Bjarn

Bjarn is a masculine given name of Nordic origin, occasionally used as a surname. It is a variant spelling of the more common names Bjørn in Norwegian and Danish, or Björn in Icelandic and Swedish, all ultimately derived from the Old Norse bjǫrn meaning "bear."

Usage and history: The name has roots in medieval Norse and Nordic naming practices, where animal-based epithets were common. As a given name, Bjarn is considerably rarer today, with Björn or Bjørn being the prevailing forms in contemporary usage. Bjarn may appear in historical manuscripts or genealogical records in Icelandic or Faroese contexts as an archaic or regional spelling.

Geographic distribution: Bjarn is most often encountered in Nordic countries in historical contexts or among scholars of Norse onomastics. In modern populations, it is rarely used as a standalone given name and is atypical as a surname.

Notable people: There are no widely documented public figures whose name is spelled Bjarn. In contrast, related forms Björn or Bjørn have numerous namesakes in various fields.

Variants and cognates: Variants include Björn, Bjørn, and Bjarne, though Bjarne is a distinct given name from a different root.

See also: Bear (name), Björn, Bjørn.