Popular Icelandic Girl & Boy Names (Plus, How Surnames Work)

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Learn about the most common names in Iceland

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: August 18, 2026 Fact Checked

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Most Common Names

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Girl Names

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Boy Names

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How do Icelandic last names work?

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Iceland is a beautiful Nordic island country that’s home to a unique and rich culture. If you’re looking for an Icelandic name for your daughter or son (or a character you’re creating), you’ve come to the right place! We’re going over the most popular Icelandic names for girls and boys, as well as more unique options, and explaining how surnames work in Iceland. Keep reading to learn more!

Popular Icelandic Names

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The top names for girls include Guðrún (God’s secret lore), Sigríður (Beautiful victory), Helga (Holy), Sigrún (Victory rune), and Ingibjörg (Ing’s protection). The top names for boys include Sigurður (Victorious guardian), Guðmundur (God’s protection), Gunnar (Warrior), Ólafur (Ancestor’s relic), and Einar (Lone warrior).

Section 1 of 4:

Most Common Icelandic Names

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While there are tons of beautiful Icelandic names, some tend to be more popular than others! These are the most popular names you’ll hear in Iceland for girls and boys, most of which have Old Norse origins:
- Top names for girls:
  - Anna: “Grace” or “favor,” Hebrew origin.
  - Guðrún: “God’s secret lore,” Norse origin.
  - Sigríður: “Beautiful victory,” Norse origin.
  - Kristín: “Follower of Christ,” Icelandic and Latin origin.
  - Margrét: “Pearl,” Icelandic and Greek origin.
  - Helga: “Holy” or “blessed,” Norse origin.
  - Sigrún: “Victory rune,” Norse origin.
  - María: “Famous,” Germanic origin.
  - Ingibjörg: “Ing’s (Freyr’s) protection” or “Ing’s stronghold,” Norse origin.
  - Jóhanna: “God is gracious,” Hebrew origin.
  - Elín: “Shining” or “brilliant,” Scandinavian and Greek origin.
  - Ásta: “Divine love,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Lilja: “Lily,” Icelandic and English origin.
  - Guðný: “She who the gods make young,” Norse origin.
  - Katrín: “Pure,” Icelandic and Greek origin.
  - Steinunn: “Stone wave,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Hulda: “Hiding” or “secrecy,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Íris: “Rainbow,” Icelandic and Greek origin.
  - Unnur: “Wave” or “love,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Berglind: “Help” + “linden tree” or “shield,” Icelandic origin.
- Top names for boys:
  - Jón: “God is gracious,” Hebrew origin.
  - Sigurður: “Victorious guardian,” Norse origin.
  - Guðmundur: “God’s protection,” Norse origin.
  - Gunnar: “Warrior,” Norse origin.
  - Ólafur: “Ancestor’s relic,” Norse origin.
  - Einar: “Lone warrior,” Norse origin.
  - Kristján: “Follower of Christ,” Icelandic and Latin origin.
  - Magnús: “Great,” Latin origin.
  - Stefán: “Wreath” or “crown,” Icelandic and Greek origin.
  - Jóhann: “God is gracious,” Hebrew origin.
  - Björn: “Bear,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Árni: “Eagle,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Helgi: “Holy” or “blessed,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Pétur: “Stone” or “rock,” Icelandic and Greek origin.
  - Halldór: “Thor’s rock,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Arnar: “Eagle warrior,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Bjarni “Bear,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Ragnar: “Wisdom of the army” or “counseled army,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Gísli: “Arrow,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
  - Sveinn: “Young man,” Icelandic and Norse origin.

Section 2 of 4:

Icelandic Girl Names

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There are so many lovely Icelandic girl names—these names tend to reflect the beauty and strength of Iceland, or relate to the Norse mythology that’s a part of the culture of the land. Here are some of our favorite options:
- Aldís: “Universal goddess,” Icelandic origin.
- Arnbjörg: “Eagle’s protection,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Áslaug: “Promised god,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Auður: “Wealth” or “fortune,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Birna: “She-bear,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Birta: “Noble” or “exalted one,” Icelandic and Irish origin.
- Björk: “Birch tree,” Icelandic origin.
- Bryndís: “Armored goddess,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Edda: “Grandmother,” Norse origin.
- Eir: “Help” or “mercy,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Elfa: “Elf,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Elsa: “My God is an oath,” Scandinavian and Hebrew origin.
- Erla: “Wagtail bird,” Icelandic origin.
- Freyja: “Lady” or “noblewoman,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Gunnhildur: “War,” Icelandic and Germanic origin.
- Hafdís: “Sea goddess” or “sea fairy,” Icelandic origin.
- Harpa: “Harp,” Icelandic origin.
- Heiðdís: “Honored goddess,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Hekla: “Hooded cloak,” Icelandic origin. Also an active volcano!
- Hildur: “Battle,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Hrefna: “Raven,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Iðunn: “Ever young,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Inga: From the Germanic/Norse god Ing/Freyr.
- Kolbrún: “Black eyebrows,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Laufey: “Leafy island,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Lóa: “Golden plover bird,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Móeiður: “Bright courage,” Icelandic origin.
- Ólöf: “Ancestor’s legacy,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Ragnheiður: “Clear advice,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Rós: “Rose,” Icelandic origin.
- Saga: “Seeing one,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Sæunn: “Sea wave,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Snædís: “Snow goddess,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Sóley: “Buttercup,” Icelandic origin.
- Sólveig: “House of strength” or “sun strength,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Thórdís: “Thunder goddess” or “Thor’s goddess,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Una: “Happy” or “content,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Ylfa: “She-wolf,” Icelandic and Norse origin.

Section 3 of 4:

Icelandic Boy Names

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Icelandic boy names have a strong and unique feel, reflecting the rich culture of Iceland, its magnificent landscapes, and ancient Norse influence. These are some great options to consider:
- Andri: “Ski,” Icelandic origin.
- Atli: “Little father,” Icelandic and Germanic origin.
- Baldur: “Prince” or “hero,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Birgir: “To help” or “to protect,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Birkir: “Birch,” Icelandic origin.
- Birnir: “Bear,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Breki: “Slope” or “hillside,” Icelandic origin.
- Brynjar: “Armor” or “warrior,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Dagur: “Day,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Elvar: “Elf warrior,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Emil: “To strive” or “to excel,” Icelandic and Germanic origin.
- Fannar: Snowdrift,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Frosti: “Frost,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Geir: “Spear,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Guðjón: “God is gracious,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Hákon: “High son,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Hallbjörn: “Stone bear,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Haukur: “Hawk,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Hilmir: “Prince” or “helmsman,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Hjörtur: “Deer,” Icelandic origin.
- Hrafn: “Raven,” Icelandic origin.
- Ingi: From the Germanic/Norse god Ing/Freyr.
- Jökull: “Glacier,” Icelandic origin.
- Kári: After the Norse god of the wind.
- Karl: “Freeman,” Icelandic and German origin.
- Leifur: “Heir” or “descendant,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Máni: After the god of the moon in Norse mythology.
- Óðinn: After the god of war and knowledge in Norse mythology.
- Ólíver: “Olive tree,” Icelandic and Latin origin.
- Óskar: “God’s spear,” Icelandic, Norse, and Old English origin.
- Páll: “Small” or “humble,” Icelandic and Latin origin.
- Sindri: “Sparkling,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Styrmir: “To storm,” Icelandic and Norse origin.
- Úlfur: “Wolf,” Icelandic and Norse origin.

Section 4 of 4:

How do Icelandic last names work?

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Iceland uses the patronymic surname tradition rather than fixed surnames. Iceland still follows the Old Norse tradition of giving children a last name based on their father’s first name (or, less commonly, their mother’s first name). This means that a family’s surname changes each generation, as the son uses his first name for his children’s last names. Boys’ surnames end with the suffix -son (meaning “son of”) and girls’ surnames end with -dóttir (meaning “daughter of”). Parents can also choose to use the gender-neutral suffix, -bur (meaning “child of”).^{[1]
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- Example: Stefán Kristjánsson has a son named Einar and a daughter named Helga. So, his son’s surname is Stefánsson (Einar Stefánsson) and his daughter’s surname is Stefánsdóttir.
- Example: Now Einar Stefánsson has a son named Sigurður. Sigurður’s last name is Einarsson (Sigurður Einarsson). Helga has a son, Pétur, and gives him a last name based on her name, Helguson (Pétur Helguson).
- Note: Fixed family names are prohibited for the most part in Iceland, though there are some special circumstances where families are allowed to keep and pass down their surname.^{[2]
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Iceland has fairly strict rules about the first names people are allowed to give their children. All names are approved by the Icelandic Naming Committee and must have a genitive ending that allows it to become a last name and use the structure and spelling of the Icelandic language. There’s also a stipulation that names can’t be embarrassing!^{[3]
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