What does Viggo mean?
Viggo comes from the Old Norse for “war” or “battle.”
What does Ivar mean?
Ivar joins the Old Norse for “yew/bow” and “warrior.”
Viggo vs Ivar
Which is more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Viggo today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 97 named Viggo.
| Viggo | Ivar | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | War | Bow warrior |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | VEE-goh | EE-var |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1913 | 1896 |
| Peak year | 2025 (97) | 2025 (133) |
| In 2025 | 97 | 133 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Viggo
Ivar
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Viggo | Ivar |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 447 | 668 |
| 2010s | 402 | 260 |
| 2000s | 179 | 48 |
| 1990s | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 | 36 |
| 1960s | 0 | 45 |
| 1950s | 0 | 45 |
| 1940s | 0 | 33 |
| 1930s | 5 | 84 |
| 1920s | 10 | 114 |
| 1910s | 12 | 109 |
| 1900s | 0 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Viggo or Ivar more popular?
Ivar is more popular than Viggo today: about 133 US babies were given the name Ivar in 2025, compared with 97 named Viggo.
What is the difference between Viggo and Ivar?
Viggo means War (Norse origin), while Ivar means Bow warrior (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Viggo or Ivar?
In US records, Viggo first appears in 1913 and Ivar in 1896, so Ivar has the longer recorded history.