Icelandic First Names: Origin, Meaning, and Special Features

Where Icelandic Names Come From

Due to the island's geographic isolation, the Icelandic language has changed very little over the centuries. It is still very close to Old Norse, which was spoken at the time of Iceland's settlement. Therefore, most traditional Icelandic first names originate directly from the Old Norse language and Norse mythology.

A special feature in Iceland is its naming law. An official committee, the Mannanafnanefnd (Icelandic Naming Committee), maintains a register of approved first names. New names must be applied for and must meet strict criteria: they have to fit into Icelandic grammar and may only contain letters of the Icelandic alphabet. As a result, the inventory of first names in Iceland remains very traditional.

In addition, Icelanders generally do not use traditional family surnames. Instead, the last name is formed from the father's (or more rarely, the mother's) first name and the suffix -son for son or -dóttir for daughter. A first name therefore carries even greater weight in Iceland than in many other cultures, as it represents a person's primary identification.

Icelandic First Names and Their Derivations

Here you will find a selection of Icelandic first names. The meanings are categorized according to the current state of onomastic research.

• Ari: In Hebrew, Ari means “lion”. Independently of this, Ari is an Old Norse byname meaning “eagle”.
• Björk: A common girl's name in Iceland. It corresponds to the Icelandic word for birch. The name became internationally known primarily through the Icelandic musician of the same name.
• Dagur: This is the Icelandic form of the name Dag. The Old Norse root word means day. It is one of the most frequently given boy names in Iceland.
• Elin: The name is widely interpreted as a Nordic form of Helena (the shining one). However, there are also overlaps with other Nordic name roots, which is why the derivation from Helena is only one of several possible explanations.
• Fannar: An Icelandic boy's name. Documented is its derivation from the Old Norse term fönn, which means snowdrift.
• Gísli: Two meanings are often mentioned for this boy's name: It is commonly translated as hostage or pledge. Another interpretation derives it from an Old Norse word for ray of light. Both name histories are possible; settling definitively on only one meaning falls short.
• Hekla: The girl's name traces back to the Icelandic volcano of the same name. The underlying Old Norse word denotes a short hooded cloak. This is a direct reference to the frequent cloud cover shrouding the mountain's peak.
• Jón: This is the traditional Icelandic form of John (Johannes). The Hebrew root word means "God is gracious". The name has a very long tradition in Iceland.
• Kári: An Old Norse boy's name. The frequently cited translation is "the windy one" or "the wind". Another widespread interpretation sees the origin in an Old Norse word for "curly". A definitive assignment to only one of these meanings is not established.
• Lóa: This girl's name is often interpreted as a short form of Ólöf. Another widespread reading links it directly to the Icelandic term for the European golden plover (Heiðlóa), a bird native to the island and very popular there.
• Magnús: The boy's name traces back to the Latin word magnus for "great". The name was adopted throughout Scandinavia and also in Iceland as early as the Early Middle Ages.
• Saga: In Old Norse mythology, Saga is the name of a goddess. In Icelandic, the word itself means "story" or "tale". The girl's name is used throughout Scandinavia.
• Sindri: Sindri is the name of a dwarf in Norse mythology who appears as a skilled blacksmith. The common translation "the sparkling one" or "the blacksmith" is an interpretation arising from his mythological role, but is not fully verified etymologically.
• Tinna: An Icelandic girl's name. The Icelandic word tinna refers to flint or obsidian, a deep black volcanic rock that is common on the island.
• Una: Una can be a form of the Irish Úna. Here, a connection to the word for “lamb” is suspected. Alongside this, there is a Nordic name history and the literary connection with the Latin una, “one”. These origins are not to be equated.
• Yrsa: This girl's name comes from Old Norse, but its exact historical derivation is unclear. A frequently mentioned connection to a word for she-bear is not documented beyond doubt. It is certain that it is a traditional Nordic name that appears in old sagas.

Special Considerations for Spelling and Pronunciation in Germany

If you want to give an Icelandic name in Germany, you should carefully check the spelling and pronunciation in advance. The Icelandic alphabet contains letters that do not exist in German, in particular Þ (Thorn) and Ð (Eth).

German civil registry offices usually require that names be transliterated into the Latin alphabet commonly used in this country. A name like Þór is registered in Germany as Thor, and Guðrún becomes Gudrun. You therefore need to decide whether you are comfortable with the Germanized spelling.

In addition, accents on Icelandic vowels (Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, Ý) significantly change the pronunciation. For example, an "Á" is pronounced like "au", and an "Ó" like "ou". The name Kári is therefore pronounced "Kauri" in Iceland. In Germany, people will usually read the name as it is written. Discuss together whether the original Icelandic pronunciation is important to you or whether you can live with the name being pronounced differently in everyday life in Germany.

How to Narrow Down Your Favorites

If names from the Icelandic language area appeal to you, the next step is to filter out the suitable candidates from the multitude of possibilities. This works best if you initially collect names independently of one another and then compare your results.

With the HeyName app, you can structure this process. You connect your devices via invitation and independently rate first names as "Favorite", "Maybe", or "Not a match". Use the filter functions to specifically search for certain lengths or starting letters. Names that both of you have marked as a favorite will appear in the app as mutual matches. You can then discuss this shortlist together. You can also test right in the app how each Icelandic first name sounds in combination with your last name and whether a matching middle name might work well. This way, you systematically arrive at a decision that both of you are happy with.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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