What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
What does Ragnar mean?
Ragnar joins the Old Norse for “counsel/judgment” and “army, warrior.”
Ivar vs Ragnar
Which is more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Ragnar today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 52 named Ragnar.
| Ivar | Ragnar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bow warrior | Warrior of judgment |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EE-var | RAG-nar |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1896 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2025 (133) | 2023 (97) |
| In 2025 | 133 | 52 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ivar
Ragnar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ivar | Ragnar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 668 | 456 |
| 2010s | 260 | 292 |
| 2000s | 48 | 0 |
| 1990s | 6 | 0 |
| 1980s | 10 | 0 |
| 1970s | 36 | 5 |
| 1960s | 45 | 5 |
| 1950s | 45 | 0 |
| 1940s | 33 | 0 |
| 1930s | 84 | 0 |
| 1920s | 114 | 0 |
| 1910s | 109 | 29 |
| 1900s | 5 | 0 |
| 1890s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivar or Ragnar more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Ragnar today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 52 named Ragnar.
What is the difference between Ivar and Ragnar?
Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin), while Ragnar means Warrior of judgment (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Ivar or Ragnar?
In US records, Ivar first appears in 1896 and Ragnar in 1915, so Ivar has the longer recorded history.