The notion of vulnerability is a recurring theme in the discourse surrounding
personal name law in Iceland. On the one hand, the Icelandic language has been
perceived as fragile and at risk from foreign influences and changes. On the other
hand, the individuals who wish to give or take names that do not fulfil the legal
criteria are often presented as helpless in the face of capricious legislation and
bureaucracy. They may be in vulnerable positions relative to the population as a
whole – for instance, having immigrant background or representing sexual and
gender minorities. Many cases involve children, who usually do not choose their
own names. In name law debate, these different vulnerabilities are played against
each other in a variety of ways.