drúfa

Drífa is a feminine given name of Icelandic origin. It is used primarily in Iceland and among Icelandic communities abroad, and is associated with nature-inspired naming traditions in the country.

The name derives from the Icelandic word drífa, which means a snowdrift or snowfall. The influence of natural phenomena on personal names is common in Icelandic naming practice, and Drífa carries a characteristic winter imagery that is culturally resonant in Iceland.

In Iceland, personal names are subject to regulatory guidelines, and Drífa is regarded as a traditional, nature-themed name that conforms to standard naming conventions. The spelling includes the acute accent on the í, which is a standard diacritic in Icelandic orthography and is typically preserved in official documents and citations.

Notable bearers of the name have appeared in Icelandic public life, including figures in the arts, sciences, and politics, reflecting the name’s integration into contemporary Icelandic culture. Outside Iceland, the name may appear within Nordic or diaspora communities, particularly among families with Icelandic heritage.

In fiction and media, Drífa is sometimes used to evoke a Nordic setting or character associated with winter or arctic imagery, contributing to its poetic and cultural connotations. See also variants such as Drifa in other Nordic languages, and related nature-based naming practices.