'''Espen''' is a Norwegian masculine given name.<ref>{{cite web|title=Name statistics|url=http://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/statistikker/navn|website=Statistics Norway|access-date=2026-05-27}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Most popular names for boys born in Norway from 1880 onwards|url=http://www.ssb.no/a/navn/guttermange/espen.gif|website=Statistics Norway|access-date=2026-05-27}}</ref>
==Origin and variants== It originated as a variant of Asbjørn<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindthename.com/name/espen|title=Meaning, origin and history of the name Espen}}</ref> or Esben.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Espen|title=Espen - Nordic Names Wiki - Name Origin, Meaning and Statistics}}</ref>
==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 (born 1973), Norwegian actor, writer and comedian * Espen Sommer Eide (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 (born 1945), Norwegian novelist, poet, biographer and essayist * Espen Klouman Høiner (born 1981), Norwegian writer and actor * Espen Beranek Holm (born 1960), Norwegian pop artist and comedian * Espen Lervaag (born 1977), Norwegian writer, comedian and actor * Espen Lind (born 1971), Norwegian record producer, songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist * Espen Rud (born 1948), Norwegian jazz musician, drummer, composer, and music arranger * Espen Salberg (born 1952), Norwegian ballroom dancer * Espen Sandberg (born 1971), Norwegian film director and advertising producer * Espen Selvik, Norwegian conductor, composer, music reviewer and writer * Espen Skjønberg (1924–2022), Norwegian stage, screen and television actor * Espen Søbye (born 1954), Norwegian author and literary critic * Espen Sørensen, Danish singer and musician * Espen Stenhammer, Norwegian singer, member of Norwegian pop rock band Di Derre * Espen Stueland (born 1970), Norwegian poet, novelist, literary critic and essayist * Espen Wensaas (born 1986), Norwegian musician and multi-instrumentalistm mainly mandolin, mandolin-family instruments and guitar
===Sports people=== * Espen Agdestein (born 1965), Norwegian chess player * Espen Andersen (born 1961), Norwegian Nordic combined skier * Espen Andersen (skier) (born 1993), Norwegian Nordic combined skier * Espen Aune (born 1982), Norwegian professional strongman competitor and winner of the 2011 Norway's Strongest Man * Espen Baardsen (born 1977), Norwegian footballer * Espen Harald Bjerke (born 1980), Norwegian cross-country skier * Espen Bjervig (born 1972), Norwegian cross-country skier * Espen Borge (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 (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 (born 1981), Norwegian footballer * Espen Aarnes Hvammen (born 1988), Norwegian speed skater * Espen Johnsen (born 1979), Norwegian footballer * Espen Kofstad (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 (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 (born 1965), Norwegian media scholar and game researcher * Espen Berg (humanitarian) (born 1981), Norwegian humanitarian * Espen Barth Eide (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 (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 (born 1982), Norwegian singer and songwriter
==See also== * European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism known also as ESPEN * Simen & Espen, known as music producers Seeb (or SEEB / SeeB), Norwegian EDM record production duo made up of Simen Eriksrud and Espen Berg
==References== {{reflist}}
{{given name}}
Category:Norwegian masculine given names Category:Masculine given names