By calling him Alfaðir, Herjafaðir, Hangaguð, and Farmatýr. He is called Alfaðir because he is the father of all the gods. He is Hangaguð because he hung in Yggdrasill nine nights and gave himself to himself as a sacrifice. Yggdrasill takes its name from his byname Yggr.
Hann á Sleipni hest besta. Hann á tvo hrafna er heita Huginn ok Muninn. Þeir sitja á öxlum hans ok segja honum tíðindum er þeir sjá. Þvíat hann er Gönduláfr, ok Sigtýr, ok Gautr, ok Hroptr, ok Bági, ok Sanngetall, ok Svipall, ok Sviðurr, ok Sviðrir, Jálkr, Kjalarr, Þrór, Viðurr, Óski, Ómi, Jafnhár, Biflindi, Göndul, Hárbarðr, Gaut, Veratýr.
He owns the best of horses, Sleipnir. He owns two ravens named Huginn and Muninn. They sit on his shoulders and tell him the tidings they see. He is therefore called Göndulálfr, Sigfaðir, Gautr, Hroptr, Báleygr, Sanngetall, Svipall, Sviðurr, and Sviðrir, Jálkr, Kjalarr, Þrór, Viðurr, Óski, Ómi, Jafnhár, Biflindi, Göndul, Hárbarðr, Gaut, and Veratýr.
Skaldic quotations
Grímnismál 46
Óðinn ek nú heiti, Yggr ek áðan hét, hétumk Þundr fyr þat, Vakr ok Skilfingr, Váfuðr ok Hroptr, Gautr ok Jálkr með goðum.
Odin I am called now, Yggr was I called before, Þundr was my name before that, Vakr and Skilfingr, Váfuðr and Hroptr, Gautr and Jálkr among the gods.