Find out how popular the first name Vidar has been for the last 3 years (from 2022 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.
An Old Norse name meaning "the woodsman" or "warrior".
Based on the last 3 years of data, Vidar is exclusively a male name.
For the most recent data in 2024, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Vidar.
| Year | Male Count | Female Count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
The name Vidar is of Old Norse origin, derived from the words "við" meaning "wide" and "arr" meaning "warrior" or "army". It is believed to have emerged during the Viking era, around the 8th to 11th centuries AD, in the Scandinavian regions of present-day Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
In Norse mythology, Vidar is the name of a mighty god, the son of Odin and the giantess Gríðr. He is associated with vengeance and is described as the silent one who will avenge his father's death by slaying the monstrous wolf Fenrir during the events of Ragnarök, the prophesied destruction and rebirth of the world in Norse cosmology.
The earliest recorded use of the name Vidar can be found in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse mythological poems compiled in the 13th century, where it is mentioned in the Völuspá and the Vafþrúðnismál, two of the most significant works in this compendium.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Vidar. One of the earliest examples is Vidar Roderik (c. 870 – c. 920), a Viking chieftain and explorer who is said to have led expeditions to the coasts of present-day France and Spain.
Another prominent figure was Vidar Gunnarsson (c. 1230 – c. 1295), a renowned Icelandic skald (poet) and lawspeaker, who served as a lawgiver and played a crucial role in preserving and recording the laws and customs of medieval Iceland.
In the 16th century, Vidar Magnusson (c. 1510 – c. 1580) was a Swedish military commander who fought in the Northern Seven Years' War against Denmark and Lübeck, earning a reputation for his strategic prowess and bravery on the battlefield.
The name Vidar also gained recognition in the 19th century with Vidar Hafsrund (1834 – 1914), a Norwegian explorer and writer who undertook several expeditions to the Arctic regions and documented his experiences in a series of acclaimed books.
More recently, Vidar Helgesen (1934 – 2023) was a prominent Norwegian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and played a significant role in Norway's international relations and peace efforts.
The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.
The history and meaning of the name Vidar was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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