The kennings for Baldr reflect his radiant nature and his fate: the shining one, Odin's son, Nanna's husband, and the god whose name cannot be invoked without recalling his tragic end.
Hvernig skal kenna Baldr? Svá at kalla hann son Óðins ok Friggjar, eiganda Hringhorni ok Draupnis, föður Forseta, mann Nönnu Nepsdóttur, bana Hǫðs, herbergjanda Nánna, ok guð ljósanna. Hann er sá er fagr er á lítu ok hvítr á hár svá at á likjast hvítastr blóma.
How shall one name Baldr? By calling him son of Odin and Frigg, owner of Hringhorni and Draupnir, father of Forseti, husband of Nanna the daughter of Nepr, slayer of Höðr (textual problem; Váli killed Höðr), and god of light. He is the one fair to look upon and bright-haired, such that he is likened to the whitest of flowers.
Eptir dauða hans er allt líf blakt við þær minningar. Kenningar Baldrs í skáldskap minna ávallt á dauða hans ok sorg Ásanna. Þvíat hann er kallaðr hvíta ásinn ok besta baldrsins, ok líkjast hvítum blóm er eru á grasi ok eru þvíat kenndr við hann Baldrsbrár.
After his death all life is shadowed by those memories. Baldr's kennings in skaldic verse always recall his death and the sorrow of the Æsir. He is called the white god and the best of the Baldrs, and is likened to the white flowers that grow on grass, which are therefore named after him Baldrsbrá.