# 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