Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Bjorn
BoyOld Norse, Scandinavian· “bear”
- Meaning
- bear
- Origin
- Old Norse, Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- BYAWRN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #829
- US babies 2025
- 298
- Best rank
- #766 (2021)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Bjorn
Bjorn is an Old Norse and Scandinavian name that means “bear”.
Bjorn is the English spelling of the Scandinavian Björn, from the Old Norse bjǫrn, meaning bear. It has been a common name in Sweden, Norway and Denmark since the Viking Age, and it appears in sagas and runic inscriptions. The tennis champion Björn Borg brought it international recognition. In English it is usually pronounced BYORN, close to the Swedish sound. Bjorn feels strong, rugged and distinctly Nordic, and its single syllable makes it easy to pair with longer middle names.
Popularity over time
Bjorn first appears in US Social Security records in 1925. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 11 different years, starting in 1977. Its best national rank was #766 in 2021, and the most babies received it in 2024, when 331 were named Bjorn. In 2025, 298 babies were named Bjorn, and it ranked #829 nationally. That is 198% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #3,741 in 1950, #958 in 1980, #1,896 in 2000, #2,378 in 2010, and #829 in 2025. Of the 5,255 US boys named Bjorn since records began, 36% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 1,229 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Asaiah, Gian, Teo, Izael, and Santos.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Bjorn ranked highest in Montana, Minnesota, and Idaho.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Bjorn is usually pronounced BYAWRN, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with B and ends in “-rn”.
Middle names for Bjorn
A few middle names that flow with Bjorn: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Bjorn
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Lists that include Bjorn
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Bjorn mean?
Bjorn is an Old Norse and Scandinavian name that means “bear”.
What is the origin of the name Bjorn?
Bjorn has Old Norse and Scandinavian roots. Bjorn is the English spelling of the Scandinavian Björn, from the Old Norse bjǫrn, meaning bear.
Is Bjorn a popular name?
Yes. Bjorn ranked #829 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Bjorn a boy or girl name?
Bjorn is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Bjorn?
Bjorn is usually pronounced BYAWRN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings