Ivar
Boy name · German · Scandinavian
Meaningbow warrior · Old Norse
- US rank
- #1,382
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,038 in 1911
133 babies were named Ivar in the US in 2025. It has climbed 490 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1896–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Ivar you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Ivar
Ivar Giæver
Norwegian-American physicist
Choose Ivar and your child shares a first name with Ivar Giæver, a Norwegian-American physicist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Ivar, like who?” Ivar Giæver's Wikipedia article is available in 71 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Ivar Giæver on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 12,837 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Ivar, 133 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Ivar would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryIvar first shows up in US birth records in 1896, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 129 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1911, when it reached #1,038.
- Then vs nowIvar is 22× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 277,778 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 12,837.
- TrendIvar has climbed 490 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #1,382. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedIvar is most popular in Arizona, where it ranks #781. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- MeaningIn Old Norse, Ivar means “bow warrior”. Our records link it to German and Scandinavian roots.
About the name Ivar
Ivar is a boy name of German and Scandinavian origin meaning “bow warrior”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with I and ending in “-var”. US birth records list Ivar for boys from 1896 to 2025, in 79 of those 130 years. Its best year was 1911, when it ranked #1,038 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,382, with 133 babies.
Origin:German namesScandinavian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 | 95,694 boys |
| 1900s | 3.2 | 308,642 boys |
| 1910s | 18 | 55,525 boys |
| 1920s | 10 | 96,618 boys |
| 1930s | 8.0 | 125,313 boys |
| 1940s | 2.2 | 458,716 boys |
| 1950s | 2.3 | 438,596 boys |
| 1960s | 2.3 | 436,681 boys |
| 1970s | 2.1 | 471,698 boys |
| 1980s | 0.5 | 1,923,077 boys |
| 1990s | 0.3 | 3,125,000 boys |
| 2000s | 2.4 | 414,938 boys |
| 2010s | 14 | 70,572 boys |
| 2020s | 65 | 15,496 boys |
More German boy names
- Boy name: Liam · resolute protector
- Unisex name: Miles · possibly gracious
- Boy name: Axel · father of peace
- Boy name: Leonardo · brave as a lion
- Boy name: Robert · bright fame
- Unisex name: Myles · possibly gracious
- Boy name: Luis · famous warrior
- Unisex name: Charlie · free man
Questions about the name Ivar
What does the name Ivar mean?
Ivar means “bow warrior” in Old Norse.
What is the origin of the name Ivar?
Ivar has German, Scandinavian roots in our records. Other German names include Liam, Miles, Axel.
Is Ivar a boy or girl name?
Ivar is a boy name.
How popular is the name Ivar?
Ivar ranked #1,382 for US boys in 2025, given to 133 babies. Its best year was 1911 (#1,038).