160+ Icelandic Dog Names You’ll Love
Have you ever been to Iceland? Even if you haven’t, you’re sure to have seen the photographs of stunning scenery, hot lagoons, and the beautiful northern lights. It’s a country steeped in history and culture and one on many people’s bucket lists.
We quite often think of the Vikings when we think of Iceland, but technically the first people to step foot in the country weren’t Vikings, because this is only a term used for raiders and there was no one living in Iceland at the time!
Whilst that’s an interesting historical fact, that’s not why you’re here. But, the history and mythicism of the country mean there are some great Icelandic dog names for you to pick for your pooch. Everything from gods and animals to food and colors. They really are beautiful!
Female Icelandic Dog Names
Here are some of our favorite modern and traditional Icelandic names for your pups. We can’t promise we’ll help with the pronunciation, but we will with the meaning!
Over the past few years, we have curated more than 20,000 dog names.
In just a few easy steps, you can discover a wide array of wonderful names, each selected to match your dog’s size, color, gender, personality, and beyond. Plus, there's the option to save your top picks and share them with friends or family.
It will only take two minutes and it's completely free!
| Alda | An Old Norse word to mean rich, wise, and honorable. Today it means wave |
| Ása | Female God and short form for other names beginning with áss |
| Ástríður | How Ástríður is your pup? The answer should be very (it means beautiful)! |
| Audbjorg | A name given to preserve prosperity |
| Birna | Birna is a popular girl’s name in Iceland and means “bear”. Perfect for a big or small teddy bear pup! |
| Birta | Means bright and vibrant – great for a colorful and energetic dog like the Australian Shepherd |
| Björk | You might not think it from the famous singer, but Björk actually means “birch tree”! |
| Dagny | An Old Norse name used for boys and girls and means new day |
| Edda | How many puppies has your dog had? This could be a perfect one if she’s a great-grandmother! |
| Eir | Pronounced ‘ey’ this is a great name for cheeky pups. “Ey, Eir – get out the garbage!” |
| Elfa | You might be able to guess this one… perfect for Christmas pooches |
| Freyja | Quite literally means “lady” and is the goddess of love. Perfect for an elegant Afghan Hound |
| Frida | Meaning beloved, this is a great name for your furry best friend |
| Groa | Means “to grow” – perfect for your tiny canine companion |
| Guðrún | An Old Norse name to mean “God's secret lore” |
| Heidrun | This translates to mean “bright secret”. In mythology, it’s a name given to a goat that ate from the tree of life to produce mead! |
| Helga | One for any fans of the series Vikings. Helga literally means “blessed” which, in the series, she definitely wasn’t! |
| Hildur | Derived from Old Norse to mean “battle” |
| Hrefna | Icelandic name for raven – a great choice for a black Norwegian Elk Hound |
| Ingibjorg | “Ing” means God of fertility so Ingibjorg means “with help of the god of fertility”. Not exactly catchy in English, but definitely cute! |
| Ingunn | Loved by Froy (Old Norse word for lady) |
| Jenný | Pronounced more “Yenny”, this means fair one – perfect for a beige colored dog |
| Jóhanna | Originally means “God is gracious” |
| Katla | A pretty name, right? It means helmet |
| Kolbrun | It’s a law in Iceland that all Schnauzers must be called Kolbrun. It literally translates as “black eyebrows” |
| Kristín | Meaning “bright” and “noble”, it's the perfect name for a regal pooch |
| Lara | Comes from the Latin name for “protection” – a great choice for any guard dog! |
| Lilja | The Icelandic name for a popular flower |
| Ljot | The Icelandic origin means light |
| Maeja | Similar to the common name Maria, this beautiful name means splendid |
| Margrjet | An alternative to Margaret, this word means pearl! |
| Njála | This is one of our favorites and means champion – perfect for any winning pooch |
| Olga | It might not be the most common dog day, but Olga actually means holy |
| Pála | Meaning small, Pála is a wonderful choice for any toy breed |
| Ragna | Not to be confused with the beautiful Ragnar from the series Vikings, Ragna actually means “advice” or “council” |
| Rakel | Who knew after all these years Rachel meant “ewe”. The perfect dog name for a herding pup |
| Runa | Another beautiful name for a female pooch meaning “hidden” |
| Rut | Maybe not the cutest name for a dog but Rut is actually the Icelandic for Ruth |
| Saga | This is a great one when it comes to names for dogs. It means “seeing one” and is ideal for any alert pups! |
| Salka | Beautiful name and Icelandic for Sarah |
| Sif | Norse for “bride” |
| Sigríður | Sigríður means “peaceful champion” and is really giving us Greyhound vibes |
| Sigrún | Sigrún was a valkyrie of Norse mythology and literally means “victory rune” |
| Svana | How beautiful is that name for your pet? It means “like a swan”, so great for white dogs! |
| Theodora | Is your pooch a gift from the gods? Then Theodora is the perfect name! |
| Thordis | Not quite as catchy as Thor, but it actually means “Thor’s Goddess” – which is a pretty cool name for any dog |
| Unnur | Meaning “grant love to someone” we think this is perfect (even if it’s not that attractive) for any adoring pup who loves to cuddle |
| Valdis | Whilst a pretty name, it actually means “goddess of the dead”, so you might want to rethink that one |
| Vigdis | This, however, means “war goddess” and is an amazing choice for bold and courageous dogs |
| Ylfa | Pronounced a little more like “Ilva”, this is the perfect (and beautiful) choice for all wolf-like dogs |
Male Icelandic Dog Names
Of course, Thor is amongst them. But there are some other amazing male names inspired by famous Icelandic gods and figures throughout time. Some of them have really interesting translations!
| Áki | Áki the Akita, right? |
| Ármann | The word for “messenger” |
| Árni | What a great name for boy dogs! Árni means “eagle” – perfect for any hunting dogs |
| Baldur | “Prince” is already quite a common name for pups, so why not switch it up for the Icelandic word? |
| Birgir | Means “helper”, “savior”, or “protector” |
| Birkir | There are a couple of trees on this list and this one means “birch” |
| Bjarni | We already know what the female word for “bear” is, and this is the male! |
| Bjartur | Pronounced more “Pjartur”, this is a common Icelandic dog name meaning “bright” |
| Björn | We’re guessing there are a lot of bears in Iceland! This is another one |
| Dagur | Norse word for “day” |
| Daníel | Daniel in English, means “God is my judge” – who knew! |
| Einar | Means “battle” or “one leader” |
| Elías | Elías is a popular boy’s name from “Elijah” in Hebrew |
| Freyr | When it comes to Norse gods, Freyr is kind of a big deal! |
| Friðrik | Means “peace-keeper” |
| Guðmundur | Unlikely to be the number one for dog names in America but it does mean “under God's protection” |
| Håkon | Looking for a name for your first pup? Meaning “firstborn son”, this could be a good choice! |
| Haraldur | A strong name for a strong dog. Haraldur means “heroic leader”! |
| Helgi | How cute would that be for an adorable Poodle mix? It means “blessed” – which you would be to have such a beautiful dog! |
| Hjalti | Maybe not the easiest to say, it means “man from Hjaltland” |
| Ingvar | Means “God's warrior” |
| Isak | Do you have a comedy pup that loves attention? Meaning “laughter”, Isak could be a great choice (it’s also one of the easier ones to pronounce)! |
| Jakob | What doesn’t your pup help you with? Jakob means “support”, and is the ideal name for all those caring pups! |
| Jóhann | Means “God is merciful” |
| Jökull | Many people think of glaciers when it comes to Iceland, so what better Icelandic name to call your snowy dogs! |
| Jón | “God is gracious” (there are a couple more religious ones coming up…) |
| Kristján | 1) Follower of Christ |
| Kristofer | 2) Bearing Christ |
| Larus | 3) Crowned with laurel |
| Leifur | 4) Heir |
| Ludvik/Lúðvík | Famous warrior (we like Ludvik the Labrador) |
| Magnús | “The greatest” – what good boy doesn’t deserve to be called Magnús? |
| Matthias | 5) Gift of God |
| Njáll | “Neil” Son of Thorgeir, the lawspeaker |
| Ólafur | Who doesn’t love a talking snowman? |
| Ölvir | An alternative to Oliver meaning “protection” |
| Oskar | Looking for a strong name for your pup? Oskar means “spear of the Gods” |
| Páll | A cute name for your furry friend, but you’ll actually be calling them “skin of parchment”. Which is a little odd |
| Pétur | Why do dogs catch rocks in the river? If yours does, you might want to call them the Icelandic name for rock! |
| Ragnar | Another one for any Vikings fans. Meaning “judgment”, we’ve judged and he beats Jon from Game of Thrones any day |
| Rúnar | Rúnar the Rottweiler? |
| Sigurður | A common name in Iceland meaning “guardian of victory” |
| Snorri | A very cute name for a Pug, but let’s hope they don’t mistake their name for a command. Snorri means “attack”! |
| Stefán | Means “crown” or “wreath” in Icelandic |
| Steinn | The Icelandic word for “cliff” or “rock” |
| Tomas | They say dogs look like their owners. Is your pup your “twin”? Tomas could be a good name! |
| Tryggvi | Not the easiest word to call your doggo, but it does mean “trustworthy” and who can’t depend on their pooch? |
| Úlfur | Another great one if you’ve got a Husky or a wolf-like pup |
| Víðir | Icelandic word for “willow tree” |
| Þórr | The God Thor (for those Chris Hemsworth lovers). We can definitely imagine Thor as the name for a Golden Retriever |
Icelandic Dog Names Inspired by Cities and Places
Iceland is full of stunning natural parks and incredible views. What better name to call your pooch than a name inspired by a waterfall, lake, or city?
| Akureyri | Northern capital and close to the Eyjafjörður Fjord |
| Asbyrgi | A large glacial canyon and forest in the north of the country |
| Dettifoss | True, people might think you’re calling out “dental floss” in the park, but Dettifoss is actually the second most powerful waterfall in Europe! |
| Dynjandi | Pronounced “din-yan-dee”, it’s another waterfall |
| Fjaðrárgljúfur | Are you really going to attempt to call your pup this? |
| Glymur | Another waterfall for a water-loving doggo |
| Godafoss | What a great name for a pup! And it’s another waterfall |
| Grjótagjá | Again, maybe not one you’ll attempt to call but google it. It’s a stunning hot spring cave |
| Gullfoss | Another waterfall… |
| Háifoss | And another |
| Heimaey | This is the largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago and a perfect name for a beautiful and wild pup |
| Hornstrandir | A natural reserve full of wildflowers (when it’s not under ice) |
| Húsavík | A beautiful, and colorful small town on the north coast |
| Jökulsárlón | If you’re looking for ice this is the name for you. It’s an incredible lagoon full of icebergs |
| Kópavogur | The 2nd largest city in the country |
| Myvatn | A volcanic lake in northern Iceland and the country’s capital of the Northern Lights! |
| Rauðasandur | Beaches might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to Iceland but there are many beautiful ones! Perfect for doggos that like sandy paws |
| Reykjanes | No, not the capital. A large and beautiful peninsula in Iceland |
| Reykjavík | This is the capital |
| Reynisfjara | Again, maybe a bit of a mouthful but this is a great name for black dogs as it’s a black beach in the south of the country |
| Seljalandsfoss | Another waterfall |
| Skaftafell | A beautiful national park full of glaciers, waterfalls, and impressive rock formations |
| Skógafoss | We like this for a Saluki |
| Snæfellsnes | A peninsula in the west of Iceland with dramatic landscapes and stunning views |
| Sog | A personal favorite. Sog the dog |
| Thingvellir | A national park in Iceland. Just don’t shorten your dog’s name to “thing” |
| Vatnajokull | Another national park but this is actually the largest ice cap in the country! |
| Vik | Vik usually means a bay (and yes, it is part of the word Viking because they lived in bays). It’s also a specific village in the south of Iceland |
| Westfjords | A big peninsula full of untouched nature and amazing cliffs |
Icelandic Dog Names Inspired by Colors
Sometimes the best inspiration comes from your pooch’s coat color and a different language. True, there aren’t that many purple dogs – but it’s just such a great word!
| Blár | Blue |
| Bleikur | Pink |
| Brúnn | Brown |
| Fjólublár | Purple |
| Grænn | Green |
| Grár | Grey |
| Gulur | Yellow |
| Hvítur | White |
| Rauður | Red |
| Svartur | Black |
Cool Words in Icelandic
Because why not!
| Bjór | Not to be confused with Bjórn, that’s “bear”. This is Bjór, which means “beer” |
| Dögun | Icelandic word for “dawn” |
| Einn | One |
| Eldi | Meaning “fire”, it’s a great name for fiery pups such as the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Irish Setter |
| Fimm | Five |
| Fjall | Fjall means “mountain” and is such a good name for a St Bernard (or a pup that looks like a St Bernard)! |
| Fjórir | Four |
| Himinn | Sky is a popular name for pups, so why not go for the Icelandic version? |
| Hundur | There are some owners that just call their dog “dog”. You could also go for the Icelandic word… |
| Ís | “Ice”. A good name if you’re looking for a real name inspired by the land of Ice |
| Nótt | This is the perfect name for a jet-black pup (or a puppy that likes to stay up all night)! |
| Skál | Cheers! |
| Snjór | Another personal favorite – it just rolls off the tongue and means “snow”! |
| Tveir | Two |
| Vatn | Vatn means “water”, so a great name for dogs that love jumping in and out of small and large puddles! |
| þrír | Three |
| Sól | Ideal for any sunny colored doggos (like the Golden Retriever and Labrador) |
| Tungl | Isn’t that a great name for the moon? Tungl the Terrier has a certain ring to it! |
Things You Should Consider Before Giving Your Dog an Icelandic Name
As you can tell from Fjólublár, Tryggvi, and Snæfellsnes, Icelandic pronunciation can be a little tricky. You need to remember that you’ll be saying the name many times a day, calling it in the street, and talking about your dog with your friends. So, it needs to be something you can say well (and it will help if they can too).
You can also think about your pup’s personality and even their breed. Are they a water-loving dog breed? Then maybe one of the (many) waterfalls? Or what about if they’re a protective guard dog? Then maybe a warrior or god name? There are so many to choose from!
The most important thing, however, is that you like the name and it suits your pooch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Did The Vikings Name Their Dogs?
Historians can’t be 100% sure what Vikings actually called their dogs, but they do know they kept them as pets. In all likelihood, they had dogs for protection, hunting, and traveling.
The Icelandic word for dog is hundur, and it’s quite possible that some dogs were simply called this. Other ideas are Geri and Freki who are God Odin’s two loyal pets. In many Icelandic sagas, it even says that dogs accompanied their Viking warrior owners to Valhalla!
What Dogs Are Native to Iceland?
More like ‘dog’ because there’s only one – the Icelandic Sheepdog. These charming small to medium-sized dogs are friendly, loyal, and dedicated to their job. They were certainly born to herd sheep.
Icelandic Sheepdogs are considered to be spitz-dogs and their thick fur is recognized in 10 colors by the AKC. They often have the iconic spitz tail, pointy ears, bushy coat, and fox-like face.
These dogs get on well with humans and like to have canine friends to play with. They don’t like being left alone for long periods and need plenty of mental and physical stimulation. They’ll love it if you give them a job to do and will enjoy doggy classes too.
And there you are! More than 160 Icelandic dog names for you to call your beloved pet. Which one can you imagine calling your pooch?
I’m Charlotte, a content and copywriter from the North of England and currently living in Berlin. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, so writing about dogs is a total pleasure! I love all kinds of dogs and their cheeky personalities, but I’d have to say Weimaraners are my favourite!
