unn

Unn is a feminine given name of Scandinavian origin, historically used in Old Norse sources as Unn (also spelled Unnr). In Icelandic practice the modern form Unnur is common, and the name appears in medieval manuscripts and genealogies, indicating its long-standing presence in Norse naming traditions.

The exact meaning of Unn is not clearly attested in surviving texts. As a personal name, it is generally treated as a proper-name element rather than a widely understood vocabulary word, and etymological connections to other Old Norse roots are speculative. The name is primarily discussed in studies of Norse onomastics and Icelandic name history.

In contemporary usage, Unn remains uncommon as a standalone given name outside historical or genealogical contexts. The more familiar modern Icelandic form is Unnur, and Unn or Unnr may appear in academic discussions of medieval sources or in historical novels and translations that preserve older naming forms. The name illustrates the broader pattern of short, ancient name elements that persisted in Norse and Icelandic naming traditions.

Related forms and variants in Icelandic contexts include Unnr and Unnur, with Unnur serving as the common modern form. The name Unn is mainly of historical interest today, noted by scholars of Norse literature and onomastics for its presence in early personal-name inventories and saga material.