Ivar is the Scandinavian form of the Old Norse Ívarr, usually explained as "yew warrior" or "bow warrior", from yr, yew, the wood used for bows, and herr, army. It was borne by the Viking leader Ivar the Boneless, who led the Great Heathen Army into England in the 9th century. In the United States Ivar was rare until the television series Vikings aired, climbing from number 7708 in 2015 to number 1384 in 2025, its best rank yet.