drifa

Drifa is a term with Nordic roots that can refer to two related but distinct uses: a common noun in Icelandic and a personal name. As a noun, drífa (often anglicized as drifa) denotes a snowdrift or a snowstorm—wind-driven snow accumulated in a drift or a blizzard. The word derives from Old Norse drífa and is part of the linguistic family of Germanic terms describing drifting snow. In Icelandic weather discourse, drífa can appear in descriptions of snow accumulations created by wind, particularly during storms.

As a given name, Drifa (often written Drífa in Icelandic) is a feminine name in Iceland. The name draws on the same natural imagery as the noun, reflecting a Nordic naming tradition that uses elements of nature. It is relatively uncommon outside Iceland but can be found in Icelandic communities and literature. In onomastics, Drifa is categorized among Nordic names derived from natural phenomena and winter imagery.

The term should be distinguished from related forms such as drífa with diacritical marks, which more strictly reflect Icelandic orthography. In English-language contexts, both spellings may be encountered, but the diacritic form remains more faithful to the original Icelandic word. See also drífa (snowdrift) and Drífa, the related given name.