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Holger as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Holger

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The baby name Holger is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhoʊlɡər/ (HOHL-ger); Old Norse: Hólmgeirr [ˈhɔlmgeirr].

Holger is Dutch, Norse in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Dutch, Norse
Pronunciation: /ˈhoʊlɡər/ (HOHL-ger); Old Norse: Hólmgeirr [ˈhɔlmgeirr]

What is the meaning of the name Holger ?

The baby name Holger is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhoʊlɡər/ (HOHL-ger); Old Norse: Hólmgeirr [ˈhɔlmgeirr].

Holger is Dutch, Norse in Origin.

Holger is a Scandinavian and German masculine given name rooted in Old Norse Hólmgeirr (hólmr “islet, small island” + geirr “spear”), yielding the sense “islet-spear” or “spear from the islet.” It is attested in medieval Sweden as Holmger (Latinized Holmgerus) and in Denmark and Norway as Holger, with forms appearing in saga and early records.

It was borne by the legendary Danish hero Holger Danske, the local rendering of the chivalric figure Ogier the Dane, which helped keep the name culturally prominent. Civil usage spread across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and later into German-speaking lands, with modest popularity spikes in the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. Variants and cognates include Holmger (Swedish), Holmgeir/Hólmgeirr (Icelandic/Old Norse), and the German/Danish/Norwegian Holger; related but not etymologically identical is French Ogier. Diminutives are rare; a German pet form is Holgi.

Holger has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Holger

Holger Czukay Musician · Born 1938 · Germany Holger Czukay was a German musician best known as a co-founder of the experimental rock band Can. He played a key role in shaping the band's sound with his innovative use of sampling and tape editing. Some of Can's notable tracks include 'Vitamin C' and 'Halleluwah'. Holger Löwenadler Actor · Born 1904 · Sweden Holger Löwenadler was a Swedish actor best known for his role in the film 'Torment' directed by Alf Sjöberg. Born in 1904, he became a prominent figure in Swedish cinema during the mid-20th century. His performances often showcased his versatility and depth as an actor. Holger Juul Hansen Actor · Born 1924 · Kingdom of Denmark Holger Juul Hansen was a Danish actor best known for his many roles in Danish film and television. Over a long career, he appeared in a large number of Danish movies and TV shows and became a familiar face to audiences in Denmark.

Holger – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Germany Boys 0 #54 11,010 5,697
AL 0 #75 2 2,372
CN 0 #86 1 3,857
Germany 0 #96 664 2,542
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
EC 0 #104 12 2,502
EE Boys 0 #113 13 2,087
Sweden Boys 2022 #131 52 1,509
Norway Boys 2024 #133 4 437
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
PA 0 #138 1 3,797
EC Boys 0 #149 108 3,322
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
DK 0 #185 19 5,198
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
Austria 0 #197 17 850
DK Boys 0 #205 129 7,401
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
LU Boys 0 #217 4 4,970
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
NA Boys 0 #249 5 6,830
TW Boys 0 #252 5 7,111
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
GR Boys 0 #272 2 6,912
SG 0 #282 1 11,010
AL Boys 0 #289 10 5,122
JP Boys 0 #301 3 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
PE 0 #323 7 6,350
Austria Boys 0 #328 117 2,180
CN Boys 0 #329 3 9,639
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
PT Boys 0 #378 4 7,951
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
OM Girls 0 #424 1 15,987
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
ZA 0 #470 5 14,421
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
GT Boys 0 #493 7 7,625
PA Boys 0 #501 5 9,305
CR Boys 0 #505 6 10,188
CO 0 #506 5 7,768
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
HK Boys 0 #554 4 12,905
Finland Boys 2026 #558 127 3,552
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
IR Boys 0 #562 4 10,162
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
BO Boys 0 #617 6 9,244
IL Boys 0 #625 1 10,983
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
LB 0 #689 2 13,263
CL Boys 0 #695 6 13,390
PE Boys 0 #728 151 14,506
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
CO Boys 0 #739 185 15,656
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
BR Boys 0 #783 3 12,213
United States Boys 2002 #797 5 6,872
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
Germany Girls 0 #823 16 4,949
Spain Boys 0 #859 72 5,610
TN 0 #863 3 13,765
NL Boys 0 #910 42 5,873
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
MX Boys 0 #1,028 6 16,355
AE Boys 0 #1,140 4 22,615
ZA Boys 0 #1,148 31 25,619
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
MA 0 #1,199 1 20,986
DZ 0 #1,234 1 20,130
TR 0 #1,253 2 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,396 76 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,691 1 28,008

Holger is popular in 58 countries — most recent births per country:

Norway
Sweden
AE
AL
AR

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Holger

Holger is predominantly a boy's name.
Holger is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈhoʊlɡər/ (HOHL-ger); Old Norse: Hólmgeirr [ˈhɔlmgeirr].
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Hólmgeirr (Old Norse), Holgerus (Latinized) and Holgar (rare).
Across languages, Holger has these equivalents: Hólmgeirr (original cognate), Geir (Old Norse, 'spear').
Yes — Holger ranked #131 in Sweden in 2022, and appears in official birth registries across 4 countries.
Holger ranks highest in Sweden (#131 in 2022).
Holger's popularity is rising. It moved from #140 in 2016 to #133 in 2024 in Norway.
Yes — 3 notable people named Holger are in our database, including Holger Czukay (Musician), Holger Löwenadler (Actor), Holger Juul Hansen (Actor).