Scholar Rudolf Simek theorizes that Sif likely originated as a complement to Thor through his fertility associations, and that the name "Sif" (Simek provides the etymology "relation by marriage") may have originally simply meant "the wife (of Thor)". Simek rejects notions of a "vegetation cult" venerating Sif, says that Sif does not appear to have a function, dismisses theories proposing connections between Sif's hair and grain as "over-zealous interpretation", and theorizes that Snorri invented the story of Sif's shorn locks in attempt to explain the attributes of various gods.