What does Bjorn mean?
Bjorn means “bear” in Old Norse, a symbol of strength.
What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
Bjorn vs Odin
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Bjorn today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
| Bjorn | Odin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bear | Frenzy, inspiration |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BYORN | OH-din |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1925 | 1884 |
| Peak year | 2024 (331) | 2022 (1,023) |
| In 2025 | 298 | 604 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bjorn
Odin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bjorn | Odin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,895 | 5,176 |
| 2010s | 1,229 | 6,435 |
| 2000s | 550 | 1,209 |
| 1990s | 403 | 118 |
| 1980s | 598 | 67 |
| 1970s | 397 | 66 |
| 1960s | 145 | 18 |
| 1950s | 28 | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 | 11 |
| 1930s | 0 | 12 |
| 1920s | 5 | 66 |
| 1910s | 0 | 88 |
| 1900s | 0 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bjorn or Odin more popular?
Odin is more popular than Bjorn today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
What is the difference between Bjorn and Odin?
Bjorn means Bear (Norse origin), while Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Bjorn or Odin?
In US records, Bjorn first appears in 1925 and Odin in 1884, so Odin has the longer recorded history.