Sven (in Danish and Norwegian, also Svend and also in Norwegian most commonly Svein) is a

Scandinavia Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Swe ...

n first name which is also used in the Low Countries and German-speaking countries. The name itself is

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...

for "young man" or "young warrior". The original spelling in Old Norse was ''sveinn''. Over the centuries, many northern European rulers have carried the name including Sweyn I of Denmark (Sven Gabelbart). An old legend relates the pagan king

Blot-Sven Blot-Sweyn (Swedish:''Blot-Sven'') was a Swedish king c. 1080, who replaced his Christian brother-in-law Inge as King of Sweden, when Inge had refused to administer the blóts (pagan sacrifices) at the Temple at Uppsala. There is no mention of Sw ...

ordered the execution of the Anglo-Saxon monk Saint Eskil. In medieval Swedish, "sven" (or "sven av vapen" (sven of arms)) is a term for squire. The female equivalent, Svenja, though seemingly Dutch and Scandinavian, is not common anywhere outside of

German-speaking German ( ) is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Italian province of South Tyrol. It is a ...

countries. Sven can also be spelled with W, Swen, but is pronounced as Sven. The Icelandic version of Sven/Svend is Sveinn (); the Faroese version is Sveinur ().

Entertainment and music

Sven Einar Englund Sven Einar Englund (June 17, 1916 – June 27, 1999) was a Finnish composer. Life Sven Einar Englund was born at Ljugarn in Gotland, Sweden, on June 17, 1916; he died June 27, 1999, in Visby, Sweden. He married twice: in 1941 to Meri Mirja ...

, Finnish composer *

Sven Epiney Sven Epiney (born on 14 January 1972 in Naters, Switzerland) is a Swiss TV presenter, radio host and editor, who works for Swiss national television and radio SRF. He speaks German, French, English and Italian. Since 2008 he has been the Swi ...

, Swiss television, radio host and editor *

Sven Grünberg Sven Grünberg (born 24 November 1956, Tallinn) is an Estonian synthesizer and progressive rock composer and musician best known for his meditative organ and electronic works involving the concepts of Tibetan Buddhism. He has collaborated with ...

, Estonian synthesizer and progressive rock composer and musician * Sven August Körling, Swedish composer * Sven Lõhmus, Estonian composer, producer and lyricist * Sven Maes, Belgian producer *

Sven Martin t.A.T.u. (russian: Тату, ) were a Russian music duo that consisted of Lena Katina and Julia Volkova. The singers were part of children's music group Neposedy before being managed by producer and director Ivan Shapovalov and signing with ...

, German keyboardist and sound-director *

Sven Regener Sven Regener (born 1 January 1961) is a German musician and writer living in Berlin Berlin is Capital of Germany, the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and List of cities in Germany by population, by population. Its more tha ...

, German musician and writer *

Sven Sachsalber Sven Sachsalber (8 May 1987 – December 2020) was an Italian artist.https://www.de24.news/en/2020/12/mourning-the-deceased-artist-sven-sachsalber.html Biography Sachsalber was born in Südtirol (Italy) and raised in Laatsch, Malles in Vinschga ...

, Italian performance artist * Sven-Bertil Taube, Swedish singer and actor *

Sven Väth Sven Väth (born 26 October 1964) is a German DJ and electronic music producer. He is a three-time DJ Awards winner, and his career in electronic music spans over 30 years. The single " Electrica Salsa" with OFF launched his career in 1986. Ref ...

, German electronic music DJ/producer *

Sven Wollter Sven Justus Fredrik Wollter (11 January 1934 – 10 November 2020) was a Swedish actor, writer, and political activist. Wollter is one of the most renowned Swedish actors, he was awarded Best Swedish actor twice. In his native country, he becam ...

, Swedish actor *

Svein Berge Svein is a Norwegian masculine given name which may refer to: Rulers * Sweyn Haakonsson (died c. 1016), in Norwegian Svein Håkonsson, an earl and co-ruler of Norway from 1000 to c. 1015 * Svein Knutsson (c. 1016–1035), King of Norway as Sweyn I ...

, Norwegian electronic musician, half of the duo Royksopp

Politics

Sven Alkalaj Sven Alkalaj (; born 11 November 1948) is a Bosnian and Herzegovinian diplomat and the current Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations. He also served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2007 until ...

, Bosnian politician * Sven Arrestad, Norwegian temperance campaigner * Sven Aspling, Swedish politician * Sven Hulterström, Swedish politician *

Sven Lindgren Sven Lindgren (born 1946) is a former Moderate Party politician and former Governor of Kalmar County, Sweden,. He was born in Västervik and later pursued an academic career at Linköping University. He was later elected Leader of the Opposition ...

, Swedish politician * Sven Otto Littorin, Swedish politician *

Sven Mikser Sven Mikser (born 8 November 1973) is an Estonian politician. Career As a member of the Estonian Centre Party from 2002 to 2003, Mikser served as the minister of defence in the Siim Kallas' cabinet. Mikser was the leader of the Social Democra ...

, Estonian politician *

Sven Ranck Sven Ranck (1616–1684) was a Swedish statesman. Between 1678 and 1684, he served as the Governor of Halland County Halland County ( sv, Hallands län, link=no, ) is a county (''län'') on the western coast of Sweden. It corresponds roughly to ...

, Swedish statesman * Sven Romanus, Swedish civil servant, Minister for Justice *

Sven Rydenfelt Sven Rydenfelt (23 January 1911 – 15 February 2005) was a Swedish economist and political writer known for his libertarian views. Sven Rydenfelt was born in Hjärnarp, Ängelholm Municipality, Sweden. He became politically active during the 1940 ...

, Swedish economist and political writer * Sveinn Björnsson, Iceland's first president

Sports

Sven Andrighetto Sven Andrighetto (born 21 March 1993) is a Swiss professional ice hockey winger who is currently playing with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third-round (86th overall) of the 2013 ...

, Swiss ice hockey player (playing in NHL) *

Sven Axbom Sven Axbom (15 October 1926 − 8 April 2006) was a Swedish footballer who was capped on 31 occasions by Sweden between 1955 and 1960. He played in all six games for Sweden at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, including the final against Brazil. He was ...

, Swedish footballer *

Sven Bartschi Sven (in Danish and Norwegian, also Svend and also in Norwegian most commonly Svein) is a Scandinavian first name which is also used in the Low Countries and German-speaking countries. The name itself is Old Norse for "young man" or "young warri ...

, Swiss ice hockey player (playing in NHL Vancouver Canucks) * Sven Bender, German footballer (playing in Borussia Dortmund) *

Sven Butenschön Sven Butenschön (born March 22, 1976) is a German-Canadian ice hockey coach and a former professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently serving as head coach at the University of British Columbia. Butenschön has spent parts of eight se ...

, German ice hockey player * Sven Magnus Carlsen, Norwegian chess Grandmaster *

Sven Coster Sven Erik Coster (born 2 December 1978, in Leiden) is a sailor from the Netherlands. Coster represented his country for the first time at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. With his brother Kalle Coster as crew Coster took 6th place as helmsma ...

, Dutch sailor * Sven Davidson, Swedish tennis player * Sven-Göran Eriksson, Swedish football (soccer) manager * Sven Fischer, German biathlete * Sven Habermann, German-Canadian football (soccer) player * Sven Hannawald, German ski jumper * Sven Kaldre, Estonian basketball player *

Sven Kramer Sven Kramer (; born 23 April 1986) is a retired Dutch long track speed skater who has won an all time record nine World Allround Championships as well as a record ten European Allround Championships. He is the Olympic champion of the 5000 meter ...

, Dutch speed skater *

Sven Loll Sven Loll (born 4 April 1964 in Berlin) is a retired male judoka from Germany, who competed for East Germany at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the silver medal in the Men's Lightweight (– 71 kg) division ...

, East German judoka * Sven Lundgren, Swedish athlete * Sven Meinhardt, German field hockey player * Sven Nylander, Swedish hurdler *

Sven Nys Sven Nys (; born 17 June 1976) is a former professional cyclist competing in cyclo-cross and mountain bike. With two world championships, seven world cups, and over 140 competitive victories, he is considered one of the best cyclo-cross racers o ...

, Belgian cyclist * Sven Ottke, German boxer * Sven Riederer, Swiss athlete *

Sven Rydell Sven Åke Albert Rydell (14 January 1905 – 4 April 1975) was a Swedish footballer who played as a forward. He represented Holmens IS, Örgryte IS, and Redbergslids IK during a club career that spanned between 1920 and 1934. A full international ...

, Swedish footballer * Sven Schultze, German basketball player *

Sven Thorgren Sven Thorgren (born 4 October 1994) is a Swedish snowboarder who competes in slopestyle. He started snowboarding when he was seven years old. He practiced every day after school on a small mountain called Väsjöbacken. Thorgren qualified for ...

, Swedish snowboarder * Sven-Ole Thorsen, Danish actor, stuntman and athlete * Sven Vermant, Belgian footballer

Other

Sven Hassel Sven Hassel was the pen name of the Danish-born Børge Willy Redsted Pedersen (19 April 1917 – 21 September 2012) known primarily for his novels focusing on stories of German combatants during World War II. In Denmark he used the pen name ''Sven ...

, Danish-born soldier and writer * Sven Hedin, Swedish explorer and geographer *

Sven O. Høiby Sven Olaf Bjarte Høiby (14 November 1936 – 21 March 2007) was the father of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. After his daughter married the Crown Prince, he became a national celebrity due to a number of articles in the yellow press, esp ...

, father of Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway * Sven Jaschan, German computer programmer * Sven Lidman (clergyman) * Sven Markelius, Swedish architect *

Sven Nykvist Sven Vilhem Nykvist (; 3 December 1922 – 20 September 2006) was a Swedish cinematographer. He worked on over 120 films, but is known especially for his work with director Ingmar Bergman. He won Academy Awards for his work on two Bergman fil ...

, Swedish cinematographer * Sven Salander (1894–1965), Swedish Army lieutenant general

Fictional characters

Sven Hjerson Ariadne Oliver is a fictional character in the novels of Agatha Christie. She is a mystery novelist and a friend of Hercule Poirot. Profile Mrs Oliver often assists Poirot in his cases through her knowledge of the criminal mind. She often claim ...

, fictional Finnish detective * "

Svën Höek Over its five seasons, ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' featured a varied cast of characters, some who appeared in as few as one episode, and some who were practically regulars. Ren and Stimpy Ren Höek Marland "Ren" T. Hoëk (voiced by John Kricfal ...

", an episode of ''

The Ren & Stimpy Show ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' (also known as ''Ren & Stimpy'') is an American animated television series created by Canadian animator John Kricfalusi. Originally produced by Spümcø for Nickelodeon, the series aired from August 11, 1991, to Dec ...

'' (Swedish) * Sven Holgersson, fictional character from Voltron franchise * Sven the Berserk, a character in the 1989 film '' Erik the Viking'', played by Tim McInnerny * Sven, the silent scorer sometimes appearing on the BBC radio show '' I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' * "Sven from Swiss Cottage" was a character used by Peter Cook when participating in radio phone-ins * Sven – Rogue Knight, one of the many heroes featured in the custom ''

Warcraft III ''Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos'' is a high fantasy real-time strategy computer video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment released in July 2002. It is the second sequel to '' Warcraft: Orcs & Humans'', after '' Warcraft II: Tid ...

'' custom map, ''

Defense of the Ancients ''Defense of the Ancients'' (''DotA'') is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) mod for the video game '' Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos'' (2002) and its expansion, ''The Frozen Throne''. The objective of the game is for each team to destroy ...

'' and its sequel ''

Dota 2 ''Dota 2'' is a 2013 multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game by Valve. The game is a sequel to '' Defense of the Ancients'' (''DotA''), a community-created mod for Blizzard Entertainment's '' Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.'' ''Dota ...

'' *Sven, a pixie from Álfheim in the '' Witches of East End'' novel series by Melissa de la Cruz. * Sven Dufva, a main character in the poem "Sven Dufva" of '' The Tales of Ensign Stål'', written by

J. L. Runeberg Johan Ludvig Runeberg (; 5 February 1804 – 6 May 1877) was a Finnish priest, lyric and epic poet. He wrote exclusively in Swedish. He is considered a national poet of Finland. He is the author of the lyrics to (''Our Land'', ''Maamme'' in Fi ...

*Sven Cal Bayang, a fictional character from '' Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer'' * Sven "The Governator", a character in the movie ''

Cars A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarded as t ...

'' voiced by Jess Harnell * Sven, from the

Georgia Nicolson Louise Rennison (11 October 1951 – 29 February 2016) was an English author and comedian who wrote the ''Confessions of Georgia Nicolson'' series for teenage girls. The series records the exploits of a teenage girl, Georgia Nicolson, and her best ...

book series, by Louise Rennison *

Sven Sven (in Danish and Norwegian, also Svend and also in Norwegian most commonly Svein) is a Scandinavian first name which is also used in the Low Countries and German-speaking countries. The name itself is Old Norse for "young man" or "young ...

, Kristoff's pet reindeer in the movie ''Frozen'' * Sven, the name of a puffin in ''

Happy Feet Two ''Happy Feet Two'' is a 2011 computer-animated jukebox musical comedy film directed, produced and co-written by George Miller. It is the sequel to the 2006 film ''Happy Feet'', it stars Ava Acres, Elijah Wood, Robin Williams (in his final animat ...

'' * Sven, a Nord character who plays a role in '' The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'' * Sven and Ole, a character in a type of joke told by Scandinavian-Americans * Sven Joergenson, Sven Pilson and Sven Johansson. The three Swedish architects from the series ''

How I Met Your Mother ''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and ...

Entertainment and music

Politics

Sports

Other

Fictional characters

See also