Iorek
A masculine name of Norse origin meaning "warrior king".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Iorek. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Iorek today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Iorek births was 2020 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Iorek. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Iorek. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2020
5 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2020 SSA rank
#12,809
Tracked since 2020
Popularity
Iorek: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Iorek by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Iorek during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Iorek
The name Iorek has its origins in the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic peoples who inhabited Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe during the Viking Age (793-1066 AD). It is derived from the Old Norse words "jǫrn" meaning "iron" and "ríkr" meaning "powerful" or "mighty".
Iorek was likely a name given to children born into Norse families, particularly those of warriors or nobility, to signify strength and bravery. The name's connection to iron, a metal prized for its durability and use in weapons and armor, further reinforces its association with power and resilience.
While there are no definitive records of the name appearing in ancient Norse texts or sagas, its linguistic roots and structure suggest it was in use during the Viking era and the subsequent medieval period in Scandinavia.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Iorek was Iorek Hvidtfeldt (1615-1695), a Danish nobleman and statesman who served as the Governor of Trondheim in Norway during the 17th century. Another notable figure was Iorek Eriksson (1822-1901), a Swedish explorer and polar researcher who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions.
In the realm of literature, the name Iorek gained prominence through the character of Iorek Byrnison, a powerful armored bear featured in Philip Pullman's acclaimed fantasy trilogy, "His Dark Materials" (1995-2000). While a fictional character, Iorek Byrnison's name and portrayal as a formidable warrior bear pay homage to the name's Norse origins and associations with strength and power.
Other individuals who bore the name Iorek include Iorek Magnusson (1863-1928), an Icelandic painter and sculptor known for his works depicting Icelandic landscapes and mythology, and Iorek Olafsson (1901-1974), a Norwegian businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the shipping industry in Norway.
While not as common in modern times, the name Iorek continues to be used, particularly in Scandinavian countries, as a reflection of the region's rich cultural heritage and the enduring appeal of names with strong historical roots and symbolic meanings.
People
Iorek + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Iorek as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Iorek: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Iorek?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Iorek going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Iorek a common name?
We classify Iorek as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Iorek most popular?
The single biggest year for Iorek was 2020, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Iorek is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Iorek in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Iorek a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Iorek in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Iorek still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Iorek in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Iorek can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Iorek?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.