Sven (in Danish and

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 ...

, 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 S ...

n first name which is also used in the

Low Countries The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...

and

German-speaking countries The following is a list of the countries and territories where German is an official language (also known as the Germanosphere). It includes countries that have German as (one of) their nationwide official language(s), as well as dependent terr ...

. The name itself is

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

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 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 In the Middle Ages, a squire was the shield- or armour-bearer of a knight. Use of the term evolved over time. Initially, a squire served as a knight's apprentice. Later, a village leader or a lord of the manor might come to be known as ...

. The female equivalent, Svenja, though seemingly Dutch and Scandinavian, is not common anywhere outside of German-speaking 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 Mirjam ...

, 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 Swiss ...

, Swiss television, radio host and editor * Sven Grünberg, Estonian synthesizer and progressive rock composer and musician * Sven August Körling, Swedish composer *

Sven Lõhmus Sven Lõhmus (born 13 July 1972) is an Estonian pop-composer and lyricist. He is a producer at Moonwalk Studios, a music company featuring Estonian artists. He has worked with leading artists of Estonia, including Vanilla Ninja (of which he w ...

, Estonian composer, producer and lyricist *

Sven Maes Sven Maes (), also known as Svenson, is a Belgian DJ and trance music producer. His work, especially in partnership with fellow Belgian Johan Gielen, has produced some of trance music's biggest hits. He has been successful as a solo artist and ...

, 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. In 1982 he recorded his first LP with the band ''Zatopek'' and in 1984 he joined ''Neue Liebe''. In 1985 he founded the Berlin band Element of Crime together w ...

, 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. Refe ...

, 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 Sven Aspling (1912–2000) was a Swedish social democrat politician who served as the general secretary of the Social Democratic Party and minister of health and social affairs. He was also a long-term member of the Swedish Parliament for the par ...

, Swedish politician * Sven Hulterström, Swedish politician * Sven Lindgren, 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 Democr ...

, Estonian politician * Sven Ranck, Swedish statesman *

Sven Romanus Sven Einar Romanus (19 January 1906 – 30 April 2005) was a Swedish civil servant. He served as President of the Supreme Court of Sweden from 1969 to 1973, as Minister for Justice from 1976 to 1979 and as Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden f ...

, Swedish civil servant, Minister for Justice * Sven Rydenfelt, Swedish economist and political writer * Sveinn Björnsson, Iceland's first president

Sports

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

Magnus Carlsen Sven Magnus Øen Carlsen (born 30 November 1990) is a Norwegian chess grandmaster who is the reigning five-time World Chess Champion. He is also a three-time World Rapid Chess Champion and five-time World Blitz Chess Champion. Carlsen has h ...

, 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 Sven Viktor Davidson (13 July 1928 – 28 May 2008) was a Swedish tennis player who became the first Swede to win a Grand Slam title when he won the French Championships in 1957, beating Ashley Cooper and Herbert Flam. Career Davidson also ...

, Swedish tennis player *

Sven-Göran Eriksson Sven-Göran Eriksson (; born 5 February 1948) is a Swedish football manager and former player. After an unassuming playing career as a right-back, Eriksson went on to experience major success in club management between 1977 and 2001, winning 18 ...

, Swedish football (soccer) manager *

Sven Fischer Sven Fischer (born 16 April 1971) is a former German biathlete. He trained with the WSV Oberhof 05 club, and was coached by Frank Ullrich and Fritz Fischer (national coaches) and Klaus Siebert (club coach). After the 2006/07 biathlon season, he ...

, German biathlete *

Sven Habermann Sven Habermann (born November 3, 1961 in West Berlin, West Germany) is a former Canadian national soccer team goalkeeper, who was a member of the team that competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Two years later he was ...

, 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 mete ...

, 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 The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and commonly k ...

, East German judoka * Sven Lundgren, Swedish athlete *

Sven Meinhardt Sven Meinhardt (born 28 September 1971 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Nordrhein-Westfalen) is a former field hockey forward from Germany, who won the gold medal with the Men's National Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. A player f ...

, 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 ...

, 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 internation ...

, Swedish footballer *

Sven Schultze Sven Schultze (born July 11, 1978) is a retired German professional basketball player. Schultze played as both a power forward and as center. He is 2.06 m (6'9") in height and he weighs 110 kg (242 pounds). His last team was Eisbären Bremer ...

, German basketball player * Sven Thorgren, 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 ''Sve ...

, Danish-born soldier and writer * Sven Hedin, Swedish explorer and geographer * Sven O. Høiby, father of Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway * Sven Jaschan, German computer programmer *

Sven Lidman (clergyman) Sven Fredrik Lidman (December 11, 1786 – March 9, 1845) was a Swedish priest and Orientalist. Lidman was born in Norrköping, Sweden and received a PhD from Uppsala University in 1806 and became an ordained priest in the Evangelical-Luther ...

* Sven Markelius, Swedish architect * Sven Nykvist, 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 clai ...

, fictional Finnish detective * " Svën Höek", 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 Dece ...

'' (Swedish) * Sven Holgersson, fictional character from

Voltron ''Voltron'' is an animated television series franchise that features a team of space explorers who pilot a giant Super Robot known as "Voltron". Produced by Peter Keefe (Executive Producer) and Ted Koplar through his production company World ...

franchise * Sven the Berserk, a character in the 1989 film '' Erik the Viking'', played by

Tim McInnerny Tim McInnerny ( ; born 18 September 1956) is an English actor. He is known for his many roles on stage and television, including as Lord Percy Percy and Captain Darling in the 1980s British sitcom ''Blackadder''. Early life McInnerny was bor ...

* Sven, the silent scorer sometimes appearing on the BBC radio show ''

I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue ''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'' is a BBC radio comedy panel game. Billed as "the antidote to panel games", it consists of two teams of two comedians being given "silly things to do" by a chairman. The show was launched in April 1972 as a pa ...

'' * "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: Tides ...

'' 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 destro ...

'' 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 ''Witches of East End'' is a 2011 novel by author Melissa de la Cruz and the first entry in her ''Beauchamp Family'' series. It was published on June 21, 2011, by Hyperion Books and follows a family of Long Island witches struggling against dar ...

'' novel series by Melissa de la Cruz. * Sven Dufva, a main character in the poem "Sven Dufva" of ''

The Tales of Ensign Stål ''The Tales of Ensign Stål'' (Swedish language, Swedish original title: , fi, Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat, or year 2007 translation ) is an epic poem written in Swedish by the Finland-Swedish author Johan Ludvig Runeberg, the national poet of Fin ...

'', 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, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, people in ...

'' voiced by Jess Harnell * Sven, from the Georgia Nicolson book series, by

Louise Rennison 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 ...

Sven Sven (in Danish language, Danish and Norwegian language, 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 ...

Kristoff Kristoff is a version of Kristopher (Scandinavian, Greek): respelling of Christopher. People * Kristoff St. John (1966-2019), American actor. * Ivan Kristoff (born 1968), aviator, rescue worker, and rope access expert * Kristoff Raczyñski (bo ...

's pet reindeer in the movie ''Frozen'' * Sven, the name of a puffin in '' Happy Feet Two'' * 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 (screenwriter), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main c ...

Entertainment and music

Politics

Sports

Other

Fictional characters

See also