Most Famous People from Iceland

100 Icelanders in view out of 146

All 152,953
Iceland 146
Björk
Björk Icelandic Composer Born 1965
#241
Snorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson Icelandic Writer 1179 – 1241
#3,309
Leif Erikson
Leif Erikson Icelandic Explorer 970 – 1020
#7,168
Emilíana Torrini
Emilíana Torrini Icelandic Singer Born 1977
#13,523
Ólafur Arnalds
Ólafur Arnalds Icelandic Banjoist Born 1986
#13,923
Magnús Scheving
Magnús Scheving Icelandic Actor Born 1964
#14,103
SK
Stefán Karl Stefánsson Icelandic Actor 1975 – 2018
#20,345
ES
Egill Skallagrímsson Icelandic Poet 910 – 990
#26,514
Birkir Bjarnason
Birkir Bjarnason Icelandic Football Born 1988
#28,231
Jón Sigurðsson
Jón Sigurðsson Icelandic Politician 1811 – 1879
#35,316
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson Icelandic Politician Born 1943
#35,383
Erró
Erró Icelandic Painter Born 1932
#36,463
Ásgeir Trausti
Ásgeir Trausti Icelandic Singer Born 1992
#37,117
Jónas Hallgrímsson
Jónas Hallgrímsson Icelandic Poet 1807 – 1845
#42,534
Gunnar Gunnarsson
Gunnar Gunnarsson Icelandic Writer 1889 – 1975
#42,969
Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson
Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson Icelandic Football Born 1990
#45,034
Arnór Ingvi Traustason
Arnór Ingvi Traustason Icelandic Football Born 1993
#48,678
Árni Magnússon
Árni Magnússon Icelandic Academic 1663 – 1730
#51,739
SA
Sólveig Anspach Icelandic Film 1960 – 2015
#52,460
Jón Leifs
Jón Leifs Icelandic Conductor 1899 – 1968
#53,864
Jón Daði Böðvarsson
Jón Daði Böðvarsson Icelandic Football Born 1992
#55,622
Grétar Steinsson
Grétar Steinsson Icelandic Football Born 1982
#56,996
Jón Arason
Jón Arason Icelandic Bishop 1484 – 1550
#61,451
SF
Sæmundr fróði Icelandic Priest 1056 – 1133
#61,558
Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson
Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson Icelandic Football Born 1991
#64,220
SÞ
Sturla Þórðarson Icelandic Writer 1214 – 1284
#70,996
Saint Thorlak
Saint Thorlak Icelandic Priest 1133 – 1193
#71,556
Hannes Hafstein
Hannes Hafstein Icelandic Politician 1861 – 1922
#72,502
EB
Einar Benediktsson Icelandic Poet 1864 – 1940
#85,430
Frederik Schram
Frederik Schram Icelandic Football Born 1995
#87,414
Matthías Jochumsson
Matthías Jochumsson Icelandic Poet 1835 – 1920
#87,899
Halldór Ásgrímsson
Halldór Ásgrímsson Icelandic Politician 1947 – 2015
#90,742
Einar Jónsson
Einar Jónsson Icelandic Sculptor 1874 – 1954
#93,160
Eggert Ólafsson
Eggert Ólafsson Icelandic Explorer 1726 – 1768
#95,419
Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson
Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson Icelandic Composer 1847 – 1927
#98,446
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson Icelandic Religious 1924 – 1993
#103,311
Jón Guðni Fjóluson
Jón Guðni Fjóluson Icelandic Football Born 1989
#103,813
Þórbergur Þórðarson
Þórbergur Þórðarson Icelandic Poet 1888 – 1974
#106,712
Guðbergur Bergsson
Guðbergur Bergsson Icelandic Writer Born 1932
#106,733
Jón Árnason (author)
Jón Árnason (author) Icelandic Librarian 1819 – 1888
#109,742
Eyjólfur Sverrisson
Eyjólfur Sverrisson Icelandic Football Born 1968
#115,568
BS
Benedikt Sigurðsson Gröndal Icelandic Minister 1924 – 2010
#123,904
Guðjón Baldvinsson
Guðjón Baldvinsson Icelandic Football Born 1986
#126,352
SF
Samúel Friðjónsson Icelandic Football Born 1996
#140,339
Birgitta Haukdal
Birgitta Haukdal Icelandic Singer Born 1979
#141,694
Steinn Steinarr
Steinn Steinarr Icelandic Poet 1908 – 1958
#145,459
Vilhjálmur Einarsson
Vilhjálmur Einarsson Icelandic Athlete 1934 – 2019
#147,639
NT
Nína Tryggvadóttir Icelandic Painter 1913 – 1968
#151,874
Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir
Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir Icelandic Music Born 1989
#161,426
SJ
Svava Jakobsdóttir Icelandic Politician 1930 – 2004
#167,001
HJ
Hjálmar Jónsson (footballer) Icelandic Football Born 1980
#169,963
Finnur Magnússon
Finnur Magnússon Icelandic Anthropologist 1781 – 1847
#171,291
Stephan G. Stephansson
Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Poet 1853 – 1927
#177,407
Sveinbjörn Egilsson
Sveinbjörn Egilsson Icelandic Theologian 1791 – 1852
#178,358
Bjarni Thorarensen
Bjarni Thorarensen Icelandic Poet 1786 – 1841
#182,708
María Ólafsdóttir
María Ólafsdóttir Icelandic Singer Born 1993
#183,601
GK
Guðmundur Kamban Icelandic Film 1888 – 1945
#187,283
Jón Þorláksson
Jón Þorláksson Icelandic Politician 1877 – 1935
#190,328
Steingrímur J. Sigfússon
Steingrímur J. Sigfússon Icelandic Politician Born 1955
#194,434
Einar Hjörleifsson Kvaran
Einar Hjörleifsson Kvaran Icelandic Poet 1859 – 1938
#198,766
Jóhannes úr Kötlum
Jóhannes úr Kötlum Icelandic Author 1899 – 1972
#204,923
SH
Snorri Hjartarson Icelandic Poet 1906 – 1986
#207,079
Guðbrandur Vigfússon
Guðbrandur Vigfússon Icelandic Philologist 1827 – 1889
#210,973
TG
Tómas Guðmundsson Icelandic Poet 1901 – 1983
#222,669
Olaf de Fleur
Olaf de Fleur Icelandic Film Born 1975
#229,691
JJ
Jónas Jónsson Icelandic Politician 1885 – 1968
#230,029
Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson
Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson Icelandic Singer Born 1989
#230,974
Björgvin Páll Gústavsson
Björgvin Páll Gústavsson Icelandic Handball Born 1985
#235,305
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir
Dagný Brynjarsdóttir Icelandic Football Born 1991
#240,270
Steingrímur Steinþórsson
Steingrímur Steinþórsson Icelandic Politician 1893 – 1966
#240,851
Haraldur Sigurðsson
Haraldur Sigurðsson Icelandic Chemist Born 1939
#241,276
Ingólfr Arnarson
Ingólfr Arnarson Icelandic Explorer 849 – 910
#247,430
Stefán Gíslason
Stefán Gíslason Icelandic Football Born 1980
#249,979
FÁ
Fríða Á. Sigurðardóttir Icelandic Novelist 1940 – 2010
#255,023
Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir
Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir Icelandic Politician 1856 – 1940
#256,710
VD
Vilborg Davíðsdóttir Icelandic Writer Born 1965
#259,799
Sigurður Eggerz
Sigurður Eggerz Icelandic Politician 1875 – 1945
#261,540
Grímur Thomsen
Grímur Thomsen Icelandic Writer 1820 – 1896
#263,504
KG
Kristmann Guðmundsson Icelandic Writer 1901 – 1983
#265,346
JH
Jón Helgason (poet) Icelandic Philologist 1899 – 1986
#267,059
Þorsteinn Erlingsson
Þorsteinn Erlingsson Icelandic Poet 1858 – 1914
#268,621
Magnús Eiríksson
Magnús Eiríksson Icelandic Theologian 1806 – 1881
#270,456
H(
Hulda (poet) Icelandic Writer 1881 – 1946
#276,336
Steingrímur Thorsteinsson
Steingrímur Thorsteinsson Icelandic Poet 1831 – 1913
#288,684
Sigurbjörn Einarsson
Sigurbjörn Einarsson Icelandic Priest 1911 – 2008
#292,393
Andri Rúnar Bjarnason
Andri Rúnar Bjarnason Icelandic Football Born 1990
#296,656
SP
Sigurður Pálsson Icelandic Poet 1948 – 2017
#296,948
ST
Snorri Thorfinnsson Icelandic Son 1004 – 1090
#301,657
EB
Einar Bragi Icelandic Poet 1921 – 2005
#301,719
FJ
Finnur Jónsson (bishop) Icelandic Theologian 1704 – 1785
#303,912
OG
Oddur Gottskálksson Icelandic Bible 1514 – 1556
#308,907
Muggur
Muggur Icelandic Painter 1891 – 1924
#311,885
Björn M. Ólsen
Björn M. Ólsen Icelandic Scholar 1850 – 1919
#315,494
SM
Skúli Magnússon Icelandic Ämbetsman 1711 – 1794
#333,810
JÚ
Jón úr Vör Icelandic Poet 1917 – 2000
#357,108
Jón Thoroddsen elder
Jón Thoroddsen elder Icelandic Author 1818 – 1868
#358,981
SÓ
Sigurjón Ólafsson Icelandic Sculptor 1908 – 1982
#365,428
SG
Svavar Guðnason Icelandic Painter 1909 – 1988
#371,100
GG
Guðmundur G. Hagalín Icelandic Writer 1898 – 1985
#372,229
Dorrit Moussaieff
Dorrit Moussaieff Icelandic Editor Born 1950
#373,136

By the numbers

Inside Iceland

146 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous figure born in Iceland during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births in Iceland peaked in the 1980s with 14 people.

What Iceland Is Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Writing is Iceland's biggest group — 30% of all notables (43).

Iceland over-indexes on writing — 2.5× the global rate.

  1. Writing43
  2. Sports27
  3. Politics & Law26
  4. Music11
  5. Art & Design11
  6. Religion8
  7. Other6
  8. Film & TV6
  1. Writing432.5×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Iceland's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

155016001650170017501800185019001950
  • Writing
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Music
  • Art & Design
  • Religion
  • Other

Top Cities

Biggest birthplaces in this slice — click any to explore.