What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
Odin vs Ivar
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Ivar today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
| Odin | Ivar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Frenzy, inspiration | Bow warrior |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | OH-din | EE-var |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1884 | 1896 |
| Peak year | 2022 (1,023) | 2025 (133) |
| In 2025 | 604 | 133 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Odin
Ivar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Odin | Ivar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5,176 | 668 |
| 2010s | 6,435 | 260 |
| 2000s | 1,209 | 48 |
| 1990s | 118 | 6 |
| 1980s | 67 | 10 |
| 1970s | 66 | 36 |
| 1960s | 18 | 45 |
| 1950s | 0 | 45 |
| 1940s | 11 | 33 |
| 1930s | 12 | 84 |
| 1920s | 66 | 114 |
| 1910s | 88 | 109 |
| 1900s | 10 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
| 1880s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Odin or Ivar more popular?
Odin is more popular than Ivar today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 133 named Ivar.
What is the difference between Odin and Ivar?
Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin), while Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Odin or Ivar?
In US records, Odin first appears in 1884 and Ivar in 1896, so Odin has the longer recorded history.