Boy · #3,217 in 2026

Runar

Runar is a masculine given name and a surname which is used in Nordic countries. It became one of the popular names in Norway from the 1950s. Its meaning in Old Icelandic is wisdom and magical characters or signs.

Current Rank
#3,217
Peak Rank
#3,217 (1917)
Total Babies
7
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1917
First Year
1917
Last Year
1917
Peak Year
#3217
Peak Rank
7
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Runar

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Runar is a masculine given name and a surname which is used in Nordic countries. It became one of the popular names in Norway from the 1950s. Its meaning in Old Icelandic is wisdom and magical characters or signs.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Runar

Runar first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1917, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1917, when 7 Runars were born — ranking #3,217 that year. As of 2026, Runar ranks #3,217 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 7 Runars have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Runar

Phonetically similar names — useful when Runar 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 Runar

What does the name Runar mean?
Runar is a masculine given name and a surname which is used in Nordic countries. It became one of the popular names in Norway from the 1950s. Its meaning in Old Icelandic is wisdom and magical characters or signs.
How popular is Runar in 2026?
In 2026, Runar ranks #3,217 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Runar most popular?
Runar reached its peak popularity in 1917, ranking #3,217 that year with 7 babies given the name.
Is Runar a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Runar is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Runar?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Runar include Amzie, Ermine, Printes. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Amzie
Peak #3217
👦
Ermine
Peak #3217
👦
Printes
Peak #3217
👦
Vanburen
Peak #3217
👦
Caspar
Peak #3217
👦
Casimier
Peak #3217
👦
Lawless
Peak #3217
👦
Verney
Peak #3217

About the name Runar

Runar is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1917 and has accumulated 7 births in the dataset. Runar's peak popularity came in 1917 when it ranked #3,217. Use the chart and map above to compare Runar's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.