A view from Hallgrimskirkja towards Skólavörðurstígur
This is part in the article series Streets and Squares that provide some interesting background information on street signs around the world. A fun way to learn about the history and culture of the cities you visit or even live in! This time we go to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, founded in 1785.
We don’t find many eponymous streets in Reykjavik, at least not ones named after people. So we make an exception here, and look mainly at the streets named after Norse gods instead. At the same time you can learn more about Norse mythology, and of course, if you followed the television series Vikings, you might already be quite acquainted with these names. A great help writing this article was Norse Mythology Blog by Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried, thanks for that!
As always, clicking on the addresses will open Google Maps for you, and clicking on the names will lead to the person’s (or god’s) Wikipedia page.
Some vocabulary to help you along: braut (road), brú (bridge), garður (garden), gata (street), plac (square), stígur (lane), stræti (street), torg (square), vegur (road), völlur (field).
Arngrímsgata - Arnsgrím was a berserker who features heavily in Norse mythology. In Hervarar saga, Gesta Danorum, Lay of Hyndla, and in many Faroese ballads and Orvar-Odd’s saga.
Baldursgata - named after Baldur (Baldr). The bright and beautiful son of Odin and Frigg. Better known for his death and afterlife. Killed by a mistletoe, Balder will return after Ragnarök.
Flókagata - named after Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson, the first Norseman to intentionally sail to Iceland. The precise year of his arrival is not clear, but he left for the journey in 868, to search for the land found by Garðar Svavarsson. Once there, he one day spotted a large fjord full of drift ice, and thus named the entire island Ísland.
Freyjugata - named after Freyja, the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and seiðr. A member of the Vanir, like her twin brother Freyr. Friday is Frey’s Day (Swedish fredag, German Freitag). StreetView
Lokastígur - named after Loki, a shape shifter with varying relations with the other gods. The positive relations end with his role in engineering the death of Baldr. So quite appropriately, the streets of Loki and Baldur in Reykjavik cross each other. - Icenews
Njárdargata - named after Njörðr who was a god among the Vanir, and the father of Freyr and Freyja. Associated with the sea, seafaring, wind, fishing, wealth, and crop fertility.
ÓÐinsgata - named after Odin, the All-father of the Norse pantheon, and the husband of the goddess Frigg. He is the god who stirs anger in human hearts and delights in war, but also one who inspires creativity. Wednesday is Odin’s day (Swedish onsdag <- Odens dag, Middle-English Wednesdei “<- day of Woden, the English equivalent to Odin). StreetView
Ránargata - named after Rán, a goddess and a personification of the sea. Has with husband Ægir nine daughters who personify waves.
Ðórsgata - named after Thor, the god on thunder. Thursday is Thor’s Day. (modern English Thursday derives from Old English þunresdæġ), in Swedish torsdag, and in German Donnerstag, i.e. thunder day). Thor and his hammer (Mjölnir) has inspired numerous works of art in modern culture. But did you know that it was used not only as a devastating weapon but also as a divine instrument to provide blessings? - StreetView -
Tryggvagata - Tryggvi Þórhallsson (1889-1936) was a politician and the 5th Prime Minister of Iceland. StreetView
Válastígur - named after Váli, son of Odin and the giantess Rindr. Born for the sole purpose of avenging Baldr. He grew to full adulthood within one day of his birth, and slew Höðr before going on to Loki. Prophesied to survive Ragnarök.
A to Z FROM REYKJAVIK
i.e. a list of people born in Reykjavik. Just another fun way to know something more of the city, picking a person or two for each alphabet. Only the year of birth given here. To be continued.
B - Björk* Guðmundsdóttir* singer (1965)
D - Róbert Ingi Douglas* film director/ screenwriter (1973)
F - Vigdís Finnbogadóttir* politician/the fourth President of Iceland (1930) - Kristrún Frostadóttir* politician/PM (1988)
G - Albert Gudmundsson* football player (1997)
H - Aníta Hinriksdóttir* middle-distance runner/WJC (1996)
I - Arnaldur Indriðason* crime fiction writer (1961)
J - Jóhann Jòhansson* composer (1969)
K - Baltasar Kormákur* actor/director/producer (1966) - Stefán Kristjánsson* chess player/ poker player (1982)
L - Halldór Laxness* (b Guðjónsson) writer/N (1902)
M - Louisa Matthíasdóttir* Icelandic-American painter (1917)
O - Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson* businessman (PlayStation)/writer (1962)
R - Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir* a.k.a. Ragga Ragnars - swimmer/actress (Vikings) (1984)
S - Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir* politician/prime minister (1942)
T - Tryggvi Þórhallsson* politician/prime minister (1889) - Bjarni Tryggvason* Icelandic-Canadian engineer/astronaut (1945)
V - Jórunn Viðar* pianist/composer (1918)
Updated 2025-0113
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjav%C3%ADk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_names_in_Iceland
https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flokkur:Vegir_%C3%A1_%C3%8Dslandi
https://reykjavik.is/sites/default/files/reykjavik-municipal-plan-2010-2030.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Reykjav%C3%ADk