Naming a baby in Iceland: the rules, the committee, and what happens if your name isn't on the list
Especially if the name you want isn't Icelandic.
The short answer
- Names must already be on Iceland's approved name register, or be separately approved by the Personal Names Committee.
- Your child needs a registered name before they turn six months old.
- A name that isn't on the register can still be approved — there's a real process for it.
- Foreign names aren't automatically rejected, but they do go through the committee.
The approved name register
Iceland keeps a register of names — Mannanafnaskrá — that are already approved for use. If the name you want is already on it, you can register your child's name directly, with no extra step.
What the naming committee looks at
Names that aren't on the register go to the Personal Names Committee (Mannanafnanefnd). To be approved, a name has to take an Icelandic grammatical ending — or already be established by custom in Icelandic — and fit Icelandic spelling and grammar. A name can also be refused if it would cause the child embarrassment.
A person can't be given more than three personal names in total.
Applying for a name that isn't on the register
You can apply to the Personal Names Committee for a name that isn't yet approved. There's a fee for a ruling on a new name. The published guidance doesn't state a fixed turnaround time for the committee's decision, so build some slack into your plans if you're going this route.
Deadlines: when the name must be registered
A child must be given a name before they turn six months old. You can register it one of three ways: through a christening at the national church or a registered religious association, by notifying Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) directly, or by notifying a minister or head of a religious association.
Surnames, patronymics, and middle names
Iceland's naming system is still mostly patronymic — most Icelanders are named after a parent's first name rather than carrying a family surname. This affects what a middle or family name has to look like, separately from the first-name rules above. If you're unsure how this applies to your child, check directly with Þjóðskrá.
If one parent is not Icelandic
The official guidance we could confirm doesn't spell out a separate track for families where one parent isn't Icelandic — the same register-or-committee process applies. In practice, this is exactly the situation that most often needs the committee, since a name from outside Iceland is less likely to already be on the register. Confirm your specific case with Þjóðskrá before relying on an estimate.
Check a name
See whether the name you're considering is already approved — before you fall in love with it.
Official sources
Vagga is a planning tool, not a government authority. Always confirm details on the official Icelandic sources below.
Vagga er upplýsinga- og skipulagsastoð. Hún kemur ekki í stað opinberrar stjórnsýslu, heilbrigðis-, lögfræði-, fjármála- eða læknisráðgjafar. Staðfestu alltaf fresti og kröfur hjá viðkomandi íslenskum stjórnvöldum eða sérfræðingum. Lesa meira →
Frequently asked questions
What is Mannanafnaskrá?expand_more
What does the naming committee actually check?expand_more
By when do we need to register the name?expand_more
How do we register the name?expand_more
Can we use a foreign name?expand_more
Is there a fee to apply for a new name?expand_more
Your next step
- Start my timeline
Registering the name has a deadline. Put it in your timeline.
- See the group
Other parents choosing names now
- →
Read next: The first weeks after birth, step by step