Orvar

Orvar (also spelled Örvar) is a Nordic male given name deriving from the Old Norse word for "arrow." The name is most famously associated with Ǫrvar-Oddr, a legendary hero from the 13th-century Icelandic Örvar-Odds saga. This saga recounts the adventures of an archer whose life is prophesied to end at the hooves of his own horse—a fate he tries to avoid for 300 years but ultimately meets.

Etymology and Linguistic Roots

The name comes directly from the Old Norse ǫrvar (or örvar), meaning "arrow." It belongs to a class of names drawn from weaponry and warrior culture common among the Norse. The variant spelling Örvar uses the modern Swedish spelling with a diacritic, while the Old Norse form Ǫrvar uses a hooked o.

Notable Bearers

In modern times, the name has been carried by several Swedish athletes and cultural figures. Notable examples include Orvar Bergmark (1930–2004), an accomplished Swedish footballer and manager; Orvar Trolle (1900–1971), a swimmer; and Orvar Lindwall (1941–2025) and Orvar Jönsson (born 1950), both fencers. In the arts, Orvar Säfström (born 1974) is a Swedish film critic, and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason (born 1977) is an Icelandic musician.

• Meaning: "arrow"
• Origin: Old Norse
• Type: Masculine given name
• Main usage regions: Sweden, Iceland, other Nordic countries