Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Sven
BoyOld Norse, Swedish· “young man, boy”
- Meaning
- young man, boy
- Origin
- Old Norse, Swedish
- Pronunciation
- SVEHN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #3,645
- US babies 2025
- 31
- Best rank
- #1,113 (1967)
- Peak year
- 2015
Meaning and origin of Sven
Sven is an Old Norse and Swedish name that means “young man, boy”.
Sven is a Scandinavian name from the Old Norse Sveinn, meaning young man or boy, the same root as the English word swain. It was borne by several Danish kings, including Sweyn Forkbeard, who seized the English throne in 1013, and by his descendants. Sven has remained a standard name in Sweden, Norway and Denmark for a thousand years. It is said SVEHN, with a crisp v sound. Svend in Danish, Svein in Norwegian and Sweyn in English histories are related forms. American children may know it from the reindeer in Disney's Frozen.
Popularity over time
Sven first appears in US Social Security records in 1911. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,113 in 1967, and the most babies received it in 2015, when 58 were named Sven. In 2025, 31 babies were named Sven, and it ranked #3,645 nationally. That is 47% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,560 in 1950, #2,157 in 1980, #3,063 in 2000, #3,230 in 2010, and #3,645 in 2025. Of the 2,517 US boys named Sven since records began, 17% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 297 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Nikolaos, Thane, Ziyad, Dietrich, and Kylon.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Sven is usually pronounced SVEHN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with S and ends in “-en”.
Middle names for Sven
A few middle names that flow with Sven: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sven
Similar names
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Lists that include Sven
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sven mean?
Sven is an Old Norse and Swedish name that means “young man, boy”.
What is the origin of the name Sven?
Sven has Old Norse and Swedish roots. Sven is a Scandinavian name from the Old Norse Sveinn, meaning young man or boy, the same root as the English word swain.
Is Sven a popular name?
Not especially. Sven ranked #3,645 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sven a boy or girl name?
Sven is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Sven?
Sven is usually pronounced SVEHN. 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