Espen is a Norwegian masculine given name.^[1] 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.^[2]

It originated as a variant of Asbjørn^[3] or Esben.^[4]

Notable people with the given name include:

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Carl Espen (born 1982), Norwegian singer and songwriter
• Vincent Espen (born 1986), French badminton player

• European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism known also as ESPEN
• Simen & Espen, known as music producers Seeb (or SEEB / SeeB), Norwegian EDM record production duo made up of Simen Eriksrud and Espen Berg