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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rune

Rune

♂ Boy

Pronounced ROO-neh /ˈɾʉː.nə/High

Meaning: Secret lore, runeHigh

In 30 seconds: Rune is a Norwegian name meaning 'secret lore' or 'rune', from the old word for the Norse letters and their hidden knowledge.
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Origin HighNorwegian, Swedish, Danish
MeaningSecret lore, rune
U.S. rank (2025)#1789 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births90 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 713

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520012025

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

Rune carries the sense of secret lore, the same word that names the runes of the old Norse alphabet, once linked with mystery and hidden meaning. It remains a current given name in Norway and across Scandinavia. The meaning keeps it tied to that older world of carved letters and concealed knowledge.

Bearers include Rune Johansson (1920-1998) and biathlete Rune Brattsveen (born 1984). The variation Rúni shows the Old Norse-style spelling, while the single-syllable Rune reads cleanly in English.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Rune is 'secret lore, rune', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 86%
Behind the Name - Rune — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Rúni

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Rune Johansson (1920–1998)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Rune Brattsveen (1984–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Rune…

Bjorn— a fellow Norse name carrying the same northern feel
Odin— ties to the same Norse mythological world that runes belong to
Jenson— lands in the same popularity range
Kasper— lands in the same popularity range
Viggo— a fellow Danish choice

Explore names like Rune

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rune mean?

Rune is usually explained as meaning 'secret lore, rune' and is most often linked with Norwegian tradition.

How do you pronounce Rune?

It's commonly said ROO-neh /ˈɾʉː.nə/.

Is Rune a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Rune is used as a boy name.

How popular is Rune?

In 2024, Rune ranked #1925 in the U.S. for boys, with 82 births recorded.

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