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Espen

♂ Boy

Pronounced EH-spen /ˈɛ.spɛn/High

Meaning: Norwegian form of Asbjørn — Old Norse ass, 'god', plus bjǫrn, 'bear' — 'god bear, bear of the Aesir'Medium

In 30 seconds: A bear of the gods: Espen is the Norwegian Asbjørn — 'god' plus 'bear' — the clever hero of Norse fairy tales. Strong, frosty-cool, and richly Scandinavian.
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Origin HighOld Norse, Scandinavian
MeaningNorwegian form of Asbjørn — Old Norse ass, 'god', plus bjǫrn, 'bear' — 'god bear, bear of the Aesir'
U.S. rank (2024)#3710 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births30 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 686

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519952024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Espen is the Norwegian form of Asbjørn — from Old Norse ass, 'god' (the Aesir), plus bjǫrn, 'bear' — 'god bear, divine bear'. The folktale hero Espen Askeladd made it beloved; it is a strong, frosty Scandinavian classic.

In the U.S. it appears in Norwegian-heritage families. Rare, god-bear at the root, and crisply Nordic.

Did you know? In Norwegian folktales, Espen Askeladd ('Espen the Ash-lad') is the underdog youngest son who outwits trolls and wins the princess — a beloved Cinderella-style hero.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name — Espen — etymology

Variations

AsbjørnEsbenEspin

Nicknames

Es

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Espen…

Bjorn— the 'bear' name within it
Soren— a fellow Scandinavian favorite
Aksel— another crisp Nordic name
Kolsen— another Scandinavian name
Olsen— a similarly popular pick

Browse the whole category: All Old Norse names →  ·  All Scandinavian names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Espen mean?

Espen is the Norwegian form of Asbjørn, 'god bear', from ass, 'god', and bjǫrn, 'bear'.

How do you pronounce Espen?

It's said EH-spen /ˈɛ.spɛn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Espen a boy or girl name?

Espen is a boy's name.

How popular is Espen?

Espen is a rare name in the U.S.