Icelandic Names & Naming System
How the Icelandic naming system works — rules and common names
Patronymic system
Children are named after father (or mother) — not family name. Son → -son, daughter → -dóttir.
Example
Jón son of Einar = Jón Einarsson. Daughter = Einarsson → Einarsdóttir.
Matronymic
Possible to use mother's name — Jón Einarsson or Jón Sigríðarson. It is rare.
Naming committee
New names need approval from the Icelandic Naming Committee. Names must fit Icelandic grammar and gender.
No family names
Only ~10% of Icelanders have a family name (vast majority don't).
Phone directory
Icelanders are listed by first name in the phone book — not last name. That's why ordering is by first name.
Pronunciation
Some names are hard for foreigners — they are pronounced as written, but Icelandic letters (þ, ð, æ, ö) have special sounds.
Common names
First-name society
Icelanders address each other by first name — even the president and prime minister. It's not disrespectful to use first names.
Naming committee disputes
The naming committee has rejected names that don't fit Icelandic grammar (e.g. "Harriet" and "Duncan"). This has been a disputed issue.