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Einar
Pronounced AY-nar /ˈeɪ.nɑr/High
Meaning: One warrior, lone fighter; from Old Norse einn, 'one, alone', and herr, 'army, warrior' — related to the einherjar of ValhallaHigh
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Einar joins Old Norse einn, 'one, alone', with herr, 'army, warrior' — the lone fighter — and echoes the einherjar, Valhalla's chosen dead. Saga literature is thick with Einars, including Orkney earls and the skald Einarr Skúlason, and the name never left Scandinavia's rotation.
Norwegian and Icelandic immigration brought it to the upper Midwest, where church registries still hold a century of Einars. For modern American parents it is a rare, rune-carved choice that travels well — two syllables, no decoding required.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Einar Gerhardsen (1897-1987)Norwegian politician who served three terms as Prime Minister
- ★Einar Hákonarson (1945-)Icelandic expressionist painter
- ★Einar Wegener (1882-1931)Danish painter, later known as Lili Elbe
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Einar mean?
Einar comes from Old Norse einn, 'one, alone', and herr, 'warrior' — 'lone warrior', related to Valhalla's einherjar.
How do you pronounce Einar?
It's said AY-nar /ˈeɪ.nɑr/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Einar a boy or girl name?
Einar is a boy's name.
How popular is Einar?
Einar is rare in the U.S. and a steady classic across Scandinavia and Iceland.