Gunnar Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Gunnar is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Gunnar?
Gunnar is spelled G-U-N-N-A-R. The name has 6 letters.
Gunnar at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Gunnar is derived from Old Norse elements meaning “war” or “battle” and “warrior” or “fighter.”
- Origin
- Gunnar is commonly associated with Old Norse origins from Viking Age Scandinavia.
- Pronunciation
- GUN-nar · 2 syllables
Gunnar Popularity in 2025
Rank#612
Recorded Births462
- Boys usage fell 14 places to #612 and recorded 14 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Gunnar Mean?
Gunnar is derived from Old Norse elements meaning “war” or “battle” and “warrior” or “fighter.”
Origin: Gunnar is commonly associated with Old Norse origins from Viking Age Scandinavia.
How Do You Pronounce Gunnar?
PronunciationGUN-nar
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Gunnar?
- History
- The name Gunnar appears in Old Norse sagas and medieval Scandinavian texts, indicating longstanding usage in Nordic regions.
Gunnar Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2005 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 462 | #612 |
| 2024 | Boys | 476 | #598 |
| 2023 | Boys | 478 | #593 |
| 2022 | Boys | 486 | #589 |
| 2021 | Boys | 545 | #541 |
| 2020 | Boys | 542 | #526 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5 | #15,539 |
| 2019 | Boys | 576 | #497 |
| 2018 | Boys | 621 | #468 |
| 2017 | Boys | 707 | #439 |
| 2016 | Girls | 6 | #14,331 |
| 2016 | Boys | 798 | #400 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5 | #16,419 |
| 2015 | Boys | 825 | #388 |
| 2014 | Boys | 816 | #382 |
| 2013 | Boys | 758 | #396 |
| 2012 | Boys | 603 | #450 |
| 2011 | Boys | 520 | #499 |
| 2010 | Boys | 457 | #553 |
| 2009 | Boys | 480 | #550 |
| 2008 | Boys | 488 | #540 |
| 2007 | Boys | 464 | #553 |
| 2006 | Boys | 512 | #507 |
| 2005 | Boys | 450 | #539 |
When Was Gunnar Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2015 · Boys
825 recorded births
National rank #388
2014 · Boys
816 recorded births
National rank #382
2016 · Boys
798 recorded births
National rank #400
2013 · Boys
758 recorded births
National rank #396
Where Gunnar Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WV | #227 | 8 |
| NH | #230 | 5 |
| MD | #330 | 16 |
| MN | #357 | 16 |
| WA | #364 | 20 |
| SC | #414 | 12 |
| CO | #420 | 14 |
| VA | #435 | 18 |