What does Ragnar mean?
Ragnar joins the Old Norse for “counsel/judgment” and “army, warrior.”
What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
Ragnar vs Ivar
Which is more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Ragnar today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 52 named Ragnar.
| Ragnar | Ivar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Warrior of judgment | Bow warrior |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | RAG-nar | EE-var |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1915 | 1896 |
| Peak year | 2023 (97) | 2025 (133) |
| In 2025 | 52 | 133 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ragnar
Ivar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ragnar | Ivar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 456 | 668 |
| 2010s | 292 | 260 |
| 2000s | 0 | 48 |
| 1990s | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5 | 36 |
| 1960s | 5 | 45 |
| 1950s | 0 | 45 |
| 1940s | 0 | 33 |
| 1930s | 0 | 84 |
| 1920s | 0 | 114 |
| 1910s | 29 | 109 |
| 1900s | 0 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ragnar or Ivar more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Ragnar today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 52 named Ragnar.
What is the difference between Ragnar and Ivar?
Ragnar means Warrior of judgment (Norse origin), while Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Ragnar or Ivar?
In US records, Ragnar first appears in 1915 and Ivar in 1896, so Ivar has the longer recorded history.