Espen is a

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

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 given ...

or Esben.

Given name

Notable people with the given name include:

Artists

* Espen Aalberg, Norwegian jazz musician, drummer * Espen Berg (musician) (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 fo ...

(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 Espen Haavardsholm (born 10 February 1945, in Oslo) is a Norwegian novelist, poet, biographer and essayist. He made his literary debut in 1966 with the collection of short stories, ''Tidevann''. He was one of the central writers in the modernist ...

(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 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 banned by NR ...

(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 Espen Rud (born 29 January 1948 in Asker, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (drums), composer, and music arranger, and the son of Norwegian author Nils Johan Rud (1908–93). He is known from numerous recordings and in collaboration with Kar ...

(born 1948), Norwegian jazz musician, drummer, composer, and music arranger *

Espen Salberg Espen Salberg (born 28 March 1952 in Oslo, Norway) is a Norway, Norwegian ballroom dancer. See also *:Dance in Norway, Dance in Norway *List of dancers References

Norwegian male dancers Ballroom dancers 1952 births Living people Enterta ...

(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'' (2008 ...

(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 – vocals, guitar *Espen Stenhammer – drums *Magnus Larsen jr. – bass guitar, vocals *Halvor Holter – keyboa ...

, 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 – vocals, guitar *Espen Stenhammer – drums *Magnus Larsen jr. – bass guitar, vocals *Halvor Holter – keyboa ...

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. Among his books are the novel ''Kjærlighet i tide og utide'' (2001), and the poetry collection ''Å ...

(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 current 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 The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships is a ...

(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 deb ...

(born 1977), Norwegian footballer * Espen Harald Bjerke (born 1980), Norwegian cross-country skier *

Espen Bjervig Espen Bjervig (born June 30, 1972) is a former Norwegian cross-country skier who competed from 1995 to 2004. He won a silver medal in the 4 × 10 km relay at the 1999 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Ramsau and earned his best individu ...

(born 1972), Norwegian cross-country skier *

Espen Borge Espen Borge (born 8 September 1961) is a retired Norwegian runner who specialized in 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase. He represented IF Hellas and IK Tjalve. He finished seventh in 1500 m at the 1989 European Indoor Championships. In ad ...

(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 (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Berg-Knutsen (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 (NHL), ...

(born 1972), Norwegian ice hockey player * Espen Berntsen (born 1967), Norwegian football referee * Espen Børufsen (born 1988), Norwegian footballer * Espen Bredesen (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 Espen Hoff (born 20 November 1981) is a retired Norwegian professional footballer, born in Larvik. He is primarily a winger, but may also play as an attacking midfielder, whilst at Lyn he occasionally featured on the left wing. With 406 top divi ...

(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 currently plays on the Challenge Tour. Kofstad was born in Oslo and was educated at Perbraten School. After finishing at the University of Denver, he entered the first s ...

(born 1987), Norwegian golfer * Espen Lie (born 1984), Norwegian chess player * Espen Lindqvist, Norwegian bridge player * Espen Lysdahl (born 1990), Norwegian alpine ski racer *

Espen Minde Espen Minde (born 16 May 1983) is a Norwegian football midfielder who currently plays for Tromsdalen UIL. A former u-21 international for Norway, Minde started his senior career in Tromsø IL and featured with them in the Norwegian Premier L ...

(born 1983), Norwegian footballer * Espen Nystuen (born 1981), Norwegian footballer * Espen Olsen (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Bugge Pettersen (born 1980), Norwegian footballer * Espen Rian (born 1981), Norwegian Nordic combined skier * Espen Ruud (born 1984), Norwegian footballer * Espen Søgård (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Stokkeland (born 1968), Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist * Espen Tveit (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 ...

(born 1965), Norwegian media scholar and game researcher * Espen Berg (born 1981), Norwegian humanitarian *

Espen Barth Eide Espen Barth Eide (born 1 May 1964, in Oslo) is a Norwegian politician and political scientist. He is currently serving as the Minister of Climate and the Environment in Jonas Gahr Støre's government. He has been a been a member of the Norwegian ...

(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, 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 Trond Espen Seim (born 4 October 1971) is a Norwegian actor. He has played private detective Varg Veum in a series of films based on the eponymous series of novels by Gunnar Staalesen. On 18 March 2010, Seim was cast in the film '' The Thing'', ...

(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 Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen (born 15 July 1982), better known as simply Carl Espen, is a Norwegian singer and songwriter, who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. He performed his song " Silent Storm". Music career 2014–presen ...

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

References

{{given name Norwegian masculine given names Masculine given names