Alruna

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A panel of the Franks Casket showing the scene of Aegil and his wife enclosed in the keep, with Aegil shooting arrows against attacking troops.

Old Norse Alruna (Ölrún, Old High German Ailrun, Modern German Alruna, Alraune is a Germanic female personal name, from Proto Germanic *aliruna, from ali- "strange" (or alternatively, "birthing", "begetting") and runa "secret", rune. In German, Alruna was also used as a short form of Adelruna, a different name with a first element *athal- "noble".

In Germanic mythology, Ailrun is the wife of Agilaz, the legendary archer. In the Völundarkviða, she is identified as a valkyrie, and as a daughter of Kiár of Valland.

Alruna of Cham was an 11th century Bavarian recluse, the Roman Catholic patroness of pregnancy.

In German, Alraune is also a name for the Mandragora or mandrake plant.

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