Sven (in

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

and Norwegian, also

Svend Svend is a Danish and Norwegian given name that may refer to: * King Svend * Svend Aagesen (c.1145–?), Danish historian * Svend Asmussen (1916–2017), Danish jazz violinist known as "The Fiddling Viking" * Svend Auken (1943–2009), Danish po ...

and also in Norwegian most commonly Svein) is a

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

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 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 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 a " ...

. The female equivalent,

Svenja Svenja is a feminine given name used in German-speaking countries. Notable people with the first name Svenja are: * Svenja Fölmli (born 2002), Swiss footballer * Svenja Huth (born 1991), German footballer * Svenja Weidemann Svenja Weidemann ...

, 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 also 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, 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, German keyboardist and sound-director * Sven Regener, German musician and writer * Sven Sachsalber, Italian performance artist *

Sven-Bertil Taube Sven-Bertil Gunnar Evert Taube (24 November 1934 – 11 November 2022) was a Swedish singer and actor. Internationally, he was perhaps better known for his acting career. Taube played Henrik Vanger in the film ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'' ...

, Swedish singer and actor * Sven Väth, German electronic music DJ/producer * Sven Wollter, Swedish actor * Svein Berge, Norwegian electronic musician, half of the duo Royksopp

Politics

* Sven Alkalaj, Bosnian politician *

Sven Arrestad Sven Eivindsen Aarrestad (8 October 1850 – 19 January 1942) was a writer, politician, and leader in the Norwegian temperance movement during the 19th century. Biography Sven Aarrestad was born at Varhaug in Rogaland county, Norway. He wa ...

, 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 Sven Hulterström (born 14 May 1938) is a Swedish social democrat politician who held several political and government posts, including minister of communications (Transport) and minister of health and social affairs. In addition, he was a lon ...

, 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 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 ...

, 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 NH ...

, 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, 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 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, 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 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 fro ...

, German field hockey player *

Sven Nylander Sven Olof Nylander (born 1 January 1962) is a Swedish retired hurdler, who is best known for winning two silver medals at the European Championships in 1990 and 1994. He represented his native country in three Summer Olympics (1984, 1992 and 19 ...

, 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 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 Bremerh ...

, 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 t ...

, 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 Sven Anders Hedin, KNO1kl RVO,Wennerholm, Eric (1978) ''Sven Hedin – En biografi'', Bonniers, Stockholm (19 February 1865 – 26 November 1952) was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer and illustrator ...

, 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 Sven Jaschan (born 29 April 1986) is a former black-hat hacker turned white-hat and a security expert/consultant and creator of the NetSky worms, and Sasser computer worms. History Jaschan lived in the village of Waffensen, Germany, and att ...

, German computer programmer * Sven Lidman (clergyman) * 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 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 Decemb ...

'' (Swedish) * Sven Holgersson, fictional character from Voltron franchise * Sven the Berserk, a character in the 1989 film ''

Erik the Viking ''Erik the Viking'' is a 1989 Cinema of United Kingdom, British comedy film, comedy-fantasy film written and directed by Terry Jones. The film was inspired by Jones's children's book ''The Saga of Erik the Viking'' (1983), but the plot is comp ...

'', played by Tim McInnerny * 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 parody ...

'' * "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'' custom map, '' Defense of the Ancients'' 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 2' ...

'' *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'', 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 Fin ...

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

Jess Harnell Jess Harnell (born December 23, 1963) is an American voice actor and singer. His notable roles include Captain Hero in the animated TV series ''Drawn Together'', Wakko Warner in ''Animaniacs'', Ironhide in the first three ''Transformers'' films ...

* 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,

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 (born ...

'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 and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main character, Ted Mosby, and his ...

Entertainment and music

Politics

Sports

Other

Fictional characters

See also