Today was a dark day for the Arianas of Iceland.
Vísir reports that the Naming Committee has approved and rejected a new batch of names for the Icelandic lexicon.
Where women’s names go, Yngveldur, Beata and Jóhanndína were approved, but Dyljá, Swanhildur and Adriana were rejected. Likewise, the second name* Pollux was also rejected.
Men’s names fared better, though. Gestar, Mummi, Sæmar, Raknar, Jötunn, Manuel, Líó, Tobbi, Freymann and Olli were all approved as names you can give to an Icelandic male child.
The Naming Committee uses two criteria for approving a name: historical precedent and the ability to decline the name in accordance with Icelandic grammar. The institution has been criticised as an anachronism, and the Ministry of the Interior has indicated that they would like to phase the Naming Committee out.
While Icelanders are legally bound to abide Naming Committee rulings, Icelandic residents who are not citizens are not bound to naming laws.
* More like a second part of a first name than a middle name.
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