Aela the Huntress. Aela is one of the elite members of the mates in Whiterun. She is the best hunter. In Skyrim, you can marry anyone of any gender or race.If you're a male Nord, you could marry a male Orc if you wish! Oh, the possibilities! However, searching for love can be hard in a world.
Aela is Supreme Werewolf Queen of Side-Boob, which makes her almost as popular a wife choice as cranky Lydia. Aela and Njada are both Nords and trainers, in archery and blocking respectively. Ria is an Imperial. All three are skilled warrior women and possible followers, but Aela’s level cap is 50, while the others max out at 25. Well, that’s a somewhat controversial point, but many consider her as potentially among the hottest wives in Skyrim. But She can be sarcastic at times. Getting her as a wife requires intrinsic dialogue options, and of course you need to cure her vampirism to make the marriage thing possible.
After a long day of exploration, dungeon expeditions, or even razing cities down, there’s nothing better than going home to the loving embrace of a woman. Hence choosing from the list of wives in Skyrim is quite a big deal. When choosing your wife, you’re free to find one that’s just as battle-tested as you are or someone who’s more than happy to stay home, cook your meals and wait for you. This list will definitely be useful in helping you choose the right wife for you.
Do note that this is a Nerds and Scoundrels ranking that reflects the usefulness of the character when it comes to gameplay. So if you’re looking for the most beautiful of the wives to get in Skyrim, then this list isn’t the one for you.
#10 Muiri
Location: The Hag’s Cure, Markarth
Requirements: Completion of “Mourning Never Comes” quest.
Muiri is an apprentice of an Alchemist with a relatively pleasant appearance. In terms of looks, what stands out about her are her facial tattoos.
She will run an Alchemy shop where you can buy or sell potions or even ingredients you no have any use for.
Due to her low level of 6, her survivability is very low. Chances are, she’ll die if she ever has to fight. Remember that if she does die, it will be permanent.
You can marry her after completing the “Mourning Never Comes” quest, which will only be available after you complete one of the initial contracts given soon after joining Dark Brotherhood.
Marrying her will give you access to one of the bedrooms in The Hag’s Cure.
#9 Ria
Location: Jorrvaskr, Whiterun
Requirements: Companions questline completion.
Ria is the Companion’s newest member as well as its only Imperial. Due to the fact that she doesn’t have a home either, you won’t be getting anything if you choose to marry her, however, she is a good wife in Skyrim.
Ria is the warrior type, meaning she’ll follow you and even fight alongside you. Sleeping near her will also grant you combat bonuses.
This, however, is a double-edged sword. Ria is a true warrior who believes in glory in death. This means you may find her seeking it out, even without you by her side.
#8 Camilla Valerius
Location: Riverwood Trader, Riverwood
Requirements: Golden Claw quest completion
Perhaps the most attractive option on this list, Camilla doesn’t have a shortage of people trying to become worthy of her love. But no worries, for she’ll surely be yours so long as you achieve her requirement.
If you decide to marry Camilla, you also get a nice room in the shop of Riverwood Trader as a bonus. Since it’s yours, of course, you can also choose to live there.
#7 Jenassa
Location: The Drunken Huntsman, Whiterun
Skyrim List Of Wives And Benefits
Requirements: Must have hired her before
Jenassa can be paid with 500 gold in order to make her into a follower. She is more than capable of fighting alongside you and will definitely be useful in combat. Since her combat proficiency can reach level 40, she is a perfect candidate for the ones looking for the best companion in the early parts of the game. She is one of the best wives in Skyrim.
#6 Njada Stonearm
Location: Jorrvaskr, Whiterun
Requirements: Companions questline completion
Njada Stonearm is part of The Companions, just like Ria. In fact, the two of them are quite identical, but Njada Stonearm is the much talented of the two. Aside from her reliability in combat, Njada has access to a myriad of other skills that may prove useful. This includes sneaking and pickpocketing, and even speech.
You won’t be getting any property from marrying her and she won’t be opening a shop where you get some pieces of gold from, but she’ll be useful in improving your combat efficiency.
#5 Brelyna Maryon
Location: Hall of Attainment, College of Winterhold
Requirements: Brelyna’s Practice quest completion
You can find Brelyna Maryon in her small room located in the College of Winterhold, which you can eventually move into if ever you decide to marry her. Not just a wife, Brelyna can also be a follower due to her arsenal of skills that have undeniable offensive power. However, she is a textbook definition of a glass cannon, meaning her high offense is held back by her lack of resistances.
She will follow you until you reach level 30, so it’s a good idea to choose her early in your gameplay.
#4 Uthgerd the Unbroken
Location: The Bannered Mare, Whiterun
Requirements: Brawl and win against her after taking her wager
Uthgerd is honestly one of the best options to immediately go for since she’ll give you 100 gold if you win against her. While fighting her seems like a scary prospect, the fight is actually very straightforward so you can easily win it to get that free 100 gold. After beating her, you get the option to get her as a follower, as a wife, or even both.
When in combat, there are very few followers that can match Uthgerd. Capable of dishing out damage while being tanky, she can function well as a melee tank or a ranged DPS.
The best part? Uthgerd owns a house, truly making her one of the best options to go for when you’re just getting started.
#3 Borgakh the Steel Heart
Location: Mor Khazgur
Requirements: Equip the Amulet of Mara while having her as a follower
Orcs are definitely one of the least attractive races, just behind the Argonians for the worst. However, the benefits you get from marrying Borgakh are definitely worth it.
First of all, you get to live in Larak’s Longhouse, which is an Orc structure that will surely serve you well. In the near vicinity of this stronghold, you’ll find numerous merchants as well as skill-relevant resources that are available for your use.
Borgakh is also impressive in combat, capable of using powerful weapons along with heavy armor.
While marrying her just to make good use of her benefits seems like a truly evil thing to do, it can’t be denied that her benefits are very truly good.
#2 Mjoll the Lioness
Location: In or around The Bee and Barb Inn, Riften
Requirements: Grimsever’s Return quest completion
Aside from being your most brave of all wives in Skyrim, Mjoll can also serve as an amazing follower. She has impressive skills in combat, as well as undeniable strength and prowess in battle. She can is capable of reaching level 40, and she’s practically unkillable.
In order to get her, you must get make her “like” you by agreeing that the local Thieves Guild are a menace. If you’re at least level 14, she’ll grant you a quest which you then need to finish before asking for her hand.
The only downside is a quirky one: you’ll always have Aerin hovering around the vicinity. Obviously, this isn’t such a massive downside, but it’s probably worth mentioning at least.
#1 Aela the Huntress
Location: Jorrvaskr, Whiterun
Requirements: Companions questline completion
Aela the huntress is undoubtedly one of the best followers you can get in the whole world of Skyrim, so it’s no surprise that she’d also make an amazing wife. She can reach level 50, and you can get her pretty early on in your travels as a follower, where she’ll definitely be useful even in battle.
Her skills are numerous, including sneak, light-armor, one-handed, archery, and even speech. This set of skills alone make her a good all-around companion and thus one of the most amazing wives you can get in the Skyrim. Simply put, there’s a reason why she’s number one.
Nerds and Scoundrels
And that concludes our Skyrim Best Wives Top 10. Looking for more buddies in the world of Skyrim? Check out our guide to Skyrim’s Best Steward!
The Divines have blessed a total of 30 female marriage candidates and 37 male marriage candidates in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and official expansions.
You can marry anyone regardless of your Dragonborn’s race or gender, so long as you’ve fulfilled whatever conditions make them your friend. Housecarls will be wiling to wed you as soon as they enter your service, mercenaries must be hired first, and other candidates have fetch quests or other requirements.
You’ll also need to exhaust the dialog options with Maramal, the priest in the Temple of Mara in Riften, and be wearing an amulet of Mara in order to initiate a marriage proposal. It does not have to be an amulet purchased from Maramal, any amulet of Mara will do. There’s a free one in a tent along the shoreline east of Dawnstar. Others appear at random throughout the game.
Skyrim allows one marriage and only one per Dragonborn, even if your spouse is killed — unless you use mods or console commands. There’s a persistent rumor that players can kill their spouses and remarry, but I suspect that’s a feature added by the Unofficial Skyrim Patch that PC players frequently download, or possibly a very early gameplay bug that was patched in subsequent updates, so don’t assume it will work for you. Choose your spouse wisely.
There’s only one Altmer and one Redguard, both female, who can be married. The Hearthfire DLC adds a second Redguard female. There are no Bosmer (wood elves) or Khajiit (cat people) to marry, at all, male or female, unless using mods or console commands.
After the wedding, all male and female spouses will give you a homecooked meal and 100 septims a day. You can live in your spouse’s home or move them into one of your homes, though some spouses may leave — such as Camilla taking over her brother’s shop if he dies or Ysolda taking over the Bannered Mare if Hulda dies. I’ve also read that only spouses from the Dragonborn DLC can be moved to Severin Manor on Solstheim, but I don’t have confirmation of this.
The main differences between spouses, other than appearance and voice, are where they live, whether or not they can be followers, and how likely they are to be killed. I recommend marrying someone who is a follower, even if you don’t take them with you on adventures, because you can access their inventory and give them weapons, armor, staffs, enchanted items and health potions, to help keep them alive. Towns and Hearthfire homes do get attacked, and death does happen, unless your spouse is one of the few programmed “essential,” or unless you’re using mods and console commands.
For more about marriage in Skyrim, see this Elder Scrolls wiki page or this Unofficial Elder Scrolls wiki page.
Let’s take a look at our choices…
COMPANIONS
The Companions are a warrior guild in Whiterun and for many players the first faction of friends and potential marriage candidates you’ll meet. Some are both teachers and followers, which allows you to buy skill training and then access their inventory and take back the gold, essentially getting training — and level ups — for free.
All live in Jorrvaskr, where you can live anyway if you join the guild, so you won’t gain additional housing through marriage. Several players have also reported glitches in which steward or married Companions return to Jorrvaskr instead of living in the Dragonborn’s home.
Aela is Supreme Werewolf Queen of Side-Boob, which makes her almost as popular a wife choice as cranky Lydia. Aela and Njada are both Nords and trainers, in archery and blocking respectively. Ria is an Imperial. All three are skilled warrior women and possible followers, but Aela’s level cap is 50, while the others max out at 25.
Between Vilkas’ tear-streaked emo eyeliner and Farkas’ dumb-yet-endearing-jockishness, the Brothers Werewolf are popular husbands.
Vilkas is a two-handed trainer, follower, spouse and steward. Farkas is a heavy armor trainer, follower and spouse. Both are level capped at 50. Torvar is a potential follower and spouse who is a surly drunk. He’s capped at 25.
All three are Nords. There’s also a Dark Elf in the Companions who can be married, but I’ve listed him with the Dunmer, below.
HOUSECARLS
All housecarls are Nords, except Rayya who’s a Redguard. All begin with the same armor, weapons and stats, except Valdimar who is a spellsword, while the rest are classified as warriors. They live in houses that belong to you, so you won’t get a bonus house through marriage.
All are possible spouses, stewards and followers who will defend you unto death. They are all level capped at 50, so should be able to stick with you through most of the game, assuming you continue to improve their weapons, armor and other gear. Don’t forget to put health potions in their inventories.
From left to right: Lydia (Breezehome in Whiterun), Iona (Honeyside in Riften), Jordis (Proudspire Manor in Solitude). and Rayya (Lakeview Manor, added by the Hearthfire expansion).
The basic game gives us Argis the Bulwark (Vlindrel Hall in Markarth) and Calder with the groovy mutton chops (Hjerim in Windhelm). Hearthfire evens up the score with two more male housecarls — Valdimar (Windstad Manor) and Gregor (Heljarchen Hall).
DUNMER
There are several gray-skinned Dunmer to marry, perhaps because of the popularity of Morrowind?
Avrusa Sarethi is an alchemist with her own farm.
Brelyna Maryon is an apprentice mage at the College of Winterhold (no bonus house there) and she can also be a follower, level cap 30.
Dravynea the Stoneweaver is an Expert Alteration trainer who works in the Steamscorch Mine and lives in Braidwood Inn in Kynesgrove.
Jenassa is a mercenary follower living in the Drunken Huntsman, level cap 40.
Revyn Sadri is a merchant in Windhelm and a speech skill trainer, but will only marry or train the Dragonborn if you help him with his request to return a stolen ring. If you don’t side with him, it is possible to marry Viola instead (see below).
Romlyn Dreth is a bootlegger with a small home under the city of Riften.
Sondas Drenim is a food vendor at Darkwater Crossing, a mining camp.
Athis is a member of the Companions who can be a follower or spouse, as well as one-handed skill trainer, level capped at 25.
HOTTIES
Anwen (Redguard), Orla (Nord) and Senna (Breton). All of these ladies live in the Temple of Dibella, goddess of love, in Markarth. Note: There’s a reported bug with Orla where she refuses to leave the temple to live in anywhere else.
Skyrim Best Woman To Marry
While not devotees of a love goddess, these three seem to be popular hunky husband choices for their looks, personality and skills.
Marcurio the sassy Imperial mage mercenary can be hired at his residence, the Bee and Barb in Riften, and is level capped at 40.
Onmund is a sweet apprentice at the College of Winterhold who is a potential mage follower (level cap 30) and steward, whose Nord family does not supporting his interest in magic.
Vorstag is a warrior mercenary who can be hired from his residence, the Silverblood Inn in Markarth. He has a sweet disposition while also being a badass fighter, and possesses one of the softer Nord voices in the game.
AND MORE HOTTIES
Camilla is sister to the proprietor of Riverwood Trader and the Imperial creamy center of a love Oreo between Faendal the Bosmer archer and Sven the Nord bard. If you marry her, her “friends” will continue to visit her at your home, wherever you live. She may also return to Riverwood and take over the family business if her brother dies.
Muiri is a Breton alchemy assistant who inherits the Hag’s Cure in Markarth if her employer is killed (and who also has an interesting love life, too, which you will hear about while doing the Dark Brotherhood questline).
Ysolda is an enterprising Nord drug dealer with her own tiny house in Whiterun, who takes over the Bannered Mare if Hulda the innkeeper is killed. She was made “essential” by one of the official updates (which are automatically included in some versions of the game), so cannot die, I assume because of her role in the quest “A Night to Remember.”
Sylgja manages to retain her youthful beauty in spite of being a hard-working Nord miner, and her big bust apparently doesn’t get in the way of swinging a pickaxe all day at Redbelly Mine in Shor’s Stone.
Sorexis an Imperial whose father owns the Winking Skeever in Solitude, involved in a love triangle with Vivienne Onis and Roggvir until the latter was beheaded. After marriage, he may continue flirting with ladies who enter the inn and he hates every home except Proudspire Manor.
Quintusis an Imperial alchemist who takes over the White Phial shop in Windhelm when his employer dies. I don’t know if he qualifies as a hottie (maybe if he lost that hat), but he’s young and seems to be kind.
Wilhelm owns the Vilemyr Inn in Ivarstead. While the Nord cannot be a follower, he possesses pickpocket skill and is marked “essential” so he can never be killed.
Roggi Knot-Beard is a Nord miner in Kynesgrove, drunk and in debt, who can be a potential spouse, steward and follower, though his skills are minimal and his level is capped at 20.
MATURE SPOUSES
If you prefer your spouse to be a little older and wiser, we have…
From left to right: Aeri, Nord owner of Anga’s Mill and her own house. Gilfre, Imperial owner of Mixwater Mill and her own house. Temba, Nord mill owner in Ivarstead. Uthgerd the Unbroken, Nord mercenary, level cap 30, for hire in the Bannered Mare and owner of a decent house in Whiterun.
Ainethach is a prominent Breton who runs the Sanuarach Mine and owns a farmhouse in Karthwasten.
Balimund is a blacksmith and smithing skill trainer with a house and forge in Riften, which he shares with his adopted son Asbjorn Fire-Tamer.
Filnjar is a Nord blacksmith with a house in Shor’s Stone.
Stenvar is a Nord warrior mercenary with a decent sense of humor who may be hired from his home, Candlehearth Hall in Windhelm. He has the same voice as Farkas and Balimund. I married him in my first playthrough. He makes an excellent follower but is capped at level 40 and I had to retire him to Proudspire Manor with our kids sometime between levels 45-50.
ORCS & ARGONIANS
If you like the kind of spouse who has green skin and tusks, we have the orcs or “Orsimer” of Skyrim.
Female orcs: Borgakh the Steel Heart is the daughter of the Chief Larak of the Orc stronghold of Mor Khazgur and a potential follower, level cap 30. Ghorza is a blacksmith and smithing trainer in Markarth, who lives with her brother in Understone Keep.
Male orcs: Gat Gro-Shargakh is a miner who lives in Kolskeggr Mine, east of Markarth. Moth gro-Bagol is Ghorza’s brother and also a blacksmith, working and living in Understone Keep in Markarth. Ghorbash the Iron Hand is an Orsimer living in Dushnikh Yal and is the brother of Chief Burguk. He is a potential follower (capped at level 30), spouse and steward.
Or if that isn’t exotic enough for you, the Argonian spouses…
One lizard lady, Shahvee, and two lizard gentleman, Derkeethus and Scouts-Many-Marshes.
Scouts-Many-Marshes is a light armor trainer but not a potential follower, so you probably can’t retrieve your gold from his inventory after training. He and Shahvee live in the Argonian Assemblage bunkhouse in Windhelm, if you marry and move in with one of them.
If rescued from Darkwater Pass, Derkeethus can be a follower (ranger class, level cap 30 and the only Argonian follower in the game) and potential marriage candidate. After being rescued, he will move back to the small mining camp of Darkwater Crossing and might get killed by Falmer who spawn there.
DRAGONBORN DLC SPOUSES
One male and two female marriage candidates are added by the Dragonborn DLC. All are Nords. From what I’ve read, these are the only spouses who can live with you in Severin Manor, but I’m not sure if they are limited to Solstheim or can move to Skyrim, too.
Halbarn Iron-FurandHilund are residents of Bujold’s Retreat/Thirsk Mead Hall and Morwen has her own home in the Skaal Village. Halbarn and Hilund are level capped at 60, but I’m not sure if any of them can be followers or not.
SPECIAL SPOUSES
These are the final three eligible females, but there’s much more to discuss on the male side. I’ll follow up with that in a sec.
Mjoll the Lioness is a Nord who lives with Aerin in Riften. She is a skilled fighter who can be a follower, and while capped at 40, what makes her special is that she cannot be killed. Even after her quest is finished, she will not die. Keep in mind that wherever she goes, Aerin will follow.
Taarie lives in the Radiant Raiment shop in Solitude, which is pretty special if you decide to move in with her, but what makes her really special is that she is the only Altmer (High Elf) marriage candidate in the game.
Viola is special because she appears to be the only old female marriage candidate, as well as an Imperial living in Windhelm (Ulfric Stormcloak’s city) with a very large home that rivals Hjerim.
THE BAD AND THE UGLY
Omluag is a Breton who lives in the Warrens (basically the homeless shelter) of Markarth.
Odfel is a Nord who shares a small house with an orc and whose claim to fame is a unique pickaxe called Rocksplinter.
Perth is a Breton miner in Soljund’s Sinkhole who looks like he should be following Dorothy and Toto to see the Wizard. He shares a house with Tuthul (who is kind of hot looking and has a cool mohawk, but isn’t a marriage candidate – why?).
Pavo Attius seems to be the best catch of the bunch, since the Imperial owns the Kolskeggr gold mine and a house outside Markarth, but he will remain in miner’s clothes unless you have a PC mod. Forsworn might also invade from time to time and can kill him when you’re not around, unless you move him to another home.
Angrenor Once-Honored is a homeless Nord war veteran who lives on the streets of Windhelm.
List Of Skyrim Husbands
Belrand is an old spellsword for hire in the Winking Skeever.
Benor is a Nord thug who lives in Morthal and has been denied a job with the city guards but still lives in the guardhouse anyway. Beat him up to win his heart.
Cosnach is a drunk whose heart can also be won by a brawl. In my experience, he’s a decent follower with some funny dialog about “aiming for the one in the middle” (since he’s drunk, get it?). He lives in the Warrens of Markarth.
Octieve is a retired old Breton veteran who offers some two-handed training. He gambles, drinks, and lives with his grown daughter Evette in Solitude.
Skyrim Best Wife
I WISH I COULD HAVE MARRIED
Blazing badass Teldryn Sero fills all top ten of my list. My heart is forever broken that the Dunmer spellsword can neither marry nor become a steward so we could have at least lived together. It might have been nice to marry Faendal, the sweet Bosmer archer of Riverwood, or black leather clad bad boy Brynjolf of the Thieves Guild.
Really, just about any of the Thieves Guild members would have been acceptable partners. Partners for what, exactly? Yeah, I guess they’re not really the marrying type.
Alas, they are all unavailable, unless you’re rocking a mod on PC. I’ve been playing on PS3.
~ J.L. Hilton
List Of Skyrim Spouses
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