What names are allowed in Iceland?
Iceland uses a unique naming system, rarely used in other countries. As well as this, Icelanders are only allowed to be called names that have been approved by an official body, called the Icelandic Naming Committee. They’ll happily reject any names that aren’t deemed to be Icelandic enough.
Is Zoe an illegal name in Iceland?
The baby name Zoe is banned in Iceland, along with Harriet, Duncan, Enrique, and Ludwig. Unless both parents are foreign, parents in Iceland are required to submit their child’s name to the National Registry within six months of the baby’s birth.
How are Iceland’s kids named?
The naming system in Iceland is the old Scandinavian system which all the countries once used. It is a paternal system where the father gives his children his first name as their last name adding -son if the child is a boy and -dóttir if the child is a girl. This might seem confusing at first, but really it is not.
How do Icelandic people get their last names?
Answer Wiki. There are some family surnames, but many Icelandic people go with patronyms or matronyms. It used to be mainly patronyms, meaning children got their fathers name. But matronyms are becoming popular too. That means that a daughter called Inga who’s father is called Einar, will be called Inga Einarsdóttir.
Who are some famous people with inherited family names in Iceland?
Notable Icelanders who have an inherited family name include former prime minister Geir Haarde, film director Baltasar Kormákur Samper and actress Anita Briem. Before 1925, it was legal to adopt new family names; one Icelander making use of that possibility was Nobel Prize-winning author Halldór Laxness, born as Halldór Guðjónsson.
What is the criteria for accepting names in Icelandic?
The criterion for acceptance of names is whether or not they can be incorporated into the Icelandic language. First, they must contain only letters of the Icelandic alphabet, secondly they must be able to be declined in accordance with the Icelandic grammar.
Why do Icelanders name their babies after their mothers in dreams?
There is an ancient tradition in Iceland to name after those who come to the mother in her dreams whilst pregnant. This is done out of fear that the unborn child will be harmed if you don’t follow this request of the dream visitor.