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Home › Baby Names Directory › Espen

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 (2025)#3879 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births28 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 714

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519952025

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

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

  • ★Espen Bredesen (1968-)
    Norwegian ski jumper who won gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer
  • ★Espen Knutsen (1972-)
    Norwegian ice hockey player who had a notable NHL career with the Columbus Blue Jackets
  • ★Espen Ruud (1984-)
    Norwegian alpine ski racer who competed on the World Cup circuit

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

Explore names like Espen

By themescandinaviannorseanimal-name
By meaningGod / Divine

All themes →All meanings →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.

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