title: Espen
text: # Espen
  
  Espen is a Norwegian masculine given name. 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.
  
  ## Origin and variants
  
  It originated as a variant of Asbjørn or Esben.
  
  ## 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 (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
  * Vincent Espen (born 1986), French badminton player
  