Iceland’s Council of Human Names (MNN) rejected the name Valgard this week as the two last two letters of the name –rd are not compatible with the Icelandic language structure. The names Rikki, Haddi and Álfar were accepted.
According to Morgunbladid, a name must fulfill five criteria in order to be accepted by MNN: it has to adaptable to the Icelandic genitive ending or there has to be a tradition for it in the Icelandic language; it has to be compatible with the Icelandic language structure and should be spelled according to general spelling rules; the name should not cause its bearer trouble; and girls should be given female names and boys male names.
The male names Thór (usually not spelled with Th), Olav, Merkúr, Mýrmann, Austan and Hrafntýr were also accepted, while Jamie, Reese, Carlo, Antonio and Francisco were rejected.
MNN did not accept the female name Kristal, but gave Malía, Gísla, Jarún, Ótta, Júlíetta, Sólrós, Matthilda, Karí, Hjörtfrídur, Debora and Nenna a green light.
