Tag Archive for 'iceland baby names'

INTERNATIONAL BABY NAMES: ICELAND, Part 2: Boys’ Names

 

Yesterday we looked at popular names for girls in Iceland and today we’re taking a look at the boys’ names.

 

In case you’re just tuning in or you didn’t read Part 1 because you’re only interested in boys’ names, here’s what you need to know…Iceland keeps track of babies who are given single names and babies who are given double names. A single name is a one-name first name, like ASHLEY Olsen. A double name is a two-name first name, like MARY KATE Olsen.

 

Now that we’re all on the same page…on to the names. These are the 10 most popular single names of boys 0-4 years old in Iceland in 2008:

 

 

TOP 10 ICELANDIC BOY SINGLE BABY NAMES

 

1.      KÁRI

2.      DAGUR

3.      ALEXANDER

4.      GABRÍEL (tie)

4.   TÓMAS (tie)

6.      ÍSAK

7.      DANÍEL (tie)

7.   DAVÍÐ (tie)

9.      BENEDIKT

10. SÖLVI (tie)

10. SINDRI (tie)

10. ARON (tie)

10. STEFÁN (tie)

 

 

We learned yesterday that there are a lot of ties in the Top 10, so we’re not surprised to see 13 baby names in the list of Top 10 most popular baby names…

 

Anyhow, I found some other interesting names in the Top 100 that I wanted to share with you:

 

 

POPULAR ICELANDIC BOY BABY NAMES

 

ANDRI

ATLI

AXEL

BJÖRN

BREKI

EINAR

FROSTI

GUNNAR

HÁKON

HANNES

KJARTAN

MAGNÚS

MATTHÍAS

ORRI

SÆVAR

SVEINN

TRAUSTI

 

 

Just like the girls’ names from yesterday, there are some interesting double names for boys in Iceland. Here are the top 10 double names for boys 0-4 years old in 2008:

 

 

TOP 10 ICELANDIC BOY DOUBLE BABY NAMES

 

1.       SINDRI SNÆR

2.       MIKAEL MÁNI

3.       ANDRI SNÆR

4.       ARON INGI (tie)

4.       GABRÍEL MÁNI (tie)

6.   ARNAR FREYR (tie)

6.   ÍSAK MÁNI (tie)

6.   TÓMAS ORRI (tie)

9.   ALEXANDER MÁNI

10. BJARKI FREYR

 

 

All these cool statistics are courtesy of Statistics Iceland. Go there to read the full list of names! In addition to the lists we’ve talked about here, there are stats on most popular first name in a double name and most popular second name in a double name.

 

What do you think of these Icelandic names? Do you have a favorite? I’m kind of partial to FROSTI, but that could just be the novelty of it. What do you think? Post your opinion.  

 

Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts!

 

  Amanda

 

If you have baby name questions for me, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings check out

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

 

 

INTERNATIONAL BABY NAMES: ICELAND, Part 1: Girls’ Names

 

If you asked me what the 10 most popular baby names in Iceland are, I couldn’t tell you. Baby naming in Iceland is a little more complex than that.

 

In Iceland, it’s apparently quite common for babies to get a couple first names — referred to as double names in Icelandic statistics. Common enough, in fact, for Iceland to keep separate records for the most popular single names and the most popular double names. What are single and double names? ASHLEY Olsen has a single first name and her twin sister, MARY KATE Olsen has a double first name. Make sense?

 

First, let’s have a look at single names. These are Iceland’s Top 10 most popular single names for girls 0-4 years old in 2008:

 

TOP 10 ICELANDIC GIRL SINGLE BABY NAMES

 

1.      SARA

2.      FREYJA

3.      KATLA

4.      MARÍA

5.      KATRÍN

6.      ELÍSABET

7.      HEKLA (tie)

7.   EMILÍA  (tie)

7.      KRISTÍN  (tie)

10. AUÐUR

 

 

Just like we saw with the Danish names earlier this month, this Top 10 is a mix of names that have a distinct regional feel and names you commonly find in the US — or versions of those names, anyhow.

 

Another thing you’ll notice on all the Icelandic baby name lists is that there are a lot of ties. I’m not sure there’s anything really significant about this, but it comes up a lot so I thought I’d mention it. You’ll see what I mean in a bit.

 

Some other standouts from the top 100 list are:

 

 

POPULAR ICELANDIC GIRL SINGLE BABY NAMES

 

AGNES

ÁRÓRA

ÁSTA

BRÍET

EDDA

ELÍN

EMBLA

HARPA

ÍSOLD

KAMILLA

KARÍTAS

LARA

LILJA

LOVÍSA

NÍNA

RAKEL

SAGA

SELMA

SÓLEY

SÓLLILJA

STEFANÍA

SUNNA

SUNNEVA

TELMA

TINNA

 

 

 

I really like the name SUNNEVA — it’s very pretty! It also has good nickname potential and is very unique (at least here in the United States).

 

Now let’s look at the double names. I’m quite excited over these, by the way. It’s not every day that my inner name nerd and my inner statistics nerd get to meet over a new official list of baby names. It’s a happy day!

 

 

TOP 10 ICELAND GIRL DOUBLE BABY NAMES

 

1.       EVA MARÍA

2.       ANNA MARÍA (tie)

2.       SARA LIND  (tie)

4.   EMILÍA ÓSK

5.   GUÐRÚN LILJA  (tie)

5.   ÍSABELLA SÓL  (tie)

8.   EMILÍA RÓS (tie)

8.   EVA LIND  (tie)

10. ANÍTA ÓSK (tie)

10. BIRTA MARÍA (tie)

10. EMBLA SÓL (tie)

10. RAKEL ÓSK  (tie)

10. THELMA LIND (tie)

 

 

Did I mention there were a lot of ties? The source for all these statistics is Statistics Iceland. Go there if you want to see the full lists.

 

If you have a favorite female Icelandic name, let me know! My pick right now is SUNNEVA.

 

That’s all for today. Tune in tomorrow for the boys’ list! Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss out on any future baby name posts.

 

  Amanda

 

If you have baby name questions for me, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

 

 

For more information on baby names and their meanings check out

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES