Icelandic name facts for kids
Icelandic names are special! They are very different from most other names you hear in places like the West. Instead of having a family name that passes down through generations, Icelanders use a system called patronymic or sometimes matronymic.
This means a person's last name is usually made from their father's first name. If a man named Eric has a son named Leif, Leif's last name would be Erik's son, or Eriksson.
For girls, it works similarly. Their last name is usually made from their father's first name, with "-dóttir" added. This means "daughter of." So, if a girl named Astrid has a father named Leif, her name would be Astrid Leifsdóttir. Sometimes, a girl might even use her mother's name for her last name. If Astrid's mother was Inga, she could be Astrid Ingasdóttir.
Modern Changes to Naming Laws
In 2019, Iceland made some exciting changes to its naming laws. Now, first names are not limited by gender anymore. This means people can choose names more freely.
Also, for people who identify as non-binary (meaning they don't identify as only male or female), there's a new option. They can use the suffix "-bur" instead of "-son" or "-dóttir." The word "-bur" means "child of."
Why Icelandic Names Are Unique
This special naming system is actually very old! It's the same way names were formed by the Vikings long ago. Iceland has kept this tradition because it's an island. For a long time, Iceland had very little contact with the outside world.
Because of this isolation, many things stayed the same, like their customs, language, and especially their unique naming system. It's a cool way to connect to their history!
Images for kids
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A gravestone showing a patronymic name: "Páll, son of Jón, son of Mattías."
