What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
What does Bjorn mean?
Bjorn means “bear” in Old Norse, a symbol of strength.
Odin vs Bjorn
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Bjorn today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
| Odin | Bjorn | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Frenzy, inspiration | Bear |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | OH-din | BYORN |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1884 | 1925 |
| Peak year | 2022 (1,023) | 2024 (331) |
| In 2025 | 604 | 298 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Odin
Bjorn
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Odin | Bjorn |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5,176 | 1,895 |
| 2010s | 6,435 | 1,229 |
| 2000s | 1,209 | 550 |
| 1990s | 118 | 403 |
| 1980s | 67 | 598 |
| 1970s | 66 | 397 |
| 1960s | 18 | 145 |
| 1950s | 0 | 28 |
| 1940s | 11 | 5 |
| 1930s | 12 | 0 |
| 1920s | 66 | 5 |
| 1910s | 88 | 0 |
| 1900s | 10 | 0 |
| 1880s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Odin or Bjorn more popular?
Odin is more popular than Bjorn today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
What is the difference between Odin and Bjorn?
Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin), while Bjorn means Bear (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Odin or Bjorn?
In US records, Odin first appears in 1884 and Bjorn in 1925, so Odin has the longer recorded history.