# Birger > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Birger > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Birger.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birger > Source revision: 1351367571 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Birger Gender Male Origin Language Old Norse Word/name Birgir Meaning "helper", "saviour", "protector" Other names Variant forms Birgir, Byrgir Derivatives Börje, Børge **Birger** is a [Scandinavian](/source/Scandinavia) name from [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse), *bjarga*, meaning "to help, to save, to protect". It is widely used in [Norway](/source/Norway) as Birger but also as Børge. The [Swedish](/source/Sweden) variant of *Birger* would soon evolve into *Börje*, however, the prior form would remain common, and was not confused with its successor. The [Icelandic](/source/Iceland) form is *Birgir*. Birger is primarily a [masculine](/source/Male) [given name](/source/Given_name), but can also be found as a [surname](/source/Surname). ## Birger ### Given name #### Middle Ages - [Birger, King of Sweden](/source/Birger%2C_King_of_Sweden) (1280–1321) - [Birger Brosa](/source/Birger_Brosa) (died 1202), Swedish jarl - [Birger Gregersson](/source/Birger_Gregersson) (c. 1327 – 1383), Archbishop of Uppsala - [Birger Jarl](/source/Birger_Jarl) (1210–1266), Swedish statesman - [Birger Persson](/source/Birger_Persson) (died 1327), Swedish magnate, knight, privy councillor and Uppland's first lawspeaker #### Modern world - [Birger Amundin](/source/Birger_Amundin) (1880–1965), Swedish rower - [Birger Andersson (disambiguation)](/source/Birger_Andersson_(disambiguation)), several people - [Birger Andreassen](/source/Birger_Andreassen) (1891–1961), Norwegian cyclist - [Birger Åsander](/source/Birger_%C3%85sander) (1909–1984), Swedish actor - [Birger Asplund](/source/Birger_Asplund) (1929–2023), Swedish hammer thrower - [Birger Bergersen](/source/Birger_Bergersen) (1891–1977), Norwegian anatomist and politician - [Birger Bergling](/source/Birger_Bergling) (1903–1973), Swedish scenographer and costume designer - [Birger Blom-Kalstø](/source/Birger_Blom-Kalst%C3%B8) (1940–2011), Norwegian politician - [Birger Bohlin](/source/Birger_Bohlin) (1898–1990), Swedish paleontologist - [Birger Braadland](/source/Birger_Braadland) (1879–1966), Norwegian politician - [Birger Brandtzæg](/source/Birger_Brandtz%C3%A6g) (1893–1971), Norwegian businessman - [Birger Breivik](/source/Birger_Breivik) (1912–1996), Norwegian politician - [Birger Brekke](/source/Birger_Brekke) (1891–1981), Norwegian Scout leader - [Birger Brodtkorb](/source/Birger_Brodtkorb) (1891–1935), Norwegian track and field athlete - [Birger Bühring-Andersen](/source/Birger_B%C3%BChring-Andersen) (1907–2001), Norwegian sport shooter - [Birger Carlstedt](/source/Birger_Carlstedt) (1907–1975), Finnish artist - [Birger Cederin](/source/Birger_Cederin) (1895–1942), Swedish fencer - [Birger Cnattingius](/source/Birger_Cnattingius) (1875–1950), Swedish fencer - [Birger Dahlerus](/source/Birger_Dahlerus) (1891–1957), Swedish businessman and amateur diplomat - [Birger Danielsson](/source/Birger_Danielsson) (1903–?), Swedish association football player - [Birger Dannevig](/source/Birger_Dannevig) (1921–1998), Norwegian journalist and historian - [Birger Ek](/source/Birger_Ek) (1911–1990), Finnish aviator - [Birger Ekeberg](/source/Birger_Ekeberg) (1880–1968), Swedish jurist - [Birger Eklund](/source/Birger_Eklund) (1929–2015), Swedish footballer - [Birger Ekstedt](/source/Birger_Ekstedt) (1921–1972), Swedish politician and priest - [Birger Elmér](/source/Birger_Elm%C3%A9r) (1919–1999), Swedish military and intelligence officer - [Birger Eriksen](/source/Birger_Eriksen) (1875–1958), Norwegian colonel who repelled the initial German World War II invasion force - [Birger Folke](/source/Birger_Folke) (1936–2020), Swedish tennis player and television commentator - [Birger Forell](/source/Birger_Forell) (1893–1958), Swedish Lutheran priest - [Birger Forsberg](/source/Birger_Forsberg) (1930–2007), Swedish motorcycle speedway rider - [Birger Furugård](/source/Birger_Furug%C3%A5rd) (1887–1961), Swedish politician and veterinarian - [Birger Gerhardsson](/source/Birger_Gerhardsson) (1926–2013), Swedish New Testament scholar and professor - [Birger Gotaas](/source/Birger_Gotaas) (1883–1960), Norwegian journalist, newspaper editor and non-fiction writer - [Birger Gröning](/source/Birger_Gr%C3%B6ning) (born 1975), German politician - [Birger Grønn](/source/Birger_Gr%C3%B8nn) (1898–1988), Norwegian engineer - [Birger Gustafsson](/source/Birger_Gustafsson) (1874–1969), Swedish competitive sailor - [Birger Martin Hall](/source/Birger_Martin_Hall) (1741–1815), Swedish district medical officer and botanist - [Birger Halvorsen](/source/Birger_Halvorsen) (1905–1976), Norwegian high jumper - [Birger Hatlebakk](/source/Birger_Hatlebakk) (1912–1997), Norwegian industrialist and politician - [Birger Haug](/source/Birger_Haug) (1908–1981), Norwegian high jumper - [Birger Hedqvist](/source/Birger_Hedqvist) (1894–1964), Swedish lieutenant general - [Birger Hjørland](/source/Birger_Hj%C3%B8rland) (born 1947), Danish academic - [Birger Holmqvist](/source/Birger_Holmqvist) (1900–1989), Swedish ice hockey and bandy player - [Birger Hønningstad](/source/Birger_H%C3%B8nningstad) (1904–1976), Norwegian engineer and aircraft designer - [Birger Jacobsson](/source/Birger_Jacobsson) (born 1949), Swedish former footballer and football coach - [Birger Jansen](/source/Birger_Jansen) (1948–2016), Norwegian ice hockey player and sailor - [Birger Jensen](/source/Birger_Jensen) (1951–2023), Danish footballer - [Birger Johansson](/source/Birger_Johansson_(diplomat)) (1887–1975), Swedish diplomat - [Birger Johansson](/source/Birger_Johansson) (1910–1940), Finnish canoeist - [Birger Kaada](/source/Birger_Kaada) (1918–2000), Norwegian physician and neurophysiologist - [Birger Kaipiainen](/source/Birger_Kaipiainen) (1915–1988), Finnish ceramist and designer - [Birger Kajanus](/source/Birger_Kajanus) (1882–1931), Swedish botanist, geneticist, plant breeder and lichenologist - [Birger Karlsson](/source/Birger_Karlsson) (1926–2012), Finnish rower - [Birger Kildal](/source/Birger_Kildal) (1849–1913), Norwegian attorney and businessman - [Birger Kivelä](/source/Birger_Kivel%C3%A4) (1920–2013), Finnish diver - [Birger Knudtzon](/source/Birger_Knudtzon) (born 1936), Norwegian retired rower - [Birger Lahti](/source/Birger_Lahti) (born 1964), Swedish politician - [Birger Larsen (disambiguation)](/source/Birger_Larsen_(disambiguation)), several people - [Birger Stuevold Lassen](/source/Birger_Stuevold_Lassen) (1927–2011), Norwegian jurist, legal scholar and expert - [Birger Leirud](/source/Birger_Leirud) (1924–1999), Norwegian high jumper - [Birger Lensander](/source/Birger_Lensander) (1908–1971), Swedish actor - [Birger Lie](/source/Birger_Lie) (1891–1970), Norwegian sport shooter - [Birger Ljungberg](/source/Birger_Ljungberg) (1884–1967), Norwegian military officer, politician and Minister of Defence from 1939 to 1942 - [Birger Ljungström](/source/Birger_Ljungstr%C3%B6m) (1872–1948), Swedish engineer, technical designer, industrialist and inventor - [Birger Løvaas](/source/Birger_L%C3%B8vaas) (1901–1977), Norwegian actor and comedian - [Birger Madsen](/source/Birger_Madsen) (born 1982), Norwegian footballer - [Birger Maertens](/source/Birger_Maertens) (born 1980), Belgian former footballer - [Birger Malling](/source/Birger_Malling) (1884–1989), Norwegian ophthalmologist and educator - [Birger Malmsten](/source/Birger_Malmsten) (1920–1991), Swedish actor - [Birger Meidell](/source/Birger_Meidell) (1882–1958), Norwegian politician - [Birger Meling](/source/Birger_Meling) (born 1994), Norwegian footballer - [Birger Mörner](/source/Birger_M%C3%B6rner) (1867–1930), Swedish diplomat, author and book collector - [Birger Fredrik Motzfeldt](/source/Birger_Fredrik_Motzfeldt) (1898–1987), Norwegian aviator and military officer - [Birger Nerman](/source/Birger_Nerman) (1888–1971), Swedish archaeologist, historian and philologist - [Birger Nilsen](/source/Birger_Nilsen) (1896–1968), Norwegian sport wrestler - [Birger Nilsen (gymnast)](/source/Birger_Nilsen_(gymnast)) (1881–1981), American gymnast - [Birger Nordholm](/source/Birger_Nordholm) (1897–1989), Swedish-American founding director - [Birger Norman](/source/Birger_Norman) (1914–1995), Swedish journalist, poet, novelist, playwright and non-fiction writer - [Birger A. Pearson](/source/Birger_A._Pearson) (1934–2025), American scholar and professor - [Birger Pedersen](/source/Birger_Pedersen) (born 1950), Danish footballer - [Birger Pedersen (Norwegian footballer)](/source/Birger_Pedersen_(Norwegian_footballer)) (1910–1969) - [Birger Peitersen](/source/Birger_Peitersen) (born 1945), Danish former football manager and player - [Birger Persson (footballer)](/source/Birger_Persson_(footballer)), swedish footballer - [Birger Rasmussen](/source/Birger_Rasmussen) (1920–2007), Norwegian resistance fighter - [Birger Axel Rasmusson](/source/Birger_Axel_Rasmusson) (1901–1964), Finnish chess player - [Birger Rosengren](/source/Birger_Rosengren) (1917–1977), Swedish footballer - [Birger Ruud](/source/Birger_Ruud) (1911–1998), Norwegian ski jumper and alpine skier - [Birger Sandberg](/source/Birger_Sandberg) (1918–1998), Swedish football player and manager - [Birger Sandzén](/source/Birger_Sandz%C3%A9n) (1871–1954), Swedish-American painter - [Birger Schlaug](/source/Birger_Schlaug) (born 1949), Swedish author, public speaker, blogger and former spokesperson - [Birger Schmidt](/source/Birger_Schmidt) (born 1980), German lightweight rower - [Birger Simonsson](/source/Birger_Simonsson) (1883–1938), Swedish painter, illustrator and professor - [Birger Fredrik Sinding-Larsen](/source/Birger_Fredrik_Sinding-Larsen) (1867–1941), Norwegian military officer - [Birger Sjöberg](/source/Birger_Sj%C3%B6berg) (1885–1929), Swedish poet and songwriter - [Birger Skeie](/source/Birger_Skeie) (1951–2009), Norwegian businessperson - [Birger Sörvik](/source/Birger_S%C3%B6rvik) (1879–1978), Swedish gymnast - [Birger Steen](/source/Birger_Steen) (1907–1949), Norwegian association football player - [Birger Stenman](/source/Birger_Stenman) (1925–1970), Swedish footballer - [Birger Stenman (gymnast)](/source/Birger_Stenman_(gymnast)) (1909–1989), Finnish gymnast - [Birger Strømsheim](/source/Birger_Str%C3%B8msheim) (1911–2012), Norwegian resistance member - [Birger Stuevold-Hansen](/source/Birger_Stuevold-Hansen) (1870–1933), Norwegian politician - [Birger Tingstad](/source/Birger_Tingstad) (1939–2012), Norwegian football midfielder - [Birger Tvedt](/source/Birger_Tvedt) (1910–2002), Norwegian sports medical and physiotherapist - [Birger Var](/source/Birger_Var) (1893–1970), Norwegian rower - [Birger Verstraete](/source/Birger_Verstraete) (born 1994), Belgian footballer - [Birger Vestermo](/source/Birger_Vestermo) (1930–2025), Norwegian cross-country skier - [Birger Vikström](/source/Birger_Vikstr%C3%B6m) (1921–1958), Swedish writer and illustrator - [Birger Walla](/source/Birger_Walla), Swedish bandy player - [Birger Warneby](/source/Birger_Warneby) (1910–1958), Swedish association football player - [Birger Wasenius](/source/Birger_Wasenius) (1911–1940), Finnish speed skater - [Birger Wedberg](/source/Birger_Wedberg) (1870–1945), Swedish judge - [Birger Wernerfelt](/source/Birger_Wernerfelt), Danish economist and management theorist ### Surname - [Charles Birger](/source/Charles_Birger) (1881–1928), American bootlegger - [Hugo Birger](/source/Hugo_Birger) (1854–1887), Swedish painter - [Jon Birger](/source/Jon_Birger), American freelance writer, speaker and author - [Malene Birger](/source/Malene_Birger) (born 1962), Danish fashion designer - [Myriam Birger](/source/Myriam_Birger) (born 1951), French musician - [Pablo Birger](/source/Pablo_Birger) (1924–1966), Argentine racing driver - [Trudi Birger](/source/Trudi_Birger) (1927–2002), German Holocaust survivor and writer - [Zev Birger](/source/Zev_Birger) (1926–2011), Israeli activist ## Birgir Birgir is used in [Iceland](/source/Iceland) and the [Faroes](/source/Faroes). In 2016, 1045 people had Birgir as a first given name in Iceland, and 285 had it as a second name.[1] - [Birgir Ármannsson](/source/Birgir_%C3%81rmannsson) (born 1968), Icelandic politician - [Birgir Borgþórsson](/source/Birgir_Borg%C3%BE%C3%B3rsson) (born 1958), Icelandic weightlifter - [Birgir Finnbogason](/source/Birgir_Finnbogason) (born 1948), Icelandic handball player - [Birgir Guðlaugsson](/source/Birgir_Gu%C3%B0laugsson) (1941–2007), Icelandic cross-country skier - [Birgir Hafþórsson](/source/Birgir_Haf%C3%BE%C3%B3rsson) (born 1976), Icelandic golfer and former player - [Birgir Ísleifur Gunnarsson](/source/Birgir_%C3%8Dsleifur_Gunnarsson) (1936–2019), Icelandic politician - [Birgir Jakobsson](/source/Birgir_Jakobsson) (born 1948), Icelandic doctor and former basketball player - [Birgir Mikaelsson](/source/Birgir_Mikaelsson) (born 1965), Icelandic basketball player - [Birgir Örn Birgis](/source/Birgir_%C3%96rn_Birgis) (1942–2017), Icelandic basketball player and coach - [Birgir Örn Birgisson](/source/Birgir_%C3%96rn_Birgisson) (born 1969), Icelandic basketball coach and former player - [Birgir Björn Pétursson](/source/Birgir_Bj%C3%B6rn_P%C3%A9tursson) (born 1986), Icelandic basketball player - [Birgir Sigurðsson (disambiguation)](/source/Birgir_Sigur%C3%B0sson_(disambiguation)), several people - [Birgir Þórarinsson](/source/Birgir_%C3%9E%C3%B3rarinsson) (born 1965), Icelandic politician ## See also - [Burger (disambiguation)](/source/Burger_(disambiguation)) - [Burgers (surname)](/source/Burgers_(surname)) - [Berger](/source/Berger) - [Burgher (disambiguation)](/source/Burgher_(disambiguation)) - [Bürger](/source/B%C3%BCrger) - [Børge](/source/B%C3%B8rge) - [Börje](/source/B%C3%B6rje) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Hagstofa Íslands - Nöfn](https://www.hagstofa.is/talnaefni/ibuar/faeddir-og-danir/nofn/) Name list This page or section lists people that share the same [given name](/source/Given_name). If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/Birger&namespace=0) led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article. Surname list This page lists people with the [surname](/source/Surname) **Birger**. If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/Birger&namespace=0) intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that [link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Linking) by adding the person's [given name](/source/Given_name)(s) to the link. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Birger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.