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