Yes... Why is Greenland icy and cold:

http://tiof.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/greenland-kayak.jpg

and Iceland green?

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/06/18/travel/escapes/18iceland_600.jpg

The Global Advisor Newsletter gives this naming information for Iceland:

--quote--

According to Landnámabók, Iceland was discovered by Naddoddr, a Scandinavian sailor, who upon losing his way as he was sailing from Norway to the Faroe Islands, drifted toward the east coast of Iceland that he named Snæland (Snowland). Another Scandinavian, the Swedish sailor Garðar Svavarsson, also happened by chance upon the coast of Iceland. Realizing that it was an island, he named it Arðarshólmi (Garðar's Island) after himself. Svavarsson settled for the winter at Húsavík, by Skjalfandi bay, on the northern coast of Iceland. (Today the town of Húsavík is most famous for whale-watching.) The only Scandinavian who arrived at Garðarshólmi intentionally was Flóki Vilgerðarson, also known as Hrafna-Flóki (Raven-Flóki). He settled for the winter at Barðaströnd where he endured a bitter winter. Inspired by the drift ice in the fjords, Flóki named the island its current name Ísland (Iceland). The ‘folksy’ version of the story is that, after having spent a cruel winter in the region, Flóki fled in disgust, shaking his fist and shouting “Bah, bloody Iceland”.

--/quote--

And, from the American Heritage Dictionary on how Greenland got it's name:

--quote--

In Norse legends written in the 12th century and later, it is told that Eric the Red explored the southeast and southwest coasts of Greenland in a.d. 983-986 and gave the country its name because people would be more likely to go there if it had an attractive name. Greenland was warmer in the tenth century than it is now. There were many islands teeming with birds off its western coast; the sea was excellent for fishing; and the coast of Greenland itself had many fjords where anchorage was good. At the head of the fjords there were enormous meadows full of grass, willows, junipers, birch, and wild berries. Thus Greenland actually deserved its name.

--/quote--
Source(s):
http://intersolinc.com/newsletters/newsletter_49.htm
http://www.bartleby.com/61/90/G0259000.html


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