More Names Approved For Icelandic Lexicon

The Naming Committee has approved a new batch of names, one of which came through with eerie timing.

Vísir reports that the committee approved Eyjar as a man’s name, and also approved the women’s names Luna, Tildra, Hofdís, Eilíf and Angelína. This decision was made on Friday, four days before Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt announced they were divorcing (for the record, neither Brad nor Bradley are approved names in Iceland).

In addition, the committee also approved some foreigners’ requests to Icelandicise their names.

A woman whose father is named Paul requested that she be allowed to use the patronym Pálsdóttir, which was approved. Another, whose father’s name is Andrzej, requested permission to use the patronym Andradóttir, in addition to converting her given name, Katarzyna, to Katarína. Both of these requests were also approved.

The sun may be setting on the committee itself, as the Ministry of the Interior is working towards changing Iceland’s naming laws to be more in keeping with the times, and to allow for more parental discretion where naming children is concerned.