What does Bjorn mean?
Bjorn means “bear” in Old Norse, a symbol of strength.
What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
Bjorn vs Ivar
Which is more popular?
Bjorn is more popular than Ivar today: about 298 US babies were given the name Bjorn in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
| Bjorn | Ivar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bear | Bow warrior |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BYORN | EE-var |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1925 | 1896 |
| Peak year | 2024 (331) | 2025 (133) |
| In 2025 | 298 | 133 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bjorn
Ivar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bjorn | Ivar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,895 | 668 |
| 2010s | 1,229 | 260 |
| 2000s | 550 | 48 |
| 1990s | 403 | 6 |
| 1980s | 598 | 10 |
| 1970s | 397 | 36 |
| 1960s | 145 | 45 |
| 1950s | 28 | 45 |
| 1940s | 5 | 33 |
| 1930s | 0 | 84 |
| 1920s | 5 | 114 |
| 1910s | 0 | 109 |
| 1900s | 0 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bjorn or Ivar more popular?
Bjorn is more popular than Ivar today: about 298 US babies were given the name Bjorn in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
What is the difference between Bjorn and Ivar?
Bjorn means Bear (Norse origin), while Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Bjorn or Ivar?
In US records, Bjorn first appears in 1925 and Ivar in 1896, so Ivar has the longer recorded history.