bakki

Bakki is a term used in Nordic languages, particularly Icelandic, with several related meanings. In Icelandic, bakki means a bank, embankment, ridge, or mound, and it derives from Old Norse bakkr. The word describes a raised feature in the landscape and is commonly used in geographic descriptions and place names.

In toponymy, bakki serves as a feature-based element in many Icelandic and other Nordic place names. Because of this, Bakki appears as the name of settlements, farms, or geographic localities that lie near banks, ridges, or embankments. The exact locations of places named Bakki vary, and the term is often found as part of longer names rather than as a standalone town.

Bakki can also function as a surname or farm name within Icelandic naming practices, reflecting the landscape-based origin of the word. In historical or linguistic contexts, bakki is used when describing terrain features in field surveys, maps, and sagas. Pronunciation commonly renders it as two syllables, with a hard kk cluster, roughly “BAK-kee.” The word’s usage across contexts highlights how natural features influence place names and personal identifiers in Icelandic culture.