Why Iceland is Called Iceland: Unraveling the Name’s Origins

A glacial lagoon in Iceland with floating icebergs. Only about 11% of Iceland is actually covered by a permanent ice sheet, yet this chilly name dates back to Viking explorers.

Many travelers to Iceland are surprised by its name – after all, much of the country is green and volcanically active, not just ice! One of the most common questions is, “Why is Iceland called Iceland?” The story behind Iceland’s name is rooted in history and legend, going back to the age of the Vikings. In this article, we’ll explore how Iceland got its name, the myths versus reality (including the Iceland vs. Greenland naming mystery), and what the name means for visitors today. The answer involves adventurous explorers, a bit of clever Viking lore, and the striking contrast between Iceland’s icy reputation and its actual landscape.

Iceland was one of the last large islands on Earth to be settled, and the first people to discover it gave it a few different names before “Iceland” finally stuck. Early medieval chronicles like Landnámabók (the Book of Settlements) record the exploits of Norse seafarers who stumbled upon this North Atlantic island. Here are the key figures and the names they bestowed on Iceland:

1. Naddodd – a Norwegian Viking blown off course in the 9th century – landed on the coast of an unknown island. As he departed, it began to snow, so he named the land “Snæland” (Snowland).
2. Garðar Svavarsson – a Swedish sailor – was the next to arrive. He circumnavigated the land, realized it was an island, and wintered there. Garðar named it “Garðarshólmi” (Garðar’s Isle) after himself.
3. Flóki Vilgerðarson – the first Norseman to sail to the island intentionally – spent a difficult winter there. In spring, from a mountain in the Westfjords, Flóki spotted a fjord filled with drift ice and decided to call the country “Ísland” (Iceland). The name Iceland has remained ever since.

Hrafna-Flóki, as Flóki Vilgerðarson is often called, earned his nickname by using three ravens (hrafnar in Old Norse) to help find the way to this new land. According to the Landnámabók, Flóki arrived around the late 860s AD and settled in a bay called Vatnsfjörður in the Westfjords. After enjoying a pleasant summer but failing to prepare enough fodder, Flóki’s livestock died in the harsh winter. Frustrated, he climbed a mountain where he saw the waters below clogged with ice – inspiring him to give Iceland its frosty name. Ironically, the summer before had been so green and beautiful that one of Flóki’s crew reportedly praised the land as being so fertile “even the grass dripped with butter” in the morning dew! Despite Flóki’s bitter naming, news of this rugged island (and perhaps that poetic description) did not deter other Vikings. A few years later, in 874 AD, Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent settler of Iceland, and more Norse families soon followed. The Viking Age settlement of Iceland had begun – and thanks to Flóki, the island had the enduring name we know today.

Iceland’s landscape in summer can be surprisingly green and lush, as seen here in a countryside valley. It’s almost as if the names of Iceland and Greenland got reversed – only around 11% of Iceland is covered by permanent ice, whereas over 80% of Greenland is buried under ice. However, a popular legend claims this was no accident. According to folklore, the Vikings deliberately gave Iceland and Greenland opposite-sounding names to mislead their rivals. In other words, Iceland was supposedly named to sound cold and uninviting (to keep others away), while Greenland got a pleasant name to lure settlers. Is there truth to this tale?

As the story goes, when Norse explorers discovered these two lands, they played a clever trick. Iceland, with its mossy fields and summer wildflowers, was too much of a treasure – so they called it “Iceland” to discourage others from coming. “Who would want to journey to a frozen wasteland?” they figured. At the same time, when Erik the Red later discovered Greenland, he allegedly chose the appealing name “Greenland” so that people would be tempted to join him there. In fact, saga sources do note that Erik the Red promoted Greenland to Icelanders as a land of opportunity. He thought the name would “make the ice-covered island sound lush and fertile” to potential colonists. This trick worked – a few hundred settlers sailed off to Greenland, inspired by the promise of a green new land.

There is some truth mixed with misconception here. Erik the Red did name Greenland, and likely with hope of attracting settlers, but Iceland’s name wasn’t chosen as part of the same scheme. Flóki named Iceland from his personal experience with ice, not as a deception. And why is Iceland greener than Greenland? Medieval climate data suggest that around the time of Viking exploration (c. 800–1200 AD), Greenland’s southern coast was actually milder and greener than today. Greenland only became more ice-bound during the Little Ice Age a few centuries later. Iceland, meanwhile, has always had a mix of ice and green. It sits farther south and benefits from the warming Gulf Stream current, which today keeps Iceland roughly 10°C warmer on average than Greenland at the same latitude. In short, the names weren’t “swapped” on purpose – they reflected the Norse explorers’ impressions at the time. It is a fun coincidence that Iceland is relatively green and Greenland mostly ice. This irony isn’t lost on visitors: standing on a grassy hillside in Iceland under the midnight sun, you might wonder if “Iceland” is a misnomer – until you glimpse a distant glacier cap on the horizon, reminding you how it got its name.

The name Iceland might sound chilly, but it only tells half the story. This island is often called “the Land of Fire and Ice” because of its unique combination of glaciers and volcanoes. On one hand, Iceland is home to massive ice caps like Vatnajökull, which alone covers about 8% of the country. Dozens of glaciers cover Iceland’s mountains and highlands, contributing to that original icy image. On the other hand, the island sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is extremely geologically active – there are around 30 active volcanic systems in Iceland, and eruptions (like Eyjafjallajökull’s 2010 spectacle) periodically remind the world of Iceland’s fiery side. This dynamic environment means you can find frozen ice caves and steaming geothermal hot springs all in one trip.

Exploring inside an ice cave in an Icelandic glacier – a magical experience for visitors. Despite its name, Iceland offers both icy adventures and warm hospitality. Many glaciers, like Vatnajökull, sit atop volcanoes, truly making Iceland the “Land of Fire and Ice.”

For tourists, the story behind Iceland’s name is more than a history lesson – it’s an invitation to explore. You can walk on a glacier or even venture into ice tunnels carved within them, to see the brilliant blue ice that earned Iceland its name. Not far away, you might soak in a natural hot spring heated by volcanic forces beneath the earth. In the Westfjords, adventurous travelers can visit Vatnsfjörður, the very fjord where Flóki wintered. It’s now a quiet nature reserve of rocky shores and birch woodlands, overlooking the bay where icebergs once drifted. Standing there, you can imagine Flóki’s view as he named Iceland – and you might come up with a few name ideas of your own for this beautiful land.

Despite its frosty name, Iceland today is a vibrant, hospitable country full of contrast. In summer, purple lupine flowers carpet the green hillsides, while in winter the glaciers and snow create otherworldly scenes. This contrast is exactly what makes Iceland special. The name Iceland might sound cold, but as any visitor discovers, the island’s natural wonders and the warmth of its people leave a lasting impression. In the end, perhaps the Vikings chose the right name – Iceland’s blend of ice, fire, and lush beauty is so unique that it truly defies any simple label. And once you experience it for yourself, you’ll understand why, name aside, Iceland is often simply described as paradise.

Iceland’s name may have been inspired by a cold fjord and a harsh winter, but it has come to represent something far richer: a land of extremes, contrast, and unforgettable beauty. From Viking explorers like Flóki Vilgerðarson naming the island after glimpsing drifting ice, to today’s travelers marveling at lava fields, glaciers, and green valleys, the story of Iceland’s name reflects the island’s dynamic spirit.

While the name Iceland might initially conjure images of a frozen wasteland, visitors quickly discover a landscape full of life — where fire and ice meet, and ancient sagas still echo in the hills. Whether you’re exploring glaciers, relaxing in geothermal springs, or retracing the footsteps of Norse adventurers, Iceland invites you to experience its raw nature and rich history firsthand.

So why is Iceland called Iceland? Because it’s a land where the ice is just the beginning — and every name, like every legend, has deeper layers waiting to be explored.