Espen
Every Espen since 1995 — 863 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Espen
Espen is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,879 in 2025 with 28 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1995, 863 American babies have been named Espen — about 83% boys and 17% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2016, when 48 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Espen stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Espen year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #7,239 | 28 | #3,879 |
| 2024 | 7 | #12,578 | 31 | #3,632 |
| 2023 | 11 | #9,183 | 20 | #4,937 |
| 2022 | 18 | #6,536 | 23 | #4,471 |
| 2021 | 13 | #8,171 | 34 | #3,381 |
| 2020 | 12 | #8,566 | 29 | #3,674 |
| 2019 | 18 | #6,510 | 28 | #3,829 |
| 2018 | 9 | #10,831 | 32 | #3,468 |
| 2017 | 14 | #7,981 | 25 | #4,147 |
| 2016 | 17 | #7,012 | 31 | #3,554 |
| 2015 | 9 | #11,193 | 37 | #3,100 |
| 2014 | 5 | #17,364 | 29 | #3,643 |
| 2013 | — | — | 32 | #3,358 |
| 2012 | — | — | 29 | #3,642 |
| 2011 | — | — | 24 | #4,139 |
| 2010 | — | — | 32 | #3,397 |
| 2009 | — | — | 26 | #3,950 |
| 2008 | — | — | 24 | #4,177 |
| 2007 | — | — | 24 | #4,158 |
| 2006 | — | — | 28 | #3,629 |
| 2005 | — | — | 36 | #2,916 |
| 2004 | — | — | 18 | #4,654 |
| 2003 | — | — | 14 | #5,355 |
| 2002 | — | — | 17 | #4,566 |
| 2001 | — | — | 11 | #6,154 |
| 2000 | — | — | 7 | #8,477 |
| 1995 | — | — | 5 | #9,292 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Espen
- Espen Bredesen Skier · b. 1968
- Espen Sandberg Film director · b. 1971
- Espen Lind Singer · b. 1971
- Espen Knutsen Hockey player · b. 1972
- Espen Baardsen Soccer player · b. 1977
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Espen in 2025?
Espen ranked #3,879 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 28 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Espen?
863 babies have been named Espen in the United States since 1995, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Espen most popular?
Espen peaked in 2016, when 48 newborns received the name.
Is Espen a boy or girl name?
Espen is used for both: about 17% of babies named Espen have been girls and 83% boys.
Is the name Espen rising or falling?
Espen has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Espen?
Well-known people named Espen include Espen Bredesen (skier), Espen Sandberg (film director), Espen Lind (singer).