Nordic Names Blog - Greenlandic Name Suffixes

23 February 2020

Many traditional Greenlandic names have typical Greenlandic suffixes.

Suffixes of names are endings, which usually create a version of the name with a (slightly) different meaning than the form without the suffix. The tradition to use these kind of suffixes is the reason why many Greenlandic given names are quite long. Once you can recognize the suffixes, the names are much easier to understand.

It is also possible to use Greenlandic suffixes for foreign names - for example Jenseraq or Sofiarak!

Here are some examples for you:

-nnguaq/-nguaĸ

• Meaning: 'sweet', 'dear', 'little'
• Examples: Angunnguaq and Paninnguaq

-luk

• Meaning: 'little'
• Examples: Pipaluk and Aqqaluk

-naaq/-nâĸ

• Meaning: 'one who is' or 'one who resembles'
• Examples: Inequnaaq and Sunaanaaq

-raĸ/-raq

• Meaning: 'young animal'
• Examples: Anguteeraq and Najaaraq

-paluk

• Meaning: 'dear little'
• Examples: Pipaluk and Ittupaluk

-toq/-toĸ

• Meaning: 'one who is doing something'
• Examples: Napaartoq and Utertoq

For more Greenlandic suffixes, have a look at our category of Greenlandic suffixes