What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
What does Viggo mean?
Viggo comes from the Old Norse for “war” or “battle.”
Ivar vs Viggo
Which is more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Viggo today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 97 named Viggo.
| Ivar | Viggo | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bow warrior | War |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EE-var | VEE-goh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1896 | 1913 |
| Peak year | 2025 (133) | 2025 (97) |
| In 2025 | 133 | 97 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ivar
Viggo
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ivar | Viggo |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 668 | 447 |
| 2010s | 260 | 402 |
| 2000s | 48 | 179 |
| 1990s | 6 | 0 |
| 1980s | 10 | 0 |
| 1970s | 36 | 0 |
| 1960s | 45 | 0 |
| 1950s | 45 | 0 |
| 1940s | 33 | 0 |
| 1930s | 84 | 5 |
| 1920s | 114 | 10 |
| 1910s | 109 | 12 |
| 1900s | 5 | 0 |
| 1890s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivar or Viggo more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Viggo today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 97 named Viggo.
What is the difference between Ivar and Viggo?
Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin), while Viggo means War (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Ivar or Viggo?
In US records, Ivar first appears in 1896 and Viggo in 1913, so Ivar has the longer recorded history.