Full List of Icelandic Girl Names and their Meanings
Whether you have a baby girl on the way and are looking for a cool traditional Icelandic name, or you’re just interested in knowing more about the name of an Icelandic girl you know, this list covers the most common Icelandic girl names and their meanings.
Let’s jump right in and check them out below, so you can choose your favorite right away!
Alda – This name means “wave” in Icelandic, drawing imagery from the country’s vast and beautiful coastlines. It’s a name that evokes the strength and grace of the ocean.
Andrea – Feminine form of the name Andrew, which comes from the Greek name Andreas, derived from the Greek word andreios, meaning “manly, masculine.”
Anna – A form of the name Hannah, which was originally derived from the Hebrew name Channah, meaning “favor, grace.”
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Brynja – The name Brynja means “armor” in Old Norse.
Dagný – A name derived from the Old Norse elements “dagr” meaning “day” and “ný” meaning “new.” Dagný can be interpreted as “new day,” symbolizing hope and a fresh start.
Eir – In Norse mythology, Eir is a goddess or valkyrie associated with medical skill. The name means “mercy” or “protection” in Old Norse, making it a beautiful, meaningful choice.
Elisabet – A form of the name Elisabeth, which comes from the Greek name Elisabet, a name derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva which meant “my God is an oath.”
Elisa – A short form of the name Elisabet.
Embla – The meaning of this name is unknown for certain, it is possibly related to the Old Norse word almr, meaning “elm.”
Emilia – Feminine form of the name Emil, which comes from the Roman family name Aemilius. This name was derived from the Latin word aemulus, which meant “rival.”
Emma – This name was originally used as a short form of Germanic names that began with the name element ermen, which meant “whole” or “universal.”
Eva – Latinate form of the name Eve, which comes from the Hebrew name Chawwah, a name that was originally derived from the Hebrew word chawah, meaning “to breathe.”
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Fjóla – Fjóla (pronounced ‘FEE-ola’) is derived from the Old Norse word fjól, meaning “violet.” This name connects to nature and can be associated with qualities of delicacy and beauty.
Freyja – Icelandic form of the name Freya, which means “lady.” This was also the name of the Nordic goddess of love, beauty, war, and death.
Guðrún – Icelandic form of the name Gudrun, which means “god’s secret lore.” This name was derived from the Nordic elements Guð, meaning “god” and rún, meaning “secret lore.”
Hanna – Another version of the name Anna that is also very popular in Iceland.
Hekla – Named after one of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes, Hekla is a unique and powerful name. While the name’s exact origin is uncertain, it’s emblematic of Iceland’s volcanic landscape.
Helga – Feminine form of the name Helge, which comes from the Old Norse name Helgi, derived from the Old Norse word heliagr, meaning “holy, blessed.”
Hildur – Icelandic form of the name Hildr, Old Norse cognate of the name Hilda which was originally used as a short form for names that contained the Germanic element hild, which means “battle.”
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Inga – Strictly feminine form of the unisex name Inge, which is used as a short form of Scandinavian and German names that begin with the element ing, from the Germanic word ingwaz, possibly meaning “ancestor.”
Íris – Icelandic form of the name Iris, which means “rainbow” in Greek.
Ísabella – Icelandic form of the name Isabel, which is another form of the name Elisabet.
Júlía – Icelandic form of the name Julia, which is the feminine form of the Roman family name Julius, derived from the Greek word ioulos, meaning “down-bearded youth.”
Karen – Danish short form of the name Katherine, which comes from the Greek name Aikaterine. Possibly derived from the Greek word hekateros, meaning “each of the two.”
Katrín – Another form of the name Katherine.
Klara – A form of the name Clara, which is the feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus, which means “clear, bright, famous.”
Kristín – Icelandic form of the name Christina, which is a feminine form of the name Christian. Derived from the Medieval Latin name Christianus, which meant “a Christian.”
Lilja – Icelandic and Finnish form of the name Lily, From the name of the flower, a symbol of purity. The word is ultimately derived from Latin lilium.
Líf – In Norse mythology, Líf and Lífþrasir are the two humans who survive Ragnarök and repopulate the world. The name means “life,” signifying vitality and survival.
Margrét – Icelandic form of the name Margaret, derived from the Latin name Margarita, which was ultimately derived from the Greek word margarites, meaning “pearl.”
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Njála – This name can be inspired by one of Iceland’s most famous literary works, “Njál’s Saga.” While not a traditional female name, it reflects Iceland’s rich literary history and cultural heritage.
Ólöf – Derived from the Old Norse, meaning “ancestor’s descendant,” and speaks to heritage and lineage.
Ragnheiður – Icelandic form of the Old Norse name Ragnheiðr, which means “bright advice.”
Rakel – Scandinavian form of the name Rachel, which comes from the Hebrew name Rachel, meaning “ewe.”
Ronja – This name was invented by a Swedish children’s author, Astrid Lindgren, who based it on the middle portion of Juronjaure, the name of a lake in Sweden.
Saga – This name most likely means “Seeing One” in Old Norse.
Sara – This name means “lady, noblewoman, princess” in Hebrew.
Sól – The name for the sun in Icelandic and the sun goddess in Norse mythology, representing light and warmth.
Sigrún – This name was derived from the Old Norse elements sigr, meaning “victory” and run, meaning “secret.”
Viktoría – Icelandic form of the name Victoria, which in Latin means “victory.”
Ylfa – Meaning “she-wolf” in Old Norse, symbolizing strength and independence.
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Most Common Icelandic Girl Names
What are the most common Icelandic girl names? While these change constantly due to various trends, very popular names are:
Andrea, Ana, Emma, Klara and Sara.
You may notice some similarities between Icelandic girls’ names and other Nordic girls’ names like Swedish or Norwegian girl names, however, most of the Icelandic girls’ names have a spelling that is unique to this country.
Conclusion
This concludes our list of amazing Icelandic girl names and their meanings. I am sure you found something good.
Are there any Icelandic names that you know that I haven’t covered above? Let us all know by commenting below.
