What does Thor mean?
Thor is the Norse god of thunder, his name meaning “thunder” itself.
What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
Thor vs Ivar
Which is more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Thor today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 44 named Thor.
| Thor | Ivar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Thunder | Bow warrior |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | THOR | EE-var |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1904 | 1896 |
| Peak year | 2015 (118) | 2025 (133) |
| In 2025 | 44 | 133 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Thor
Ivar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Thor | Ivar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 415 | 668 |
| 2010s | 1,026 | 260 |
| 2000s | 699 | 48 |
| 1990s | 498 | 6 |
| 1980s | 469 | 10 |
| 1970s | 538 | 36 |
| 1960s | 568 | 45 |
| 1950s | 208 | 45 |
| 1940s | 137 | 33 |
| 1930s | 91 | 84 |
| 1920s | 117 | 114 |
| 1910s | 86 | 109 |
| 1900s | 5 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Thor or Ivar more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Thor today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 44 named Thor.
What is the difference between Thor and Ivar?
Thor means Thunder (Norse origin), while Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Thor or Ivar?
In US records, Thor first appears in 1904 and Ivar in 1896, so Ivar has the longer recorded history.