What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
What does Leif mean?
Leif means “heir” or “descendant” in Old Norse.
Odin vs Leif
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Leif today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
| Odin | Leif | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Frenzy, inspiration | Heir, descendant |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | OH-din | LAYF |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1884 | 1912 |
| Peak year | 2022 (1,023) | 2022 (290) |
| In 2025 | 604 | 257 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Odin
Leif
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Odin | Leif |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5,176 | 1,542 |
| 2010s | 6,435 | 1,971 |
| 2000s | 1,209 | 1,329 |
| 1990s | 118 | 878 |
| 1980s | 67 | 1,231 |
| 1970s | 66 | 1,158 |
| 1960s | 18 | 886 |
| 1950s | 0 | 442 |
| 1940s | 11 | 196 |
| 1930s | 12 | 111 |
| 1920s | 66 | 126 |
| 1910s | 88 | 127 |
| 1900s | 10 | 0 |
| 1880s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Odin or Leif more popular?
Odin is more popular than Leif today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
What is the difference between Odin and Leif?
Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin), while Leif means Heir, descendant (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Odin or Leif?
In US records, Odin first appears in 1884 and Leif in 1912, so Odin has the longer recorded history.