Full name: The full name of a person is recorded in the National Registry, with no limits to its length. The full name is printed in the person’s passport, ID card and other certificates issued by Registers Iceland. The full name is comprised of given name(s), middle name and surname(s). Example: Skúli Jónas Austfjörð Sigurðsson Ragnheiðarson (46 characters).
Given name(s): The first name is often referred to as the forename, or first name, and the second name as the middle name, but here, both of these are considered to be given names. Example: Skúli Jónas.
Middle name: Middle names are like surnames in that both men and women can have the same name. Names that are traditionally only given names for males or females are not used as middle names. Middle names do not undergo declension. Example: Austfjörð.
Surname: Last name(s). Example: Sigurðsson Ragnheiðarson.
Current transmitted name (max. 31 characters): This is the name currently transmitted for use by service providers that do not display the display name. Skúli J. A. S. Ragnheiðarson (28 characters).
Display name (max. 44 characters): The display name is forwarded to Registers Iceland’s service providers and is the name that public and private entities see displayed in their systems. The display name usually reflects the person’s full name but is limited to 44 characters. Example: Skúli J. Austfjörð Sigurðsson Ragnheiðarson (43 characters).
In recent years, Registers Iceland has been working on recording full names in the National Registry and correcting instances where a name has been shortened upon registration due to limitations of the system. It may therefore be possible that names of persons are not recorded in full in the registry, although it is technically possible to do so now.
What if the name is not on the official list of names?
The Personal Names Committee is part of the Ministry of the Justice. In order to simplify the application process for a change of name to a name not listed by the committee, Registers Iceland is the intermediary for all matters reviewed by the committee.
A charge is collected for the committee’s review.