Holding steady, #3,583 for boys today.
Popularity of Sven since 1911
Babies named Sven per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2015, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sven's real moment was 2023.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 67 |
| 1920s | 81 |
| 1930s | 85 |
| 1940s | 63 |
| 1950s | 143 |
| 1960s | 297 |
| 1970s | 293 |
| 1980s | 254 |
| 1990s | 261 |
| 2000s | 272 |
| 2010s | 418 |
| 2020s | 283 |
Meaning & origin
Sven is a classic Scandinavian name that has maintained a consistent presence in the United States since at least 1911. In 2025, it was given to roughly 1 in 55,099 boys, ranking 3,583. The name saw its peak popularity in 2023, suggesting a recent modest uptick in interest. Despite its long history in Nordic countries, Sven remains relatively uncommon in the US, with no strong regional concentration (top states not listed). Its trajectory is stable, typical for a traditional name that never breaks into the mainstream but enjoys steady usage among families with Scandinavian heritage or those seeking a strong, simple name.
Sven is a Scandinavian name derived from Old Norse sveinn, meaning 'boy' or 'youth.' It has been used across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland since the Viking Age, often as a given name and also as part of compound names. The name is borne by several medieval Danish kings, cementing its traditional status in the region.
“Sven” around the world
Where Sven lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Svend, Svein
Sibling names for Sven
Names that share Sven's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Astrid, Ingrid, Freya, Sigrid, Solveig, Annika, Britta, Dagmar, Helga, Inga, Inger, Karine, Lisbeth, Maren, Nilsa, Selma, Signe, Annica, Arna, Berit, Blenda, Brigitta, Brita, Ebba, Eryka, Gerda, Glada, Hildur, Inge, Ingeborg, Janne, Kaaren, Kajsa, Margit, Marit, Marja, Steffi, Svea, Tora, Aanika, Elke, Halla, Kelda, Kjerstin, Nanna, Osa, Ragna, Senta, Torvi, Tove, Viveca, Saga, Alvilda, Elfida, Gunda, Hedda, Ingri, Ulla, Valborg
Brothers: Lars, Nils, Erik, Bjorn, Henrik, Arvid, Einar, Erling, Evert, Gunnar, Gustav, Leif, Magnus, Nels, Olaf, Ole, Rolf, Stellan, Verner, Waldemar, Bertil, Erland, Even, Gillis, Haakon, Harald, Helmer, Knute, Kristoff, Lennart, Rollo, Rune, Tage, Tor, Torben, Valdemar, Wille, Eirik, Erric, Henrick, Hilding, Hjalmer, Holger, Kjell, Lief, Mattis, Ralf, Aniken, Halvor, Hilmar, Hjalmar, Jarl, Joahan, Olof, Roald, Sten, Suan
