It is also used as a (very rare) female name in the other Nordic countries.
Its use in Iceland dates back to the settlement period.
[1] Although having a nearly identical spelling, it is completely unrelated to the Latvian male given name Valdis.
The name is formed from two very common Norse name elements, val and dís, meaning respectively ‘those dead in battle’ (compare Valkyrie) and ‘goddess’ or ‘female guardian-angel’.
[2] Notable people with the name Valdís include: