Botolv Helleland
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6191-284X 
University of Oslo

https://doi.org/10.4467/K7501.45/22.23.18057

The paper discusses the choice and treatment of names in connection with the regional reform in Norway. The first stage of the reform was adapted in 2017, implying that the number of counties were to be reduced from 19 to 11, and the number of municipalities from 426 to 358. Following the change of government, a second reform was adapted in 2022 entailing a partial return to the former county structure with 15 counties. The choice of names of the new regions has been central to the political process and created a lot of debate. In the discussion about naming, reference was made to the Act on place names, which has rules about the spelling. Several new names have replaced traditional names such as Innlandet ‘the inner part of the country’ for the two former counties of Hedmark and Oppland. The consideration of inherited names has been set aside several times because local politicians have favored “advertising” names, such as the new county name Vestland and the municipal names Fjord and Færder. It is though likely that most of the new names will be accepted given time. But also, in the event of future changes in the county and municipal structure, there will be room for disagreement when it comes to the naming process.

Keywords place names, names of regional divisions, name giving, historical place names, place name changes, place name standardisation