US Popularity Rank: 7797

Origin: Scandinavian

Meaning: God bear

Espen is a boy’s name of Scandinavian origin, bold and brave in character. A variant of the Old Norse name Asbjørn, meaning “god bear,” Espen is an all-new take on a name already loved and adored throughout the Arctic Circle. Mystical narratives of Nordic myth also tell of the tie between bears, gods, and burly heroes and how bears were known to embody the very being a warrior. From Bjorn, a human-bear hybrid and the son of a king, to little-bear Bödvar, who both sought and brought justice where nobody else could, a fountain of beautiful meanings springs up for these formidable beasts. And choosing Espen for baby is a brilliant way to behold their god-like glory.