What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
Ivar vs Odin
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Ivar today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
| Ivar | Odin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bow warrior | Frenzy, inspiration |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EE-var | OH-din |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1896 | 1884 |
| Peak year | 2025 (133) | 2022 (1,023) |
| In 2025 | 133 | 604 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ivar
Odin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ivar | Odin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 668 | 5,176 |
| 2010s | 260 | 6,435 |
| 2000s | 48 | 1,209 |
| 1990s | 6 | 118 |
| 1980s | 10 | 67 |
| 1970s | 36 | 66 |
| 1960s | 45 | 18 |
| 1950s | 45 | 0 |
| 1940s | 33 | 11 |
| 1930s | 84 | 12 |
| 1920s | 114 | 66 |
| 1910s | 109 | 88 |
| 1900s | 5 | 10 |
| 1890s | 5 | 0 |
| 1880s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivar or Odin more popular?
Odin is more popular than Ivar today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
What is the difference between Ivar and Odin?
Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin), while Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Ivar or Odin?
In US records, Ivar first appears in 1896 and Odin in 1884, so Odin has the longer recorded history.