Y
Masculine
Norwegian
Meaning & History
Yngvar is a Norwegian variant of Ingvar, derived from the Old Norse name Yngvarr. This name combines the name of the Norse god Yngvi, an alternate name for Freyr, with the element herr meaning "army" or "warrior." Thus, Yngvar carries the meaning of "warrior of Yngvi" or "Yngvi's army."
Etymology and Roots
The root of Yngvar is the Old Norse name Yngvarr, which itself traces back to the Germanic *Ingwaz, the name of an obscure fertility god considered an ancestor by the Ingaevones tribe. This god, possibly an earlier form of Freyr, is also linked to the name Ing. The chain of development is: Ing → Yngvi (Freyr) + herr → Yngvarr → Ingvar and Yngvar.Legendary Bearer
According to the semi-legendary Ynglinga saga by Snorri Sturluson, Ingvar (or Yngvar) was a 7th-century Swedish king of the Yngling dynasty. He was a warrior king who fought Danes and Estonian vikings, and after peace with the Danes, he launched raids into Estonia. He died in battle at a place called Steinn (likely in Estonia) and was buried there. Archaeological evidence from boat graves at Salme, Estonia, suggests a similar historical event occurred in the 8th century.Related Names and Cultural Forms
Variants include Ingvar (Scandinavian), Ingar (Scandinavian), and Yngvarr (Old Norse). In other cultures, cognates include Igor (Slovene), Ihar (Belarusian), Igors (Latvian), and Ihor (Ukrainian), all derived from the Old Norse name through Varangian connections.Key Facts
- Meaning: "warrior of Yngvi" or "Yngvi's army"
- Origin: Old Norse, composed of god name Yngvi + herr (army)
- Type: variant form
- Usage: primarily Norwegian
- Related: Ingvar, Yngvi, Igor
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Ingvar