What does Thor mean?
Thor is the Norse god of thunder, his name meaning “thunder” itself.
What does Ragnar mean?
Ragnar joins the Old Norse for “counsel/judgment” and “army, warrior.”
Thor vs Ragnar
Which is more popular?
Ragnar is more popular than Thor today: about 52 US babies were given the name Ragnar in 2025, compared with 44 named Thor.
| Thor | Ragnar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Thunder | Warrior of judgment |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | THOR | RAG-nar |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1904 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2015 (118) | 2023 (97) |
| In 2025 | 44 | 52 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Thor
Ragnar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Thor | Ragnar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 415 | 456 |
| 2010s | 1,026 | 292 |
| 2000s | 699 | 0 |
| 1990s | 498 | 0 |
| 1980s | 469 | 0 |
| 1970s | 538 | 5 |
| 1960s | 568 | 5 |
| 1950s | 208 | 0 |
| 1940s | 137 | 0 |
| 1930s | 91 | 0 |
| 1920s | 117 | 0 |
| 1910s | 86 | 29 |
| 1900s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Thor or Ragnar more popular?
Ragnar is more popular than Thor today: about 52 US babies were given the name Ragnar in 2025, compared with 44 named Thor.
What is the difference between Thor and Ragnar?
Thor means Thunder (Norse origin), while Ragnar means Warrior of judgment (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Thor or Ragnar?
In US records, Thor first appears in 1904 and Ragnar in 1915, so Thor has the longer recorded history.