What does Bjorn mean?
Bjorn means “bear” in Old Norse, a symbol of strength.
What does Leif mean?
Leif means “heir” or “descendant” in Old Norse.
Bjorn vs Leif
Which is more popular?
Bjorn is more popular than Leif today: about 298 US babies were given the name Bjorn in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
| Bjorn | Leif | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bear | Heir, descendant |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BYORN | LAYF |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1925 | 1912 |
| Peak year | 2024 (331) | 2022 (290) |
| In 2025 | 298 | 257 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bjorn
Leif
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bjorn | Leif |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,895 | 1,542 |
| 2010s | 1,229 | 1,971 |
| 2000s | 550 | 1,329 |
| 1990s | 403 | 878 |
| 1980s | 598 | 1,231 |
| 1970s | 397 | 1,158 |
| 1960s | 145 | 886 |
| 1950s | 28 | 442 |
| 1940s | 5 | 196 |
| 1930s | 0 | 111 |
| 1920s | 5 | 126 |
| 1910s | 0 | 127 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bjorn or Leif more popular?
Bjorn is more popular than Leif today: about 298 US babies were given the name Bjorn in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
What is the difference between Bjorn and Leif?
Bjorn means Bear (Norse origin), while Leif means Heir, descendant (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Bjorn or Leif?
In US records, Bjorn first appears in 1925 and Leif in 1912, so Leif has the longer recorded history.