Reidar is a

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

n male given name of

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was 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 ...

origins. As of 2013, there are 6,850 people with this name in Norway, 1,519 in Sweden and 108 in Finland. In Estonia there are 5 Reidars and in Italy there's only one. The

namesday In Christianity, a name day is a tradition in many countries of Europe and the Americas, as well as Christian communities elsewhere. It consists of celebrating a day of the year that is associated with one's baptismal name, which is normatively t ...

is July 28 in Norway and May 9 in Sweden. The name Reidar, "hreidr" + "arr" means ''home'' and ''warrior''.

Notable people

* Reidar Alveberg (1916–2004), Norwegian bobsledder *

Reidar Andersen Reidar Andersen (20 April 1911 – 15 December 1991) was a Norwegian ski jumper who competed in the 1930s. Career He won a ski jumping bronze at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In addition, he won ski jumping silver medals ...

, Norwegian ski jumper * Reidar Åsgård, Norwegian politician * Reidar Aulie, Norwegian artist * Reidar Berg, Norwegian bobsledder * Reidar Børjeson, Norwegian figure skater *

Reidar Carlsen Reidar Carlsen (1 July 1908 – 2 May 1987) was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. Reidar Carlsen was born in Bodin Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. He studied at the National School of Forestry (''Skogskolen'') in the town o ...

, Norwegian politician * Reidar Eide, Norwegian motorcyclist *

Reidar Finsrud Reidar Finsrud (born 5 March 1946 in Drøbak) is a Norwegian artist. He was educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry majoring in graphical arts. His 1970 thesis project "Venezia" received the honor "commended to the Ki ...

, Norwegian artist * Reidar Hirsti, Norwegian editor and politician * Reidar Hjermstad, Norwegian cross country skier * Reidar Holter, Norwegian rower * Reidar Horghagen, Norwegian drummer, also known as Horgh *

Reidar Johansen Reidar Johansen (born 18 May 1955 in Hammerfest) is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Finnmark in 1989, and was re-elected on one occasion. Johansen was involved in local politics ...

, Norwegian politician *

Reidar Jørgensen Reidar Jørgensen (5 October 1904 – 22 September 1985) was a Norwegian middle-distance runner, cross-country skier, botanist and educator. Sports career He was born in Lillehammer. He competed in the 1500 metres at the 1928 Summer Olymp ...

, Norwegian runner and botanist * Reidar Kjellberg, Norwegian art historian and museum director *

Reidar Kvammen Reidar Kvammen (23 July 1914 – 27 October 1998) was a Norwegian footballer. Kvammen was an inside-forward who played his entire career for Viking, and is regarded as one of Norway's greatest footballers of all time. Kvammen was the first N ...

, Norwegian footballer * Reidar T. Larsen, Norwegian politician * Reidar Liaklev, Norwegian speed skater * Reidar Lorentzen, Norwegian javelin thrower * Reidar Martiniuson, Norwegian sailor * Reidar Merli, Norwegian wrestler * Reidar Ødegaard, Norwegian cross country skier *

Reidar Omang Reidar Omang (26 November 1897 – 15 October 1964) was a Norwegian historian, librarian and archivist. Early life and education Reidar Omang was born in Oslo, Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. His father, Simen Oscar Fredrik Omang (1867-19 ...

, Norwegian historian, librarian and archivist *

Reidar Raaen Reidar Raaen (15 April 1897 – 5 April 1964) was a Norwegian cyclist. He won the Norwegian National Time Trial Championships in 1924. He also competed in the individual road race at the 1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics (), off ...

, Norwegian cyclist *

Reidar Särestöniemi Reidar Särestöniemi (14 May 1925, Kittilä – 27 May 1981, Kittilä) was a Finnish painter from Finnish Lapland. He is considered one of the greatest Finland-Lappish artists in the entire history of Finland. Särestöniemi was born as the yo ...

, Finnish painter *

Reidar Skår Reidar Skår (born 13 March 1964 in Øvre Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway) is a Norwegian musician (keyboards), composer and music producer, known from several recordings and cooperations with the likes of Karl Seglem, Jacob Young, Arve Hen ...

, Norwegian musician *

Reidar Sørensen Reidar Sørensen (born 11 April 1956) is a Norwegian actor. He was born in Hemnesberget. He has worked at various theatres, including Trøndelag Teater, Det Norske Teatret, Riksteatret, Nordland Teater and Agder Teater. He was given the Ama ...

, Norwegian actor *

Reidar Strømdahl Reidar Strømdahl (12 May 1913 – 31 December 2006) was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He was born in Skoger. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Vestfold Vestfold () is a county and a current electoral distric ...

, Norwegian politician * Reidar Tønsberg, Norwegian gymnast

Fictional characters

* Reidar Dahlén, the main character of the Swedish TV series ''

Rederiet ''Rederiet'' (''High Seas'' or ''The Shipping Company'') was a (318 episodes) Swedish soap opera that aired on Sveriges Television between August 1992 and April 2002. The cast featured many popular and renowned Swedish actors. The 45-minute epis ...

'' * Reidar Vincent Tollefsen, a Norwegian teenager growing up in the late 1980s, portrayed by comedian and actor

Øivind Blunck Øivind Blunck (28 December 1950) is a Norwegian comedian and actor.Øivind Blunck
in Norwegian masculine given names Masculine given names