The runic alphabet, like many other alphabets, is named after its initial letters - futhark (ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲ). The oldest Elder Runic Futhark contained 24 signs: ᚠᚢᚦᚨᚱᚲᚷᚹ ᚺᚾᛁᛃᛇᛈᛉᛊ ᛏᛒᛖᛗᛚᛜᛞᛟ (fuþarkgw hnijïpzs tbemlŋdo in Latin transcription), and the later Scandinavian Younger Runic Futhark contained 16: ᚠᚢᚦᚯᚱᚴ ᚼᚾᛁᛅᛋ ᛏᛒᛘᛚᛣ (fuþąrk hnias tbmlR). The third rune of the futhark, ᚦ, which has the same sounds as th in English and θ in Greek, is still used in the Icelandic alphabet (the rest of its letters are taken from Latin).