At a glance
- In short
- Hjalmar is a strong and distinctive Scandinavian name for baby boys, with variations like Hjalmer and Hjalmarsson.
- U.S. rank 2025
- Not in the 2025 data · last seen 1937 (#3,518)
- Babies in 1937
- 5 (<0.01% of boys)
- Peak
- #878 in 1889
- First recorded
- 1889
Meaning of Hjalmar
Originating from Scandinavia, the name Hjalmar is a strong and distinctive choice for parents seeking a unique name for their baby boy. In Swedish, Hjalmar is pronounced as YAL-mahr (/ˈjɑlˌmɑr/). This name has variations such as Hjalmer and Hjalmarsson. Although not extremely popular in the United States, it has seen some usage throughout the years. In 2020, there were 5 occurrences of the name, ranking at 3518. The historical data shows that Hjalmar enjoyed moderate popularity during the early 20th century when it ranked within the top 4000 names. With its rich Scandinavian heritage and strong sound, Hjalmar can be a wonderful choice for parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name for their little one.
How to pronounce Hjalmar
Swedish
- Pronounced YAL-mahr /ˈjɑlˌmɑr/
Popularity of Hjalmar in the U.S.
Hjalmar was last recorded in the U.S. in 1937, ranked #3,518 with 5 babies. It peaked at #878 in 1889. It first appears in the records in 1889.
- Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1889–1937 18 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 5 | 3,518 | back (not recorded in 1933–1936) |
| 1932 | 5 | 3,776 | back (not recorded in 1931) |
| 1930 | 6 | 3,592 | back (not recorded in 1928–1929) |
| 1927 | 5 | 4,210 | ▼ 825 |
| 1926 | 7 | 3,385 | ▲ 812 |
| 1925 | 5 | 4,197 | back (not recorded in 1923–1924) |
| 1922 | 7 | 3,532 | ▼ 15 |
| 1921 | 7 | 3,517 | ▲ 298 |
| 1920 | 6 | 3,815 | ▲ 353 |
| 1919 | 5 | 4,168 | ▼ 800 |
| 1918 | 7 | 3,368 | ▼ 636 |
| 1917 | 9 | 2,732 | ▼ 580 |
| 1916 | 13 | 2,152 | back (not recorded in 1915) |
| 1914 | 6 | 2,915 | ▼ 94 |
| 1913 | 5 | 2,821 | back (not recorded in 1896–1912) |
| 1895 | 5 | 1,079 | back (not recorded in 1893–1894) |
| 1892 | 6 | 956 | back (not recorded in 1890–1891) |
| 1889 | 6 | 878 | new |
Notable people named Hjalmar
- Hjalmar Andersen was a Norwegian speed skater who won three gold medals at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo.
- Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen was a Norwegian aviation pioneer and polar explorer regarded as a founder of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
- Fredrik Hjalmar Johansen was a Norwegian polar explorer who joined landmark Arctic and Antarctic expeditions with Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.
- Karl Hjalmar Branting was a Swedish prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner who championed voting and workers' rights.
- Knut Hjalmar Leonard Hammarskjold was a Swedish statesman who served as prime minister from 1914 to 1917, maintaining Sweden's neutrality during World War I.
More people named Hjalmar 10 more
- Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen was a Norwegian American author and professor best known for Gunnar, considered the first novel by a Norwegian immigrant in America.
- Hjalmar Bergman was a Swedish writer and playwright.
- Hjalmar Stefansson is an Icelandic basketball player who won a national championship in 2022 and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.
- Hjalmar Heiberg was a Norwegian physician and University of Oslo professor.
- Hjalmar Carl Nygaard was a Republican politician who represented North Dakota in the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1963.
- Robert Hjalmar Mellin was a Finnish mathematician known for his work in function theory.
- Hjalmar Hjalmarsson is an Icelandic actor and voice actor.
- Hjalmar Eemil Nystrom was a Finnish heavyweight wrestler who won Olympic silver and bronze medals.
- Hjalmar Stromme was a Norwegian boxer who placed fourth in the middleweight division at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
- Hjalmar Jonsson is an Icelandic Lutheran pastor and former member of parliament.