Matthildur and Birnir Named Iceland’s Most Popular Baby Names

2026-03-26 - 16:12

In Iceland, Matthildur and Birnir were the leading choices for newborns last year, according to Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá). Out of 4,439 babies born, 34 girls were named Matthildur and 33 boys received the name Birnir. What's the Story? Most popular newborn names in Iceland (last year): Matthildur (girls), Birnir (boys) Total babies born: 4,439 Most common names among all living Icelanders: Jón (male), Guðrún (female) Babies in a swimming class in Reykjavík. Photo: Golli. Iceland Review. Parents often find picking a name both thrilling and challenging. Some draw inspiration from family members, while others explore more unique options. Trends also play a role, with certain names becoming fashionable in particular years. Following Matthildur and Birnir, the next most popular names were Matthías and Embla, chosen for 29 boys and 25 girls respectively. Jökull, Emil, Salka and Emma were also commonly selected. Comparing the last two years reveals shifting preferences. Birnir leapt from fifth to first place among boys’ names, displacing Emil and Jökull, previously the top choices in 2024. Similarly, Stefán surged from 47th to 9th place, making it one of the biggest risers. For girls, Matthildur climbed five spots, overtaking Aþena, while Hildur experienced a remarkable jump of 28 places, reaching the top ten. Jón and Guðrún are Most Common Names Across all living Icelanders, Jón remains the most widespread male name with 4,897 bearers, while Guðrún is the leading female name, held by 4,314 women. Other common names include Anna, Sigurður, Guðmundur, Kristín, Sigríður, Gunnar, Margrét and Ólafur.