Espen
Espen is a Norwegian masculine given name. In Norway it reached the peak of its popularity between 1970 and 1990, during which period approximately 1.1% of children were given that name.
Meaning & Origin of Espen
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Espen is a Norwegian masculine given name. In Norway it reached the peak of its popularity between 1970 and 1990, during which period approximately 1.1% of children were given that name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Espen
As a girl name
Espen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2014, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 18 Espens were born — ranking #6,412 that year. As of 2026, Espen ranks #9,336 for girls with 8 births, falling sharply (-20%). In total, more than 150 Espens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Espen first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1995, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2015, when 37 Espens were born — ranking #3,085 that year. As of 2026, Espen ranks #4,224 for boys with 25 births, falling sharply (-16%). In total, more than 737 Espens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Espen
Phonetically similar names — useful when Espen is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Espen
What does the name Espen mean?
How popular is Espen in 2026?
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In which U.S. states is Espen most popular?
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About the name Espen
Espen is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1995 and has accumulated 737 births in the dataset. Espen's peak popularity came in 2015 when it ranked #2,902. Use the chart and map above to compare Espen's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2015 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.