The Norns are special female beings. They are the spinsters, who spin the fates of both mortals and gods. In the process, they determine and foresee the life and death of all that was, all that is, and all that will be. It is said that the Norns are present at the birth of each newborn, visiting the new soul to determine its fate.
The most famous Norns are descendants from Ymir, as they are giantesses. They are called Urd (the past), Verdandi (the present), and Skuld (the future). They live by the Well of Fate (Urdarsbrunnr), which is located under one of the roots of Yggdrasil in Asgard.
Besides the famous three giantess sisters, there are many other Norns as well of all different races. Their ranks include dwarfs, elves, gods, and men. They are, however, always female and they always come in three.