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