Jostein

Jostein is a masculine given name of Norwegian origin. It is used primarily in Norway and among Norwegian-speaking communities abroad. The name is part of a tradition of Scandinavian given names that feature consonant clusters and vowel endings common in Norwegian.

One of the most prominent bearers is Jostein Gaarder (born 1952), a Norwegian writer and philosopher best known for Sophie's World (1995), a novel that presents the history of philosophy in an accessible way.

Apart from Gaarder, the name Jostein is relatively uncommon outside Norwegian contexts, and it remains strongly associated with Norwegian heritage.