Why is the area of Norway, Sweden, and Finland called "Scandinavia"? What is the significance of that somewhat peculiar title?

McGruff

Scandinavia includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the eastern flank in Finland, the western outposts in the Atlantic Ocean: the Faroes, Iceland, and the Danish colony of Greenland. http://www.allscandinavia.com/norden.htm The etymology for the names Scandinavia and Skåne (Scania) is considered to be the same. The name is most probably derived from the Germanic *Skaðin- meaning "danger" (cf. English scathing and unscathed, and German Schade and beschädigen) and *awjo meaning "island". It may have referred to the dangerous banks around Skanör (skan- is the same as in Scandinavia, and -ör means "sandbanks") and Falsterbo in Skåne in southernmost Sweden. Alternatively, the first element is sometimes attributed to the Scandinavian giantess Skaði from Norse mythology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavia Jan 17 06, 11:57 PM