Gunnar

Meaning: Battle warrior
Origin: Old Norse

Boy's name · #612 in the US (2025) · 2010s wave

Popularity over time

Gunnar's best rank, #382, came in 2014; it has settled back to #612 today. Roughly 18,000 boys have been named Gunnar since 1893.

Across the states

See where Gunnar is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 39 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Gunnar ranks in other countries and regions.

#134 in Sweden (2025) · #250 in Norway (2025) · #1,251 in Canada (2025) · #1,479 in Austria (2025) · #3,256 in England & Wales (2025) · #728 in Scotland (2023) · #4,902 in Ecuador (2020) · #1,090 in Belgium (2008).

Famous Gunnars

Gunnar Myrdal — Swedish economist, sociologist, and Nobel Laureate (1898–1987)
Gunnar Nordahl — Swedish footballer (1925–1995)
Gunnar Gren — Swedish footballer (1920–1991)
Gunnar Asplund — Swedish architect (1885–1940)
Gunnar Ekelöf — Swedish writer (1907–1968)
Gunnar Gunnarsson — Icelandic writer (1889–1975)

In stories & tradition

Gunnar^Wikidata — Völsunga saga (Old Norse saga)
Gunnar Mustavaara^Wikidata — Salatut elämät (Finnish TV series)
Gunnar Scott — Nashville (TV series)

Where Gunnars come from

Among 1,575 notable bearers:

Sweden 51%, Norway 23%, Denmark 6%, Finland 6%, Germany 5%, Iceland 4% and 20 more countries.

What Gunnars become

Among 2,023 notable people named Gunnar:

Business leaders appear 1.58× more often than among typical names — e.g. Gunnar Ericsson, Swedish businessman, sports official, politician (1919–2013).

Similar names: Ryland · Gunner · Landyn · Oskar · Bjorn · Ragnar

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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