Personal names



First names
A Frilandic first name usually consists of two parts, although there are also names that consist of one of three parts. A example of a two-piece name is Waldhar, which consists of "wald" (ruler) and "har" (warrior). So the meaning of this name is "Ruling warrior". By the way, the English version of this name is Walter.
        Every name has a meaning and often consists of characteristics that people would like their child to possess. From way back warlike names have always been popular but also names like Skaunmod ("Clear mood"/"Beautiful soul") and Unwod ("Unrage"/"Calm") occur.
        Religion also plays a role in naming: many people for example are named after a deceased ancestor in the hope that the soul of this ancestor will be reborn in the new child. Some names also have a clearly religious meaning, examples are Ansgar ("Spear of the gods"), Ingberg ("protected by the god Ing") and Tishar ("Warrior of the god Ti").
        The last part of a name is sometimes gender-specific: names that end with a weapon like for example Friþgaiz ("Peace-spear") and Grembard ("Grim-axe") are typically male names, while the endings -hild ("battle") and -gunþ ("fight") despite their warlike nature only occur in female names like Brunhild ("Armoured warrioress") and Algunþ ("All-fightress"). Despite this there are numerous possible combinations of name parts, which can make Frilandic names very diverse and poetic.

Surnames
In contradiction to the rest of Europe Friland never started using inheritable family names. Instead the people still use the patronymic just like in Iceland: everybody is automatically named after the father. It is also possible to be named after the mother (matronymic), but this is unusual and the parents or the adult child itself have to make this change. The same applies if the child wants to be named after an adoptive parent or after neither parent. In the latter case for example, the name of a grandparent or the place of birth can be chosen.
        A patronymic consists of the name of the father with the suffix -sun (son) or -duhter (daughter), for example the son of Segmer will receive the patronymic "Segmerssun" (Segmer's son) and his daughter "Segmersduhter" (Segmer's daughter). Since 2018 it is also possible to change the patronymic to the gender neutral -barn (-child) or use the names of both parents: Wergaiz, the son of Radgisal and Hailrun, will in that case be named "Wergaiz Radgisal and Hailrunssun".
        Immigrants are allowed to keep using their original family name as a middle name, this also goes for noble names. Noble or administrative titles are usually placed before the name itself. It's unusual to call someone by his patronymic; Raginmund Arnwidssun is therefore not called "mister Arnwidssun" but "mister Raginmund".

Nicknames
Nicknames are very common in Friland, someone who is named Gremwig for example will often be called "Gremme" or "Wigge" by his friends. Also nicknames like "Rastiga" (Calm one) and "Langa" (Tall one) are common, sometimes these names have become so established that someone no longer uses his original name but his nickname instead. Also additions like "þa Rauda" (the Red one) or "þa Diga" (the Fat one) are common, just like nicknames that denote origin like "fan Stolburg" (from Stolburg) or a date of birth, like "Þreandahttig" (Eighty-three), which often serve to distinct people with a common name from people who happen to have the same name.

Foreign names
It is very unusual in Friland to give your child a foreign name, this is regarded as unimaginative and un-Frilandic because the native names are beautiful and diverse enough. However, it is common amongst ethnic or religious minorities to choose names that have a connection to their culture or religion. Names like Elijas Kristijanssun, Sara Abrahamsduhter and Fergus Lijamssun for example clearly show someone's religion or origin. Immigrants are expected to adopt a patronymic and adapt their name to the Frilandic spelling. For example Kevin Smith, whose father is called John will usually Frilandify his name to Kewin Smiþ Johanssun. The Frilandic runic script has no C, Q, V, X or Y and names are usually spelled phonetically. For example, the names Alexander and Sophia will be spelled "Aleksandar" and "Sofija".