What does Leif mean?
Leif means “heir” or “descendant” in Old Norse.
What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
Leif vs Ivar
Which is more popular?
Leif is more popular than Ivar today: about 257 US babies were given the name Leif in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
| Leif | Ivar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Heir, descendant | Bow warrior |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | LAYF | EE-var |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1912 | 1896 |
| Peak year | 2022 (290) | 2025 (133) |
| In 2025 | 257 | 133 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Leif
Ivar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Leif | Ivar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,542 | 668 |
| 2010s | 1,971 | 260 |
| 2000s | 1,329 | 48 |
| 1990s | 878 | 6 |
| 1980s | 1,231 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,158 | 36 |
| 1960s | 886 | 45 |
| 1950s | 442 | 45 |
| 1940s | 196 | 33 |
| 1930s | 111 | 84 |
| 1920s | 126 | 114 |
| 1910s | 127 | 109 |
| 1900s | 0 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Leif or Ivar more popular?
Leif is more popular than Ivar today: about 257 US babies were given the name Leif in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
What is the difference between Leif and Ivar?
Leif means Heir, descendant (Norse origin), while Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Leif or Ivar?
In US records, Leif first appears in 1912 and Ivar in 1896, so Ivar has the longer recorded history.