# Gunnar

/ˈɡənɝ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gunnar
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a male name from Northern Europe, especially common in countries like Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. It comes from old words meaning 'war' and 'soldier'.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Old Norse origin, derived from the elements 'gunnr' (war) and 'arr' (warrior). Common in Scandinavia and Iceland, it appears frequently in Germanic mythology and sagas.

## Examples

- Gunnar is a very common name in Iceland.
- The professor introduced himself as Gunnar and explained that his family originally came from a small village in Norway.
- In the Völsunga saga, the character Gunnar is a legendary king whose complex relationships and eventual tragic death form a central part of the narrative cycle.

## Usage notes

- As a proper name, it is capitalised in all contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.