Nordic Island Name Generator
Norse isles, holms and skerries for any map
Generate Nordic island names in the Scandinavian manner, from Old Norse forms like Hrafnsey and Þórsey to Skarvøya, Björkö, Sælholm, Sandoy and Lilla Måsskär. The list mixes real islands of the Nordic countries and the Norse-settled Scottish isles with names built from the same elements, for maps, sagas, games and novels.
About Nordic island names
Most Nordic island names have two parts: what the island is known for, then a word for the kind of land it is. The commonest ending comes from Old Norse ey, 'island', spelled differently in each language: Icelandic -ey (Grímsey, Hrafnsey), Norwegian -øy or the definite -øya (Skarvøya), Swedish -ö and -ön (Björkö), Danish -ø (Læsø) and Faroese -oy (Sandoy). A holm is an islet (Storholmen, Sælholm) and a skerry is a bare rock (Swedish skär, Norwegian skjær, Icelandic sker).
The first part is practical. Islands are named for their birds and animals (raven, shag, seal, eider, wolf), for a person or a god (Gunnarsholm, Þórsey), or for color, size and position: Norwegian Ytre and Indre for outer and inner, Swedish Stora and Lilla for big and little. Norse settlers carried the habit west, so Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides are full of names in -ay and -a, such as Papa Westray.
This list mixes real islands of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroes, Åland and the Scottish isles with names built from the same elements and adds Old Norse forms from the sagas, such as Hrossey and Hlésey, for Viking Age fiction. Single names are not marked as real or built, because plain names like Storholmen belong to many islands at once.
How to choose Nordic island names
- Keep each name inside one language. Lilla Måsskär is Swedish from its qualifier to its last letter, and Ytre Vargøy is Norwegian; mixing the two on one name is the fastest way to make a map look wrong.
- Match the ending to the size. Give a large island a short old name or an -ey, -øy or -ö form, call an islet a holm, and keep skerry, skär and sker for rocks that barely clear the water.
- For a Viking Age setting, use the Old Norse and Icelandic forms, such as Hrafnsey, Þórsey or Hrossey, keep their ð and þ, and leave the modern definite forms like Skarvøya for later centuries.
- Name neighbors as a set. Pairs such as Stora Karlsö and Lilla Karlsö, or Ytre Vargøy and Indre Vargøy, make an invented archipelago read like a real chart.
- If you want a name that no real place carries, search a map first. Many entries here are real islands, and simple built names can turn out to exist somewhere along the coast.
Frequently asked questions
What do the endings -ey, -øy, -ö, -ø and -oy mean?
They are all the same word, 'island', descended from Old Norse ey. Icelandic keeps -ey (Grímsey), Norwegian writes -øy or the definite -øya (Skarvøya), Swedish -ö or -ön (Björkö), Danish -ø (Læsø) and Faroese -oy (Sandoy). In Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides the same ending became -ay or -a.
Are the names in this generator real islands?
Some are and some are not. The list mixes real islands with names built from the same Norse elements, and it does not mark which is which, since names such as Storholmen and Skarvøya are carried by many islands. The list was de-duplicated and screened, but it was not compared with a gazetteer, so look a name up if it matters whether a real place has it.
How do I pick an island name for a Viking or saga story?
Choose Old Norse forms rather than modern ones. Hrossey, Hjaltland and Hlésey are names the sagas use for real places, while entries such as Hrafnsey, Jötunsey and Valkyrjuey follow the same grammar for fiction. Keep the letters ð, þ and æ as written, since they are part of what makes the name read as Norse.
Can I use names from different Nordic languages on one map?
Yes, if each region keeps to one language, the way the real North Atlantic does. Put the -oy names such as Lundoy together, the Swedish skerries such as Svartskär in another sea, and the Scots forms such as Scarf Skerry and Muckle Flugga on a third coast. A single island should never borrow its qualifier from one language and its ending from another.
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All 1,000 Nordic island names
A: 50 names
- Æbelø
- Æðarhólmi
- Æðey
- Æðuhólmur
- Æðuoy
- Agersø
- Ægisey
- Akerøya
- Akurey
- Akureyjar
- Álfaey
- Álftey
- Älgö
- Alholmen
- Alkøya
- Alnön
- Alrø
- Als
- Alskär
- Alsta
- Amager
- Andey
- Andøya
- Ängsö
- Anholt
- Arholma
- Arkö
- Arnarey
- Arnarhólmi
- Arnarsker
- Arnisay
- Arnórsey
- Årø
- Askö
- Askøy
- Askrova
- Asmaløy
- Ásmundarstakkur
- Asperö
- Aspö
- Aspøya
- Åstol
- Ástríðarey
- Astridsholm
- Auðarey
- Auskerry
- Austurey
- Austvågøya
- Avernakø
- Averøya
B: 62 names
- Baa of Hascosay
- Baglhólmur
- Bågø
- Baldursey
- Balta
- Barmøya
- Barsø
- Bastøy
- Båtholmen
- Bigga
- Bíldsey
- Birkø
- Bispeholm
- Bjarkey
- Bjarkøya
- Bjarneyjar
- Björkholmen
- Björkö
- Bjørkøya
- Björnö
- Blå Jungfrun
- Bláey
- Bleikøya
- Blidö
- Bliksvær
- Blótey
- Bockholmen
- Bockskär
- Boðasker
- Bøgeholm
- Bogø
B, continued
- Bogskär
- Bohus-Malmön
- Bokn
- Bømlo
- Bonxie Holm
- Borðoy
- Borgundarhólmr
- Bornholm
- Bót
- Bragaey
- Brämön
- Brändöskär
- Brandsø
- Brandur
- Brännö
- Brattoy
- Breiðey
- Bremangerlandet
- Bressay
- Brimoy
- Brimsker
- Brokey
- Brommö
- Brother Isle
- Brough of Birsay
- Bruray
- Búgvin
- Bukkeholm
- Bukkøya
- Bullerö
- Burray
C: 8 names
- Calf of Eday
- Calf of Flotta
- Calf of Linga
- Calf of Man
- Christiansø
- Colsay
- Copinsay
- Corbie Holm
D: 17 names
- Damsay
- Dímun
- Djúpey
- Djúpsker
- Dønna
- Donsö
- Dore Holm
- Drangarnir
- Draugaey
- Drejø
- Drekaey
- Drottningarey
- Dunter Holm
- Dvergaey
- Dybsø
- Dyrön
- Dyrøya
E: 27 names
- East Burra
- Eckerö
- Eday
- Efri-Svartey
- Egholm
- Egilsey
- Eiðey
- Eikøya
- Einerholmen
- Einidrangur
- Ekerö
- Ekholmen
- Ekö
- Eldingarey
- Elleholm
- Endelave
- Engeløya
- Engey
- Ensay
- Enskär
- Eriksö
- Erne Stack
- Ertholmene
- Ertvågsøya
- Eskilsø
- Eystri-Sauðey
- Eysturoy
F: 53 names
- Fair Isle
- Fálkaey
- Falkøya
- Falster
- Fænø
- Faray
- Fåreholm
- Færeyjar
- Fårholmen
- Färingsö
- Fårö
- Faxasker
- Fejø
- Femø
- Feøy
- Fetlar
- Finnøy
- Fiskarholmen
- Fiskerholm
- Fjäderholmarna
- Fjón
- Flakstadøya
- Flatasay
- Flatasker
- Flatholmen
- Flatøya
- Flatskjær
- Fleinvær
- Flekkerøy
- Flesa
- Flesjarnar
- Flodday
- Flotta
- Föglö
- Fotö
- Foula
- Frejasholm
- Fremri-Kríuey
- Freyjuey
- Freysey
- Friðarey
- Friggjarey
- Froan
- Frösön
- Frøya
- Fuday
- Fuglasay
- Fugloy
- Fur
- Furillen
- Furuøya
- Fýlsey
- Fyn
G: 57 names
- Gaada Stack
- Gairsay
- Gällnö
- Galtarey
- Gáreksey
- Gæsaey
- Gåsholmen
- Gáshólmur
- Gåsö
- Gåsøya
- Gåsvær
- Gavnø
- Geirfuglaey
- Geirsey
- Geitey
- Geitøya
- Getskär
- Gighay
- Gimsøya
- Giske
- Giski
- Glænø
- Glimps Holm
- Goðaey
- Gormsholm
- Gotland
- Graemsay
- Gráey
- Gråhällan
- Gråholmen
- Granholmen
- Granön
- Granøya
- Gråøya
- Grasey
- Græsholm
- Gräsholmen
- Gråskär
- Gressholmen
- Gressøya
- Grímsey
- Grinda
- Grindoy
- Grip
- Grjótey
- Grønøya
- Grönskär
- Grótoy
- Grunay
- Grytøya
- Gubbholmen
- Guðrunaroy
- Gudrunøya
- Gullholmen
- Gunnarsey
- Gunnarsholm
- Gurskøya
H: 102 names
- Háasker
- Hadseløya
- Háey
- Hafísey
- Hafnarey
- Hafsey
- Háidrangur
- Hákarlsey
- Hákonarey
- Håkonsøya
- Hallands Väderö
- Hallgerðarey
- Hållö
- Hälsö
- Halten
- Hammarö
- Hankø
- Hanö
- Háoy
- Håøya
- Haparanda Sandskär
- Häradskär
- Haraldsey
- Haraldsholm
- Hareidlandet
- Harö
- Harøya
- Hasseløya
- Hasslö
- Hästholmen
- Hästö
- Hästskär
- Haugsey
- Haukøya
- Heimaey
- Helguey
- Helliar Holm
- Hellisay
- Hellisey
- Helluland
- Herðla
- Hergilsey
- Hernar
- Hersisey
- Hestasay
- Hesteholmen
- Hestey
- Hestmona
- Hestøya
- Hestur
- Hidra
H, continued
- Hindersön
- Hinn
- Hirsholmene
- Hísing
- Hisingen
- Hisøy
- Hitra
- Hjálmsey
- Hjálpandisey
- Hjaltland
- Hjarnø
- Hjörsey
- Hjortø
- Hlésey
- Högbonden
- Holm of Papa
- Holm of Sandray
- Holmön
- Holsnøy
- Hönö
- Hopen
- Höskuldsey
- Housay
- Hovedøya
- Hoy
- Hoyvíkshólmur
- Hrafnsey
- Hrappsey
- Hreinsey
- Hrímey
- Hrísey
- Hrólfsey
- Hrossey
- Huftarøy
- Huginsey
- Hugla
- Hummerholmen
- Hundey
- Huney
- Husarö
- Huvudskär
- Hvallátur
- Hvaløya
- Hvalsker
- Hvannhólmi
- Hveðn
- Hvideholm
- Hvidø
- Hvítasker
- Hvítey
- Hvítserkur
I: 19 names
- Iðunnarey
- Indre Grønøy
- Indre Rødskjær
- Indre Terneholm
- Indre Tjeldholmen
- Indre Vargøy
- Ingarö
- Ingeborgøya
- Ingmarsö
- Ingólfsey
- Ingridsö
- Inner Holm of Trondra
- Inner-Vikna
- Innerøya
- Innri-Langey
- Inre Gåsö
- Inre Svartskär
- Islay
- Ívist
J: 9 names
- Jan Mayen
- Jarlsey
- Jarlsholmen
- Járney
- Jegindø
- Jógvansoy
- Jökulsey
- Jötunsey
- Jura
K: 51 names
- Kálfey
- Kalsoy
- Kalvön
- Kalvøya
- Käringholmen
- Käringön
- Karlsö
- Karlsøya
- Karmøy
- Kastellholmen
- Kattøya
- Kattskär
- KÃ¥gen
- Kellingin
- Ketilsey
- Kettlesay
- Killegray
- Kinn
- Kirkeholm
- Kirkjubøhólmur
- Kirkjuey
- Kirkøy
- Kjerringholmen
- Klädesholmen
- Klakkeyjar
- Klaustursey
- Kobba Klintar
- Kökar
- Koltur
- Kongeholm
- Kongsholmen
- Konungsey
- Kópaey
- Kópoy
- Körmt
- Korpskär
- Krabbaey
- Kråkskär
- Kríuey
- Kríuhólmi
- Krokøya
- Kumlinge
- Kungsholmen
- Kunoy
- Kvaløya
- Kvamsøya
- Kvitvær
- Kyholm
- Kymmendö
- Kyrkholmen
- Kyrkogårdsö
L: 68 names
- Laksholmen
- Láland
- Lamb Holm
- Lamba
- Lambasay
- Lambay
- Lammøya
- Lammskär
- Landegode
- Landnámsey
- Langaland
- Langasay
- Langasker
- Langeland
- Langey
- Langholmen
- Langihólmi
- Langøya
- Langskipaey
- Lappo
- Læsø
- Leirey
- Leka
- Lemland
- Lidingö
- Lilla Älgö
- Lilla Björkö
- Lilla Karlsö
- Lilla Måsskär
- Lille Mågeholm
- Lille Torungen
- Lilleholmen
- Lillskär
- Lindholmen
L, continued
- Lindö
- Linga Holm
- Lingay
- Lítla Dímun
- Lítla Lundoy
- Litla-Hrafnsey
- Lítlidrangur
- Lítlihólmur
- Litløya
- Little Lingey
- Little Maa Skerry
- Livø
- Ljóðhús
- Ljungholmen
- Ljungö
- Ljungskär
- Ljusterö
- Lófót
- Lolland
- Loppa
- Lopranshólmur
- Losna
- Lumparland
- Lundahólmur
- Lundasker
- Lundey
- Lundoy
- Lundy
- Lunga
- Lunna Holm
- Lyngholmen
- Lynghólmi
- Lyngøya
- Lyø
M: 56 names
- Maa Skerry
- Máfasker
- Mågeholm
- Mågeø
- Magnusøya
- Måkeholmen
- Måkeskjær
- Málmey
- Malören
- Mánaey
- Mánáreyjar
- Mandø
- Märket
- Marstrandsön
- Måsgrundet
- Måsholmen
- Måskobben
- Masnedø
- Måsön
- Måsøya
- Måsskär
- Mellanön
- Mellom-Vikna
- Mellomøya
- Meløya
- Melrakkaey
- Merdø
- Miðey
- Miðnæturey
- Miðsker
- Midtøya
- Mjaðarey
- Mjóey
- Möja
- Møn
- Mörkö
- Mors
- Mosey
- Moskenesøya
- Mosterøy
- Mostr
- Mousa
- Muckle Fladda
- Muckle Flugga
- Muckle Green Holm
- Muckle Lingey
- Muckle Roe
- Muckle Scarf Skerry
- Muninsey
- Munsö
- Muskö
- Myken
- Mykines
- Mykineshólmur
- Mýl
- Mýrey
N: 25 names
- Nakholmen
- Nämdö
- Nåttarö
- Naustey
- Naustholmen
- Nautey
- Nekselø
- Njarðarey
- Nólsoy
- Nordaustlandet
- Nordkoster
- Norðoy
- Nordøya
- Nordre Sauøy
- Norðrey
- Nordskjær
- Norðurljósaey
- Nornaey
- Norra Granön
- Norra Sälö
- Norra Ulvön
- Norröra
- North Gruney
- North Ronaldsay
- Nyord
O: 32 names
- Öckerö
- Oddbjarnarsker
- Óðinsey
- Odinsholmen
- Oksoy
- Ólafsey
- Ólafseyjar
- Öland
- Olavsøya
- Olofsö
- Ombo
- Omø
- Ona
- Öngulsey
- Orfasay
- Örfirisey
- Orkneyjar
- Ormsay
- Ørnholmen
- Ornö
- Ørnøya
- Orø
- Örskär
- Orust
- Osterøy
- Østre Stenholm
- Oterøya
- Otrøya
- Otterøya
- Out Stack
- Oxholmen
- Oxna
P: 13 names
- Pálsoy
- Papa Little
- Papa Stour
- Papa Westray
- Papey
- Papey in meiri
- Peberholm
- Pileholm
- Præsteholm
- Prästholmen
- Prestholmen
- Prins Karls Forland
- Purkey
R: 49 names
- Raasay
- Radøy
- Ragnarsey
- Ragnhildsholmen
- Ragnhildsøya
- Ramna Stacks
- Ránarey
- Rauðey
- Ræveholm
- Ravnøya
- Ravnsoy
- Rävskär
- Rebbenesøya
- Refsey
- Reimersholme
- Reinøya
- Reksteren
- Rennesøy
- Resö
- Revøya
- Reyðoy
- Reynisdrangar
- Riddarholmen
- Ridön
- Rínansey
- Rindö
- Ringsö
- Ringvassøya
- Risvær
- Rituey
- Rjúpuey
- Rødholmen
- Rödlöga
- Rødøya
- Rødskjær
- Rögnvaldsey
- Rømø
- Romsø
- Rönnholmen
- Rörö
- Røst
- Rostungsey
- Rúfeyjar
- Runde
- Rundøya
- Runmarö
- Rusk Holm
- Rypøya
- Rysa Little
S: 170 names
- Sæfaraey
- Sälbådan
- Sælgrund
- Sælholm
- Sälholmen
- Sälkobben
- Saltholm
- Samphrey
- Sámsey
- Sandey
- Sandhólmur
- Sandö
- Sandoy
- Sandray
- Sandsøya
- Sanna
- Sauðey
- Sauðeyjar
- Sauholmen
- Scarf Skerry
- Scarp
- Seglinge
- Seiland
- Sejerø
- Selaön
- Selja
- Seløya
- Selsay
- Selsker
- Selund
- Selvær
- Senja
- Seskarö
- Seyðahólmur
- Seyðoy
- Shillay
- Signilskär
- Sigridsö
- Sigurðarey
- Sigurdsøya
- Síldarey
- Silfurey
- Simskäla
- Singö
- Sivholm
- Sjælland
- Sjúrðaroy
- Skaftö
- Skarfey
- Skarø
- Skarvholmen
- Skarvøya
- Skarvskjær
- Skåtøy
- Skeggjaey
- Skerry of Fetlar
S, continued
- Skíð
- Skjaldarey
- Skjernøy
- Skjervøya
- Sklinna
- Skógey
- Skrova
- Skrúður
- Skúmey
- Sleipnisey
- Slotsholmen
- Smaløya
- Småskär
- Smögen
- Smøla
- Snorraey
- Södra Granön
- Södra Långskär
- Södra Sälö
- Södra Ulvön
- Solan Stack
- Sólarey
- Sólundir
- Søndre Egeholm
- Søndre Sauøy
- Sørøya
- Sortø
- Sotra
- South Havra
- South Lingey
- South Ronaldsay
- Spildra
- Spitsbergen
- Sprogø
- Stacks of Vaila
- Staffa
- Stagley
- Stakksey
- Stakkur
- Steinoy
- Steinsay
- Stengrund
- Stenholm
- Stenö
- Stjernøya
- Stjörnuey
- Stora Älgö
- Stora Björkö
- Stóra Dímun
- Stora Essingen
- Stora Karlsö
- Stora Måsskär
- Stóra Skarvoy
- Stora Tärnö
- Stora Vargö
- Stóra-Arnarey
- Stord
S, continued
- Store Færder
- Store Kobbholmen
- Store Mågeholm
- Store Ravnøy
- Store Sælholm
- Storgrundet
- Storholmen
- Stóridrangur
- Stórihólmur
- Storjungfrun
- Storkeholm
- Stormey
- Stormolla
- Storön
- Storøya
- Storskär
- Straumey
- Streymoy
- Strjónsey
- Strynø
- Stumholmen
- Sturkö
- Styrsö
- Suðreyjar
- Suðuroy
- Sule Skerry
- Sule Stack
- Súlnasker
- Súlnastakkur
- Súluey
- Súluhólmur
- Sumbiarhólmur
- Sundey
- Surtsey
- Svaneholm
- Svanö
- Svanøya
- Svartasker
- Svartey
- Svartholmen
- Svartidrangur
- Svartihólmur
- Svartkobben
- Svartlöga
- Svartskär
- Svartsö
- Svefneyjar
- Sveinsøya
- Svendsholm
- Sverðsey
- Sviðnur
- Svíney
- Sweyn Holm
- Sweynsay
- Switha
- Swona
- Syðri-Brimey
T: 60 names
- Tallön
- Tangholm
- Tångskär
- Þarasker
- Tareholmen
- Tareskjær
- Tärnholmen
- Tärnskär
- Tåsinge
- Teistholmen
- Teistuey
- Terneholm
- Terneskjær
- Þerney
- Þernuhólmi
- Ternuoy
- The Drongs
- Thieves Holm
- Thurø
- Tindhólmur
- Þingey
- Tingoy
- Tirrick Holm
- Tjaldsey
- Tjaldursoy
- Tjärnö
- Tjeldholmen
- Tjeldøya
- Tjeldskjær
- Tjörn
- Tjørneholm
- Tjótta
- Tjurkö
- Tjurö
- Þokuey
- Tomma
- Þórðarey
- Þorgeirsey
- Torget
- Þormóðsey
- Þórsey
- Torsholmen
- Torsö
- Torsøya
- Þorsteinsey
- Þórunnarey
- Torvholmen
- Træna
- Þrastarey
- Þrídrangar
- Tröllaey
- Trøllhøvdi
- Tromøy
- Trondra
- Trossö
- Þrumuey
- Trysunda
- Tunø
- Tustna
- Tyrvist
U: 11 names
- Ugluey
- Úlfsey
- Ulveholm
- Ulvö
- Unst
- Urie Lingey
- Ursholmen
- Utklippan
- Utlängan
- Uyea
- Uynarey
V: 44 names
- Väddö
- Väderöarna
- Vágar
- Vågsøy
- Valdemarsholm
- Valderøya
- Valkyrjuey
- Vallay
- Valsey
- Vannøya
- Vardholmen
- Vårdö
- Vargholmen
- Vargö
- Vargøya
- Vargskär
- Värmdö
- Værøy
- Västerön
- Västra Tjurö
- Ve Skerries
- Vega
- Veierland
- Vejrø
- Vementry
- Ven
- Venø
- Vestmannaeyjar
- Vestre Stenholm
- Vestrey
- Vestri-Sauðey
- Vestvågøya
- Vetrarey
- Vibeholm
- Viðey
- Vigr
- Vigra
- Víkingaey
- Víkurey
- Vindey
- Vinga
- Visingsö
- Vitskär
- Vrångö
W: 2 names
- West Linga
- Wyre