From Old Norse and Norwegian ravn, meaning raven. The raven is one of the most sacred birds in Norse mythology, closely associated with the god Odin and his two ravens Huginn and Muninn.
Ravn is a boy's name of Nordic origin, taken directly from the Old Norse and Norwegian word ravn, meaning raven. Ravens held a central place in Norse culture: they were the birds of Odin, appearing as omens on the battlefield, symbols of wisdom, and companions of the dead on their way to Valhalla. The raven banner — a flag bearing a raven image — was carried into battle by Viking chieftains as a symbol of Odin's favor. The name Ravn (and its older form Hrafn) appears in Norse sagas as a personal name and was used in Scandinavia throughout the medieval period.
The raven's place in Norse mythology is hard to overstate. Odin's ravens Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory) flew the world each day and reported back to him — making the raven a symbol of knowledge, observation, and the connection between the living and the divine. In Iceland, Hrafn was a well-attested given name in the saga age. Ravn is the Norwegian and Danish form, and while it has fallen out of regular use as a personal name, it carries all of that mythological weight in a compact, modern-sounding package.
Ravn has the kind of dark elegance that appeals to parents drawn to Norse mythology, nature names, or both. The raven is intelligent, adaptable, and associated with things that lie just beyond ordinary understanding. The name feels grounded and natural while also carrying a distinct mythological resonance. It is quiet but striking — a name that doesn't shout but doesn't fade either.
Ravn does not appear in US, UK, or Canadian baby name rankings and is rare in English-speaking countries. In Norway and Denmark it is occasionally used, drawing on the tradition of the Old Norse name Hrafn. Its English cognate Raven is far more common and appears on English-language charts for girls, but Ravn as a spelling is firmly Nordic and remains unusual outside Scandinavia.
Similar names
Ravn means 'raven' — it comes directly from the Old Norse and Norwegian word for the bird. The raven was sacred in Norse mythology, most famously as the bird of Odin, whose two ravens Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory) flew the world and brought him knowledge.
Ravn does not appear in US, UK, or Canadian baby name rankings, making it rare in English-speaking countries. It sees occasional use in Norway and Denmark, where the Norse tradition of raven names is part of the cultural heritage. Its English cognate Raven is more common, particularly as a girl's name in the US.
Ravn is a compact, striking name with deep Norse roots and a clear, beautiful meaning. It is genuinely rare without being invented, and it wears well in the modern world — easy to pronounce, easy to spell, and backed by a rich mythological tradition. It suits parents who want a nature name with serious historical weight.
Ravn is the Norwegian and Danish spelling, rooted directly in Old Norse ravn and the saga-age name Hrafn. Raven is the English form of the same word. In practice, Raven appears more often as a given name in English-speaking countries — primarily for girls — while Ravn keeps a distinctly Nordic character and is used as a male name.
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