Hafn

Hafn is a Nordic term most often encountered as a toponymic element and, less commonly, as a surname. In linguistic and historical sources, hafn derives from Old Norse hafn, meaning harbor or anchorage, and is related to modern cognates such as Danish havn and Norwegian havn, while Icelandic Höfn is the contemporary word for harbor. The stem frequently appears in place names to denote coastal or harbor-related features.

In geography, hafn appears as part of compound names across the Nordic region. A notable example is Hafnarfjörður, a town near Reykjavik, whose name translates roughly as Harbor Fjord, indicating its coastal setting. In other cases, hafn may function as a component in older or local toponyms and, in some contexts, as a standalone surname.

People and usage: As a surname or given name, Hafn is rare but attested in some Nordic families. In modern usage, it also appears in fiction, literature, and branding to evoke a Nordic maritime association.

See also: Hafen, Höfn, Harbor, Haven, Harbour.