Iceland
/ˈaɪs.lənd/noun
An island country in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Did you know?The name was popularized in Old Norse sources and later reinforced by Norse settlers, even though the island has greener regions than its icy reputation suggests.
Etymological Timeline
Old Norse period
Old Norse
Ísland
“Ice land; the island’s name”
10th Century
Old Norse
Ísland
“Name used in Norse settlement and saga tradition”
12th Century
Latin
Islandia
“Latinized form used in medieval writings”
14th Century
Middle English
Iland / Island
“Name for the North Atlantic island, influenced by Latin and Norse forms”
Modern English
English
Iceland
“The modern name of the country”