The first name Gunnar
A boy’s name.
2 syllables Male
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 6 boys were named Gunnar, making it the 3,256th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 13 births (#1,786).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Gunnar with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Gunnar at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 462 boys born in the United States were named Gunnar, the 612th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2015, when 825 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Gunnar
35 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Gunnar Knudsen11th Prime Minister of Norway (1848–1928)
- Gunnar NielsenFaroese footballer, born 1986
- Gunnar HöckertFinnish runner (1910–1940)
- Gunnar NordströmFinnish physicist (1881–1923)
- Gunnar AsmussenDanish olympic cyclist, born 1944
- Gunnar SauerGerman footballer, born 1964
- Gunnar ÅkerlundCanoe racer (1923–2006)
- Gunnar OlssonActor and director (1904–1983)
- Gunnar SamuelssonCross-country skier (1927-2007)
- Gunnar OlssonCanoe racer, born 1960
- Gunnar BerndtsonFinnish painter (1854-1895)
- Gunnar SeidenfadenDanish botanist and diplomat (1908-2001)
Questions
- How popular is the name Gunnar?
- In 2025, 6 boys born in England and Wales were named Gunnar, ranking 3,256th. Its peak was 2018, with 13 births.
- Is Gunnar a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 18,178 US babies named Gunnar since 1880 were boys.
- When was Gunnar most popular?
- 2015 in the United States, when 825 babies were named Gunnar, its highest rank at 388th.