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At a Glance
- Meaning
- God bear
- Origin
- Danish/Norwegian (from Old Norse)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- ES-pen
Espen is a Danish and Norwegian name with roots in Old Norse, where it means "god bear." It's pronounced ES-pen (/ˈɛspən/), and it carries a well-traveled, international feel alongside a clean, modern sound. If you want a name with real weight behind its meaning, Espen fits the bill.
Meaning & Origin of Espen
Meaning: God bear.
Origin: Danish/Norwegian (from Old Norse).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Espen
ES-penIPA /ˈɛspən/
Popularity of Espen
Across three decades of U.S. data from 1995 to 2024, Espen peaked in 2005 at #2916, when 36 boys were given the name; by 2024 it ranked #3710, given to 30 boys that year.
Names Like Espen
These names share Espen’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Espen mean?
God bear. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Espen?
Espen is pronounced ES-pen (IPA: /ˈɛspən/).
Is Espen a popular name right now?
Espen peaked at #2916 in 2005 and is ranked #3710 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1995–2024.)
Make Espen Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Espen, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Espen? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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