A Look at the Names of Iceland
Age-Old Traditions Leave Many Names Sounding Alike
So get ready for an exercise in Icelandic phonetics and general confusion, not necessarily in that order. This may be a bit confusing, but try to follow me here. Brace yourself for some strange (well, strange to me anyway) Icelandic names along the way. Here we go!
Let's say I'm married, and have a son or daughter. I will - by law and tradition - add the word "son" or "dottir" (daughter) to my first name! So if my name is Thor, my son's last name will be Jon Thorsson (Thor's Son…get it?) and my daughter Anna will be Anna Jonsdottir (dottir…"Jon's daughter"). Talk about strange Icelandic names! Are you still following me? I told you this would be confusing! I haven't quite figured out where the name "Jon" comes from. Those crazy Icelandics. Five million names floating around and every male has the name Jon stuck in their family tree somewhere.
Yes, this is confusing! In Iceland, referring to a family by their "surnames" is a lesson in futility because everyone seems to go by their first name! Apparently women will not take the husband's surname when they marry as it will only screw up the lineage of the family.
Continuing on about off-the-wall Icelandic names, believe it or not, the most popular male name in Iceland and Scandinavia used to be "Thor". However, since the inception of Christianity several centuries ago, the top name on the list is now "Jon". I imagine it's pretty amusing being in a crowded bar and hearing someone yell "Hey Jon!"Especially if 25 individuals turn around in unison and respond, "What is it?" Meanwhile, the most popular female name - at least since about 1100 AD - has been Guðrún. And that would be pronounced how? Yet another great name that ranks right up there with a few from the Ukraine and Russia that I cannot for the life of me imagine screaming at the top of my lungs while I'm having sex.
But I digress. You can insert virtually any name to create some strange Icelandic names. Let's give it a try. Let's say your name is Joel Burns. And you have a son named Tom. So your son's name will Tom Joelson! And your daughter Jasmin will be Jasmin Joelsdottir! AAaak! Strange Icelandic names to be sure! At least there's no confusion over ownership here. It's actually quite simple the more i think of it: "Hey, who's child is that..?" "Why that's Joel's Son "Joelson"! What are these people thinking! And there are laws in Iceland that make this kind of thing mandatory! The only saving grace is that you won't find people named Tom or Jasmin in Iceland. In terms of off-the-wall Icelandic names, apparently names like Tom or Jasmin aren't strange enough!
Well, if the names of sons and daughters wasn't tough enough for you, wait until we talk about some Icelandic baby names. What's interesting is that according to Scandinavian tradition, Icelandics shouldn't have any unique Icelandic baby names. Based on the fact that most families name their kids after their parents or grandparents. However, that apparently is changing. LAST names incorporate the father's FIRST name, but there is some flexibility for the first name of a baby. As if that wasn't confusing enough.
A little research revealed that many baby names are also names of objects or names from some obscure mythical past. For example "Reifer", Dögun, and Árdís. And when I say "obscure" I mean it. Because none of those names rings a bell with me when it comes to mythology. But the more popular baby names are again, just variations of their parents: Gunnar, Sigrún, Bjarni and Sigríður being some of the most popular.
Well, to each is own! I'm sure more common names like Gary and Mary Jane seem just as strange to someone in Iceland! In the meantime, could you help me? I'm looking for an individual by the name of Jon.....
Published by Gary Picariello
I've traveled the world as a Broadcast Journalist working for the American Forces Radio & Television Service in the United States Air Force. Now happily retired after 23 years of service, and currently livin... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentYou're an idiot. First, you can't even keep your examples straight. If you are a woman and have a son with Thor, then your son's name will be Jon Thorsson. If you were to have a daughter with the same man, then she would be Anna Thorsdottir (not Jonsdottir as you wrote).
Second, it seems to me that if you met a man names James Johnson you wouldn't say to him, "wow your name is wierd." You would accept that back in the 16th century when English people started to use them, that one of this guy's ancestors told the register, "I am Edward, son of John." I mean, you must be flipped out to learn that before the 15th century people didn't in England didn't have a standard family name!!!
Third, to complicate this all for you, since in Iceland unwed mothers are not looked down upon--every baby is welcomed in such a harsh community--sometimes the children are given the mothers name--perhaps something like Bjorksson or Bjorksdottir.
But WAIT!!!! Some Icelanders don't use patronymical syste
i rufus u jane. your head is extremely big, boop,bop. lolly pop. say hi to your mum for me. i know she misses it, and your big head. head. but to be serious i do agree with Brian Want that it shows a lack of respect for the culture. gertie. i lov you brian want!! marry me. with your pet green pea. clothes off. 4 me now toot a loo.!
i am english. thank you very much sir
It would be nice if you had a little more respect, sir.
I don't think it's confusing at all, it's actually very simple! I think the author of this shoddy 'article' - Gary Picariello - has a very poor grasp of the English language, I can only assume you're an American (apologies if you are not), in future you must complete your work to a far higher standard. There is no excuse for this, especially as the article is about Iceland which I think is one of the most fascinating places on the planet.
I would like to enlighten you on certain aspects of your article, since you haven't quite researched your article topic properly. You did however get it right with the "patronymic" surnames. However, a very important thing, is that Icelanders (not Icelandics) can not choose to name their child with a name that can not be conjugated. Yes, Icelandic names must be able to "bend". That is why there is a strict law about naming your child. Also, you can't just take any name, like you suggest with Joel, and stick "son" or "dottir" on it. Also, just because certain nouns do not "ring any bells" in your mythology memory, indicates that you have not read in the Icelandic Sagas, in Icelandic.
As for (as you call it "obscure" names), I think we in the "western world" have become way too liberal about naming our children... just last week, I read about a family who wanted to name their daughter Circle!!!
I have to agree with Gu�r�n & Brian Want, It's because the names and meanings are 'Strange' to you, and sadly, I find this whole article just shows how much you haven't really looked into the fact, it's culture, and american names originate from other languages, so it's not that 'weird' or 'strange' when you look at it, but that's your opinion, which most dare I say english oriented people think. I assure you that people from around the world must think your name is weird, same with your clothes, speach and such. It's just different, that's all.
Haha XD Belive me, Mary Jane and Gary are not as strange to us as Gu�r�n en J�n is to you XD Thor would be written ��r here btw :) but just wanted to say something over here :D I understand its so confusing to you because we are the ONLY country that has this tradition of having d�ttir and son instead of family names :D but anyways J�n, I think its something like John but I dunno, sounds alike though :D haha
I think your article demonstrates a lack of respect for a culture that is different. Way to be a narrow-minded American.