Espen is a Norwegian masculine given name. In Norway it reached the peak of its popularity between 1970 and 1990, during which period approximately 1.1% of children were given that name.

Origin and variants

It originated as a variant of

Asbjørn Asbjørn is a Norwegian and Danish male given name. In 2013, there were more than 7,000 men in Norway with this name. In Norway it reached the peak of its popularity between 1910 and 1930, during which period approximately 1% of children were gi ...

or Esben.

Given name

Notable people with the given name include:

Artists

* Espen Aalberg, Norwegian jazz musician, drummer *

Espen Berg (musician) Espen Berg (born 30 June 1983) is a Norwegian jazz musician, arranger and composer from Trondheim, known for his collaborations with musicians such as trumpeter Per Jørgensen, saxophonist Marius Neset and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. Career B ...

(born 1983), Norwegian musician, arranger and composer * Espen Dietrichson (born 1976), Norwegian artist *

Espen Eckbo Espen Andersen Eckbo (born 22 April 1973) is a Norwegian actor, writer and comedian. He was born in Oslo, and grew up in Bestum. He now lives in Ullevål Hageby. Eckbo has no formal training as an actor, but has a background as a law student f ...

(born 1973), Norwegian actor, writer and comedian *

Espen Sommer Eide Espen Sommer Eide (born in 1972) is a Norwegian composer and musician. Espen Sommer Eide was born in Oslo, Norway. Espen played music originally on percussion instruments, flutes and trumpet, before emphasising computer-generated sounds. He live ...

(born 1972), Norwegian composer and musician * Espen Eriksen, Norwegian jazz musician founder of Espen Eriksen Trio * Espen Grjotheim (born 1976), Norwegian singer and actor * Espen Haavardsholm (born 1945), Norwegian novelist, poet, biographer and essayist * Espen Klouman Høiner (born 1981), Norwegian writer and actor *

Espen Beranek Holm Espen Beranek Holm (born 23 March 1960) is a Norwegians, Norwegian pop artist and comedian. Career Beranek is a Norwegian solo artist. His debut single ''Dra te' hælvete'' (1981), which was a great success, caused controversy when the song was ...

(born 1960), Norwegian pop artist and comedian * Espen Lervaag (born 1977), Norwegian writer, comedian and actor *

Espen Lind Espen Lind (born 13 May 1971) is a Norwegian record producer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is one half of the production team Espionage, and together with his long time partner Amund Bjorklund he has written and/or produced ...

(born 1971), Norwegian record producer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist * Espen Rud (born 1948), Norwegian jazz musician, drummer, composer, and music arranger * Espen Salberg (born 1952), Norwegian ballroom dancer *

Espen Sandberg Espen Sandberg (born 2 June 1971) is a Norwegian film director and advertising producer, well known to work with his childhood friend and director Joachim Rønning on several projects such as '' Bandidas'' (2006), '' Max Manus: Man of War'' (2 ...

(born 1971), Norwegian film director and advertising producer * Espen Selvik, Norwegian conductor, composer, music reviewer and writer *

Espen Skjønberg Espen Henrik Skjønberg (7 April 1924 – 26 August 2022) was a Norwegian actor of stage, screen, and television. Career Skjønberg made his first movie appearances as a child in the 1932 film '' En glad gutt'' and in the 1937 Norwegian classic ...

(1924–2022), Norwegian stage, screen and television actor *

Espen Søbye Pål Espen Søbye (born 9 July 1954) is a Norwegian author and literary critic. He has a Mag.art. degree in philosophy, and was formerly employed at Statistics Norway in Oslo. He was named literary critic of the year in 2006 by the Norwegian Criti ...

(born 1954), Norwegian author and literary critic *

Espen Sørensen Espen Sørensen, known professionally as Mzungu Kichaa, is a Danish singer and musician. He was born in Denmark, but grew up in Tanzania, where his parents worked in the field of Development Cooperation. They went there when he was six years old. ...

, Danish singer and musician *

Espen Stenhammer Di Derre is a Norwegian Pop rock band, founded in 1992. They were awarded the Gammleng-prisen in 1996. Band members *Jo Nesbø Jon "Jo" Nesbø (; born 29 March 1960) is a Norwegian novelist and musician. His books had sold over 50 million c ...

, Norwegian singer, member of Norwegian pop rock band

Di Derre Di Derre is a Norwegian Pop rock band, founded in 1992. They were awarded the Gammleng-prisen in 1996. Band members *Jo Nesbø Jon "Jo" Nesbø (; born 29 March 1960) is a Norwegian novelist and musician. His books had sold over 50 million c ...

Espen Stueland Espen Stueland (born 30 May 1970) is a Norwegian poet, novelist, literary critic and essayist. He hails from Porsgrunn, but lives in Vossevangen Vossevangen or Voss is the administrative centre of Voss municipality in Vestland county, Norway. ...

(born 1970), Norwegian poet, novelist, literary critic and essayist *

Espen Wensaas Espen Wensaas (born November 14, 1986) is a Norwegian musician and multi-instrumentalist (most notably mandolin, cittern and guitar) residing in Oslo, Norway. He is mostly known for performing Norwegian and Scandinavian folk music on guitar and m ...

(born 1986), Norwegian musician and multi-instrumentalistm mainly mandolin, mandolin-family instruments and guitar

Sports people

Espen Agdestein Espen Agdestein (born 7 February 1965) is the former manager of former Chess World Champion Magnus Carlsen (until 2021). He is the brother of chess grandmaster and former coach of Magnus Carlsen, Simen Agdestein, and is himself a FIDE master, ...

(born 1965), Norwegian chess player *

Espen Andersen Espen Andersen (born July 12, 1961) is a Norwegian Nordic combined skier who competed from 1982 to 1987. He won the 3 x 10 km silver medal at the 1982 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships and the silver medal in 1985. Andersen's first ...

(born 1961), Norwegian Nordic combined skier * Espen Andersen (skier) (born 1993), Norwegian Nordic combined skier *

Espen Aune Espen Aune (born 1982) is a Norwegian professional strongman competitor and winner of the 2011 Norway's Strongest Man.Geir TverdaEspen Aune: Det handler om å være den sterkeste. Enkelt og greit. iform.no (2010-03-01). Retrieved on 2011-12-28. ...

(born 1982), Norwegian professional strongman competitor and winner of the 2011 Norway's Strongest Man *

Espen Baardsen Espen Baardsen (born 7 December 1977) is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Baardsen spent his entire professional career in the English Premier League. He began his career with Tottenham Hotspur, where he made his debu ...

(born 1977), Norwegian footballer * Espen Harald Bjerke (born 1980), Norwegian cross-country skier * Espen Bjervig (born 1972), Norwegian cross-country skier * Espen Borge (born 1961), Norwegian runner specializing in 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase * Espen Christensen (born 1985), Norwegian handball player * Espen Haug (footballer, born 1970), Norwegian footballer and coach *

Espen Isaksen Espen Hugo Isaksen (born 16 January 1979) is a Norwegian football goalkeeper. He started his top-level career with Rosenborg BK, but did not make a single league appearance and moved to Byåsen IL, where he spent a season and then played for 2 ...

(born 1979), Norwegian footballer *

Espen Berg-Knutsen Espen Berg-Knutsen (born 2 October 1969 in Oslo) is a Norwegian sport shooter. He is also a three-time Olympian, two-time World champion, and world-record holder for the 300 m rifle three positions. Shooting career Since his sporting career beg ...

(born 1969), Norwegian sport shooter *

Espen Knutsen Espen Knutsen (born January 12, 1972) is a Norwegian former professional ice hockey player and currently the general manager of Vålerenga in the Norwegian GET-ligaen. He played five seasons in the North American-based National Hockey League (NH ...

(born 1972), Norwegian ice hockey player *

Espen Berntsen Espen Berntsen (born 12 May 1967) is a Norwegian football referee from Vang Municipality in Hedmark county, just outside the town of Hamar. He debuted as a referee in 1990, Tippeligaen-official in 1997 and served as a FIFA official from 2002 unti ...

(born 1967), Norwegian football referee * Espen Børufsen (born 1988), Norwegian footballer *

Espen Bredesen Espen Bredesen (born 2 February 1968) is a Norwegian former ski jumper. Career At World Cup level he won gold and silver medals at the 1994 Winter Olympics at Lillehammer. At the 1992 Winter Olympics, he performed badly, coming last in the norm ...

(born 1968), Norwegian ski jumper * Espen Giljane (born 1962), Norwegian ballet teacher and dancer * Espen Hagh (born 1974), Norwegian footballer * Espen Hægeland (born 1981), Norwegian footballer * Espen Lie Hansen (born 1989), Norwegian handball player * Espen Hoff (born 1981), Norwegian footballer * Espen Aarnes Hvammen (born 1988), Norwegian speed skater * Espen Johnsen (born 1979), Norwegian footballer *

Espen Kofstad Espen Kofstad (born 11 August 1987) is a Norwegian professional golfer who has played on the European Tour and the Challenge Tour, where he won 4 titles and the 2012 Order of Merit. Early life and amateur career Kofstad was born in Oslo and was ...

(born 1987), Norwegian golfer *

Espen Lie Espen Lie (born January 3, 1984) is a Norwegian chess player who currently holds the title of International Master, and was the Norwegian Chess Champion for 2007. He is the younger brother of GM Kjetil A. Lie. Lie plays for the chess club in Po ...

(born 1984), Norwegian chess player * Espen Lindqvist, Norwegian bridge player * Espen Lysdahl (born 1990), Norwegian alpine ski racer * Espen Minde (born 1983), Norwegian footballer *

Espen Nystuen Espen Nystuen (born 19 December 1981) is a former Norwegian footballer. Nystuen previously played for Kongsvinger. A part of the community since he was a child, he had never played for any other club until he was sold to Stabæk ahead of the 20 ...

(born 1981), Norwegian footballer *

Espen Olsen Espen Olsen (born 13 March 1979) is a retired Norwegian footballer. He was appointed manager of Strømmen IF ahead of the 2015 season. Ahead of the 2019 season he went on to HamKam as director of sports. He played for Lørenskog, HamKam, Stabæ ...

(born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Bugge Pettersen (born 1980), Norwegian footballer * Espen Rian (born 1981), Norwegian Nordic combined skier *

Espen Ruud Espen Ruud (born 26 February 1984) is a former Norwegian football defender who played mostly for Eliteserien club Odds BK. Club career He joined the Odd Grenland from local team Hei in 2003. Ruud established himself in the Odd squad by 2005. I ...

(born 1984), Norwegian footballer * Espen Søgård (born 1979), Norwegian footballer *

Espen Stokkeland Espen Stokkeland (born 4 July 1968) is a Norwegian sailor, a world champion and Olympic medalist. Career In 1990 Stokkeland won the gold medal in the 5.5 Metre World Championship, along with Kalle Nergaard and Kristian Nergaard. He received ...

(born 1968), Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist *

Espen Tveit Espen Tveit (; born 31 December 1991) is a Norwegian speed skater specialising in the 500, 1000 and 1500 distances. He represents Herkules IF in Skien, and began training with the KIA Speed Skating Academy in Inzell, Germany, in 2012. Tveit's bes ...

(born 1991), Norwegian speed skater

Others

Espen Aarseth Espen J. Aarseth (born 1965) is a Norwegian academic specializing in the fields of video game studies and electronic literature. Aarseth completed his doctorate at the University of Bergen. He co-founded the Department of Humanistic Informatics at ...

(born 1965), Norwegian media scholar and game researcher *

Espen Berg Espen Berg (born 6 July 1981) is a Norwegian people, Norwegian humanitarian. Espen is the Entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the United Youth Development Organization. Espen completed a BA (Hons) in International Business at Bournemouth University ...

(born 1981), Norwegian humanitarian *

Espen Barth Eide Espen Barth Eide (born 1 May 1964) is a Norwegian politician and political scientist. He is currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Jonas Gahr Støre's government, having previously done so under Jens Stoltenberg. He has been ...

(born 1964), Norwegian politician and political scientist * Espen Hammer (born 1966), Norwegian philosopher * Espen Egil Hansen (born 1965), Norwegian newspaper editor and publisher * Espen Johnsen (politician) (born 1976), Norwegian politician * Espen Rostrup Nakstad (born 1975), Norwegian physician

Middle name

B. Espen Eckbo B. Espen Eckbo is an Norwegian-American economist, currently the Tuck Centennial Professor at Dartmouth College Dartmouth College ( ) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. ...

, American economist and professor * Jon Espen Lohne (born 1964), Norwegian businessperson in the media sector * Per Espen Stoknes (born 1967), Norwegian psychologist and politician * Trond Espen Seim (born 1971), Norwegian actor * Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen (born 1982), better known as simply Carl Espen, Norwegian singer and songwriter, who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 * Jarl Espen Ygranes (born 1979), Norwegian ice hockey player

Surname

* Carl Espen (born 1982), Norwegian singer and songwriter * Vincent Espen (born 1986), French badminton player

References

{{given name Norwegian masculine given names Masculine given names