Runar (name) explained

Runar (and its Icelandic version Rúnar) is a masculine given name and a surname which is used in Nordic countries. It became one of the popular names in Norway from the 1950s.^[1] Its meaning in Old Icelandic is wisdom and magical characters or signs.^[2] Notable people with the name include:

Given name

First name

• Rúnar Örn Ágústsson (born 1985), Icelandic road cyclist
• Rúnar Alexandersson (born 1977), Icelandic artistic gymnast
• Runar Bauer (born 1952), Norwegian handball player
• Runar Berg (born 1970), Norwegian football player
• Runar Collander (1894–1973), Finnish botanist
• Runar Espejord (born 1996), Norwegian football player
• Runar Filper (born 1964), Swedish politician
• Rúnar Freyr Gíslason (born 1973), Icelandic actor and voice actor
• Runar Granholm (1889–1937), Finnish tennis player
• Runar Hauge (born 2001), Norwegian football player
• Runar Holmberg (1923–1993), Finnish sprinter
• Runar Hove (born 1995), Norwegian football player
• Runar Jørstad (born 1982), Norwegian journalist
• Rúnar Júlíusson (1945–2008), Icelandic musical artist
• Rúnar Kárason (born 1988), Icelandic handball player
• Runar Karlsson (born 1953), Finnish politician
• Rúnar Kristinsson (born 1969), Icelandic football player
• Runar Norheim (born 2005), Norwegian football player
• Runar Normann (born 1978), Norwegian football player
• Runar Patriksson (born 1944), Swedish politician
• Rúnar Rúnarsson (born 1977), Icelandic screenwriter and director
• Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson (born 1995), Icelandic football player
• Runar Sandström (1909–1985), Swedish water polo player
• Runar Schildt (1888–1925), Swedish-speaking Finnish author
• Rúnar Sigtryggsson (born 1972), Icelandic handball player
• Rúnar Þór Sigurgeirsson (born 1999), Icelandic football player
• Rúnar Már Sigurjónsson (born 1990), Icelandic football player
• Runar Sjåstad (born 1968), Norwegian politician
• Runar Søgaard (born 1967), Norwegian leadership trainer
• Runar Steinstad (born 1967), Norwegian Paralympian athlete
• Runar Tafjord (born 1957), Norwegian French horn player
• Rúnar Vilhjálmsson (1950–1970), Icelandic multi-sport athlete

Middle name

• Andri Rúnar Bjarnason (born 1990), Icelandic football player
• Gísli Rúnar Jónsson (1953–2020), Icelandic actor
• Sveinn Rúnar Sigurðsson (born 1976), Icelandic musical artist and physician

Surname

• Tommy Runar (born 1982), Norwegian football player

Notes and References

1. Book: Nancy L. Coleman. Olav Veka. A Handbook of Scandinavian Names. 2010. University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, WI. 9780299248338. 43.
2. Web site: Rúnar. Old Icelandic Dictionary. 22 February 2024.