Gunnar is a masculine given name of Old Norse origin. It is composed of the elements "gund" meaning "battle" and "arr" meaning "warrior". Therefore, Gunnar translates to "warfaring warrior".
The name Gunnar has a long history in Scandinavian culture and literature. In Norse mythology, Gunnar was one of the heroes who fought against the forces of chaos at Ragnarök, the end of the world. He is also featured prominently in the Volsunga saga, an ancient Icelandic poem about the legendary hero Sigurd Fafneson.
In medieval Scandinavia, Gunnar was a popular name among kings and warriors. For instance, Gunnar Haraldsson, also known as Gunnar of Hålogaland, was a 10th-century Norwegian chieftain who ruled over the region of Hålogaland in Northern Norway. He is remembered for his resistance against King Olaf Tryggvason's attempt to convert the Norwegians to Christianity.
Today, Gunnar remains popular as a given name in Scandinavian countries and beyond. It has been used consistently throughout history, with notable bearers including Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, who named one of his characters Gunnar in his 1867 play "Peer Gynt".
Based on the statistics provided, the name Gunnar has seen a steady presence among newborns in the United States over the past decade and a half.
From 2004 to 2016, there were a total of 17 births with the name Gunnar. This period saw two peaks: six births in both 2004 and 2016. After these years, the number of newborn Gunnars fluctuated slightly but remained consistent, with five births each in 2015 and 2019.
Overall, the total number of babies named Gunnar from 2004 to 2019 is 22, indicating that this name has maintained a regular appearance among baby names during this timeframe.