Ragnar

At a Glance: Name: Ragnar – Meaning: counsel of the army – Origin: Old Norse – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: RAG-nar

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Ragnar is a bold, worldly Old Norse name for a boy, pronounced RAG-nar, with a modern feel. It's often said to mean 'warrior of the gods,' but that isn't accurate: the name comes from regin/rǫgn, meaning 'counsel,' and herr, meaning 'army,' so 'counsel of the army' is the better reading.

Meaning & Origin of Ragnar

Meaning: Counsel of the army.

Origin: Old Norse.

A common claim: Often said to mean 'warrior of the gods' Actually: Ragnar doesn't literally mean 'warrior' or 'gods'; regin/rǫgn means 'counsel' (only loosely tied to divine powers, as in Ragnarök) and herr means 'army', so 'army counsel' is the more accurate gloss.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Ragnar

Phonetic: RAG-nar   IPA: /ˈrægnɑr/

Popularity of Ragnar

Ragnar peaked at #1732 in 2023 with 96 boys given the name, and in 2024 it stood at #2272 with 63. It's a rare name, with only a small number of babies receiving it each year.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1915–2024.

Make Ragnar Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Ragnar, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Viggo
• Bjorn
• Einar
• Erling
• Gunnar
• Halvor

FAQ

What does the name Ragnar mean?

Counsel of the army. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ragnar)

How do you pronounce Ragnar?

Ragnar is pronounced RAG-nar (IPA: /ˈrægnɑr/).

Is Ragnar a popular name right now?

Ragnar peaked at #1732 in 2023 and is ranked #2272 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1915–2024.)

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