Name giving
A child must be given a name before the age of six months. The Personal Names Register includes all Icelandic names that have been approved. A special act of law applies to the giving of names.
Name giving
- A child may be given a name in the following manner:
- by being christened in the national church or in a registered religious association.
- by notification of the giving of a name to Registers Iceland which provides forms for this purpose.
- by notification to a church minister or to the head of a registered religious association of the giving of a name.
- A child may only be named by those who have custody of the child.
- If a child is to be given a name that is not listed on the National Register of Persons, an application must be submitted to the Personal Names Committee for approval of the name.
- A fee must be paid for a ruling concerning a new name that is not listed.
- The ruling of the Personal Names Committee cannot be overturned by another government body.
Rules for names
- Rules for Icelandic personal names provide that names must:
- be able to have a genitive ending or have been adopted through custom in the Icelandic language,
- must be adaptable to the structure of the Icelandic language and spelling conventions and
- does not cause the bearer embarrassment.
- No person can have more than three personal names.
Change in name
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All notifications regarding changes in names and requests for actual changes in names are processed by the National Registry. If an application regarding an actual change in name is approved, a licence is issued by the Minister of the Interior.