Global Leaderboard 100 in view

Most Famous People from Iceland

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

Ranked by cross-verified academic notability — how it works

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.

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

Datelines

The biggest birthplaces of fame — every city is a doorway.