That strange naming committee strikes again: Ariel allowed, Zion rejected
A baby girl at the maternity ward in Reykjavik. Mbl.is/ Ásdís Ásgeirsdóttir
New rulings by the Icelandic naming committee allow the girl's names Ariel, Alíana, Alísa and Selina but reject the names Zion and Roar for boys.
Naming children in Iceland is governed by Act No 45/1996 on Icelandic first names (link in Icelandic) and the Naming Committee, which is responsible for ruling on permissible Icelandic first names and handling other issues relating to what Icelanders may be called.
Icelandic names have to conform to regulations of Icelandic grammar and conjugation.
Recent polls show however that a majority of Icelanders support loosening the existing rules governing the naming of children.
Amongst other names that are now allowed are boys names Ylfingur and Jónsi.
Ariel is now a baby name for girls in Iceland. Screenshot/ Wikipedia
