Editing Freyja (section)

==Eponyms==
[[File:Polygala vulgaris 290504.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Polygala vulgaris|Freyja's hair]]—''Polygala vulgaris''—a species of the genus ''Polygala'']]

Several plants were named after Freyja, such as ''Freyja's tears'' and ''Freyja's hair'' (''[[Polygala vulgaris]]''), but during the process of Christianization, the name of the goddess was replaced with that of the [[Virgin Mary]].{{sfnp|Schön|2004|p=228}} In the pre-Christian period, the [[Orion (constellation)|Orion]] [[constellation]] was called either Frigg's distaff or Freyja's [[distaff]] (Swedish ''Frejerock'').{{sfnp|Schön|2004|p=228}}

Place names in [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]] reflect devotion to the goddess, including the Norwegian place name [[Frøihov]] (originally *''Freyjuhof'', literally "Freyja's [[Heathen hofs|hof]]") and Swedish place names such as [[Frövi]] (from *''Freyjuvé'', literally "Freyja's [[Vé (shrine)|vé]]").<ref name="FREYJA-PLACE-NAMES">{{harvp|Simek|1996|p=91}} and {{harvp|Turville-Petre|1964|pp=178–179}}.</ref> In a survey of toponyms in Norway, M. Olsen tallies at least 20 to 30 location names compounded with ''Freyja''. Three of these place names appear to derive from *''Freyjuhof'' ('Freyja's [[Heathen hofs|hof]]'), whereas the goddess's name is frequently otherwise compounded with words for 'meadow' (such as ''-þveit'', -''land'') and similar land formations. These toponyms are attested most commonly on the west coast though a high frequency is found in the southeast.{{sfnp|Turville-Petre|1964|p=178}}

Place names containing ''Freyja'' are yet more numerous and varied in Sweden, where they are widely distributed. A particular concentration is recorded in Uppland, among which a number derive from the above-mentioned ''*Freyjuvé'' and also *''Freyjulundr'' ('Freyja's [[sacred grove]]'), place names that indicate public worship of Freyja. A variety of place names (such as ''Frøal'' and ''Fröale'') have been seen as containing an element cognate to Gothic ''alhs'' and Old English ''ealh'' ("temple"), although these place names may be otherwise interpreted. In addition, ''Frejya'' appears as a compound element with a variety of words for geographic features such as fields, meadows, lakes and natural objects such as rocks.{{sfnp|Turville-Petre|1964|pp=178–179}}

The Freyja name ''Hörn'' appears in the Swedish place names [[Härnevi]] and [[Järnevi]], stemming from the reconstructed Old Norse place name ''*Hörnar-vé'' (meaning "Hörn's [[vé (shrine)|vé]]").<ref name="HAARNEVI-OCH-JAARNEVI">{{harvp|Simek|1996|pp=156–157}} and {{harvp|Turville-Petre|1964|p=178}}.</ref>