# List of Icelanders

This is a list of notable people from Iceland, arranged in categories and ordered alphabetically by first name, following the usual naming conventions of Iceland.

## Business

* Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson, billionaire entrepreneur
* Björgólfur Guðmundsson, former billionaire entrepreneur, father of Thor Björgólfsson (above)
* Eggert Magnússon, businessman and former chairman of the English Premiership football club West Ham United
* Hreiðar Már Sigurðsson, businessman
* Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson, billionaire and founder of the Bónus supermarket and the Baugur Group
* Magnús Þorsteinsson, businessman
* Arnor Sighvatsson, economist

## Arts and culture
### Architects

* Guðjón Samúelsson
* Guðmundur Jónsson
* Halldóra Briem
* Högna Sigurðardóttir

### Authors

* Arnaldur Indriðason, writer
* Davíð Stefánsson, poet
* Einar Benediktsson, writer, poet
* Einar Kárason, writer
* Einar Hjörleifsson Kvaran, editor, novelist, poet, dramatist
* Einar Már Guðmundsson, writer
* Guðmundur G. Hagalín, writer, poet
* Halldór Kiljan Laxness, writer, poet, Nobel Prize winner
* Hallgrímur Helgason, writer
* Jón Kalman Stefánsson, writer, poet
* Jón Thoroddsen, author
* Jónas Hallgrímsson, writer, poet
* Halldóra Bjarnadóttir, educator, author
* Jóhannes úr Kötlum, writer, poet
* Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir, writer
* Magnus Magnusson, television presenter, writer
* Nína Björk Árnadóttir, poet, novelist, playwright
* Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson, writer
* Sjón, poet, writer, lyricist
* Snorri Hjartarson, poet
* Snorri Sturluson, historian, poet
* Steinunn Sigurðardóttir, writer, poet
* Stephan G. Stephansson, Western Icelander, poet
* Tómas Guðmundsson, poet
* Vigdís Grímsdóttir, writer
* Viktor Arnar Ingólfsson, writer
* Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, writer
* Þórarinn Eldjárn, writer, poet
* Þórbergur Þórðarson, writer, poet

### Film, radio, and TV

* Anita Briem, actress
* Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir, best known as Silvía Nótt (Silvia Night), actress, singer, model, TV personality.
* Baltasar Kormákur, film actor and film director
* Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, film director
* Gunnar Hansen, film actor
* Hilmir Snær Guðnason, film actor
* Hrafn Gunnlaugsson, film director
* Karl Júlíusson, film production designer/costume designer
* Magnus Magnusson, television presenter, writer
* Magnús Scheving, writer, actor, athlete, creator of LazyTown
* Margrét Vilhjálmsdóttir, actress
* Marinó Sigurðsson, actor
* Markús Örn Antonsson, former mayor of Reykjavík and former director of RÚV
* Páll Magnússon, former director of RÚV, a member of the Icelandic parliament
* Ragnar Bragason, director
* Rósa Ingólfsdóttir, actress
* Stefán Karl Stefánsson, actor
* Tinna Gunnlaugsdóttir, actress and former Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Iceland
* Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson, actor
* Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, poet, writer, musician

### Music

* Anna Mjöll, singer-songwriter
* Arndís Halla (born 1969), opera singer, songwriter and entertainer
* Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir, more commonly known as Silvía Nótt, singer, actress, and TV personality
* Ásgeir Trausti, singer-songwriter
* Bára Gísladóttir (born 1989), musician and composer
* Björgvin Halldórsson, singer
* Björk Guðmundsdóttir, singer-songwriter more commonly known as Björk
* Bragi Ólafsson, musician
* Daði Freyr, musician
* Diddú (Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir), soprano and songwriter
* Emilíana Torrini, singer-songwriter
* Einar Örn Benediktsson, musician
* Eiríkur Hauksson, musician
* Gabríel Ólafs, composer
* Garðar Thór Cortes, tenor
* Greta Salóme Stefánsdóttir, singer, violinist
* Gísli Magnússon, pianist
* Gunnsteinn Ólafsson, musician, composer
* Hafdís Bjarnadóttir (born 1977), composer and musician
* Hafdís Huld, singer
* Halldor Mar, songwriter and guitarist
* Haukur Tómasson, composer
* Hildur Guðnadóttir, musician and composer, first solo woman to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
* Hallgrímur Helgason, composer, conductor, violinist, and musicologist
* Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, musician, art director, and chief goði of the Icelandic Ásatrú Association
* Jóhann Jóhannsson, composer, musician, producer
* Jón Jósep Snæbjörnsson, (Jónsi) singer
* Jón Leifs, composer
* Jón Þór Birgisson, singer, guitarist
* Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, pop singer (Yohanna)
* Kjartan Ólafsson (born 1958), composer, professor
* Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir, musician
* Mugison, composer, musician
* Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, musician
* Ólafur Arnalds, composer, musician
* Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson (Paul Oscar), pop singer, songwriter and disc jockey
* Ragnheiður Gröndal, musician
* Sigurður Bragason, baritone singer and composer
* Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, poet, writer and musician

#### Musical bands and groups

* Agent Fresco
* Amiina
* Ampop
* Árstíðir
* Bang Gang
* Changer
* Cynic Guru
* Dikta
* FM Belfast
* GusGus
* Kaleo
* HAM
* Hatari
* Mammút
* Mezzoforte
* Mínus
* Mugison
* múm
* Nylon
* Of Monsters and Men
* Quarashi
* Samaris
* Seabear
* Sigur Rós
* Singapore Sling
* Skálmöld
* Ske
* Sólstafir
* The Sugarcubes
* Trúbrot
* Voces Thules

### Painters and visual artists

* Kristleifur Björnsson
* Einar Hákonarson
* Erró
* Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval

### Photographers

* Ragnar Axelsson
* Ragnar Th. Sigurdsson

### Sculptors

* Ásmundur Sveinsson
* Bertel Thorvaldsen
* Einar Jónsson
* Gunnfríður Jónsdóttir
* Nína Sæmundsson
* Olafur Eliasson
* Ríkarður Jónsson
* Steinunn Thorarinsdottir

### Miss World

* Hólmfríður "Hófí" Karlsdóttir, Miss World 1985
* Linda Pétursdóttir, Miss World 1988
* Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir, Miss World 2005

## Historical figures of Iceland

* Ari Þorgilsson, priest and author of Íslendingabók, a historical work
* Björn Sveinsson Björnsson, first born son of Sveinn Björnsson, and an Waffen-SS volunteer
* Egill Skallagrímsson, Viking skald
* Eiríkur rauði, (e. Eirík the Red, Old Norse. Eirīkr hinn rauði) named Greenland
* Freydís Eiríksdóttir
* Guðmundur Arason
* Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir, explorer
* Ingólfur Arnarson
* Ísleifur Gissurarson
* Kolbeinn Tumason
* Leifur Eiríksson (e. Leif Ericson, Old Norse Leifr Eiríksson), discovered America in the year 1000 and named it Vínland (Land of Wine)
* Loftur Sæmundsson, priest and chieftain at Oddi
* Solveig Guðmundsdóttir, heir and landlord
* Snorri Sturluson
* Þorfinnur "Karlsefni" Þórðarson
* Þorleifur Skaftason, priest and Galdrmaster
* Þorvaldur Eríksson
* Vilhjálmur Stefánsson, Western Icelander, Arctic explorer
* Þóra Magnúsdóttir, born 1100 in Norway, daughter of Magnus III of Norway, a direct descendant of Harald Fairhair the first Norwegian King. Þóra Magnúsdóttir married an Icelander and moved to Iceland.

## Politics

* Albert Guðmundsson, former minister
* Árni Sigfússon, politician
* Ásgeir Ásgeirsson, former president
* Bergdis Ellertsdóttir, ambassador
* Birgitta Jónsdóttir, member of parliament
* Björn Bjarnason, minister of justice and ecclesiastical affairs
* Davíð Oddsson, former prime minister and former mayor of Reykjavík
* Geir H. Haarde, former prime minister, former foreign minister
* Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, former president
* Halla Tómasdóttir, current president
* Halldór Ásgrímsson, former prime minister
* Halldór Blöndal, former minister
* Hannes Hafstein, first prime minister
* Hannibal Valdimarsson, chairman of two parties and one electoral alliance
* Hulda Jakobsdóttir (1911–1998), Iceland's first woman mayor
* Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, former prime minister, also the world's first openly gay head of government
* Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, former foreign minister, ambassador
* Jón Loftsson, chieftain and politician
* Jón Sigurðsson, independence leader
* Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime minister
* Katrín Magnússon (1858–1932), early Reykjavik municipal councillor and women's rights activist
* Kristján Eldjárn, former president
* Markús Örn Antonsson, former mayor of Reykjavík and former director of RÚV
* Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former president
* Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, former prime minister
* Steingrímur Hermannsson, former prime minister
* Sveinn Björnsson, first president
* Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former president, first elected female head of state
* Þorsteinn Pálsson, former prime minister

## Scholarship and academia

* Agnar Helgason, anthropologist
* Ari Brynjolfsson, physicist
* Ari Þorgilsson, documentarian, chronicler
* Ari Trausti Guðmundsson, geologist, explorer, documentarian
* Árni Magnússon, documentarian
* Ásgeir Helgason, psychologist, public health scientist
* Auður Eir Vilhjálmsdóttir, first female priest
* Eiríkur Magnússon, librarian and lecturer at Cambridge University, co-translator with William Morris
* Gisli Gudjonsson, professor of forensic psychology
* Gísli Pálsson, anthropologist
* Guðbrandur Vigfússon, lexicographer, editor, and lecturer at Oxford University
* Guðmundur Eiríksson, judge and law professor
* Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson, political scientist
* Helgi Valdimarsson, immunologist
* Jón Steinsson, economist at University of California, Berkeley
* Hjörtur Þórðarson, inventor
* Kári Stefánsson, founder of deCODE genetics
* Leifur Magnusson, Icelandic-American economist, U.S. Representative to the International Labour Organization
* Magnús Eiríksson, theologian
* Marga Ingeborg Thome, nursing professor
* Margrét Hermanns-Auðardóttir, archaeologist
* Niels Finsen, physician, Nobel Prize winner (Icelandic parents)
* Ólafía Einarsdóttir, archaeologist
* Páll Skúlason, philosopher, former Rector of the University of Iceland
* Reynir Böðvarsson, seismologist
* Sigurdur Helgason, mathematician
* Sigurður Nordal, philosopher
* Sigurður Þórarinsson, geologist, volcanologist, professor
* Snorri Sturluson, documentarian, writer
* Stefán Einarsson, linguist and literary historian
* Vilhjálmur Árnason, philosopher
* Þór Whitehead, historian
* Þorsteinn Gylfason, philosopher

## Sports and games
### Football (Soccer)

* Rúrik Gíslason, professional footballer, currently at SV Sandhausen
* Albert Guðmundsson, first Icelandic professional footballer, played for Valur, Rangers, A.C. Milan, Arsenal and FC Nancy.
* Arnór Guðjohnsen, former professional footballer, father of Eiður Guðjohnsen
* Aron Gunnarsson, professional footballer, currently at Cardiff City FC
* Ásgeir Sigurvinsson, former professional footballer
* Birkir Bjarnason, professional footballer, currently at Aston Villa F.C.
* Eggert Jónsson, professional footballer, currently at Wolverhampton Wanderers
* Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen, professional footballer, top scorer for Icelandic national team
* Emil Hallfreðsson, professional footballer, currently at Udinese Calcio
* Eyjólfur Héðinsson, professional footballer, currently at SønderjyskE
* Guðni Bergsson, former professional footballer, played for teams such as Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Bolton Wanderers
* Gylfi Sigurðsson, professional footballer, currently at Everton F.C.
* Heiðar Helguson, professional footballer, currently at Cardiff City FC
* Heimir Hallgrímsson, manager of the Iceland national football team, also a football player and dentist
* Hermann Hreiðarsson, professional footballer, currently at ÍBV
* Ívar Ingimarsson, former professional footballer
* Jóhannes Karl Guðjónsson, professional footballer, currently at Knattspyrnufélag ÍA
* Teitur Thordarson, former professional footballer

### Chess

* Bobby Fischer, former world chess champion, granted Icelandic citizenship on 21 March 2005
* Friðrik Ólafsson, chess grandmaster

### Handball

* Arnór Atlason, handball player who plays for FCK Håndbold in Denmark.
* Aron Pálmarsson, handball player who plays for FC Barcelona Handbol
* Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson, handball player who plays for Paris Saint-Germain Handball in Germany.
* Ólafur Stefánsson, handball player, Rhein-Neckar Löwen. Formerly of Wuppertal, Magdeburg and Ciudad Real.
* Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson, handball player who plays for Rhein-Neckar Löwen in Germany.

### Strongmen

* Benedikt Magnússon, Raw Deadlift world record holder
* Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, 2018 World's Strongest Man 3 x Arnold Strongman Classic Champion and Deadlift world record holder
* Jón Páll Sigmarsson, 4 x World's Strongest Man
* Magnús Magnússon
* Magnús Ver Magnússon, 4 x World's Strongest Man
* Stefán Sölvi Pétursson, World's Strongest Man Finalist

### Others

* Anníe Þórisdóttir, back-to-back CrossFit Games winner (2011, 2012)
* Einar Ragnarsson Kvaran, engineer, teacher, genealogist and writer
* Fiann Paul, fastest ocean rower, most record breaking explorer, most Guinness World Records decorated athlete
* Guðrún Erlendsdóttir (1936–2013), first woman to become a judge of the Supreme Court of Iceland
* Gunnar Nelson, MMA fighter
* Halldór Helgason, snowboarder
* Katrín Davíðsdóttir, back-to-back CrossFit Games winner (2015, 2016)
* Kristján Einar Kristjánsson, racing driver, currently racing in British formula 3
* Sara Sigmundsdóttir, CrossFit Games athlete
* Sigurlína Ingvarsdóttir (born 1978), video games producer
* Þórunn Jónassen (1850–1922), first chair of Thorvaldsensfélagið and early Reykjavik city councillor
* Vala Flosadóttir, pole vaulter
* Vilhelmína Lever (1802–1879), shopkeeper who voted in municipal elections in 1863 and 1866 before women such as her were officially given voting rights