 The word valkyrie derives from Old Norse valkyrja ( plural valkyrjur ) , which is composed of two words ; the noun valr ( referring to the slain on the battlefield ) and the verb kjósa ( meaning " to choose " ) . Together , they mean " chooser of the slain " . The Old Norse valkyrja is cognate to Old English wælcyrge . Other terms for valkyries include óskmey ( Old Norse " wish maid " ) , appearing in the poem Oddrúnargrátr and Óðins meyjar ( Old Norse " Odin 's maids " ) , appearing in the Nafnaþulur . Óskmey may be related to the Odinic name Óski ( Old Norse , roughly meaning " wish fulfiller " ) , referring to the fact that Odin receives slain warriors in Valhalla . 
