Finnish Girl Names: An Inspiring Guide

Here are some examples of Finnish girl names:

As you can see, Finnish girl names can be very unique (and lovely, as well).

Their uniqueness mirrors that of the Finnish language: it’s one of the few European languages that is not part of the Indo-European language family (that’s also the case for Estonian, Hungarian, and Maltese).

Even those Finnish girl names that originate from other languages frequently have rather unique spellings, oftentimes with double vowels (for example, Pauliina, Liisa, Leena).

Some characteristics of Finnish female names

Girl names often end in ‘a’ in Italian. And in French, they often end in ‘e’. But Finnish girl names can end in many different vowels (and a few even end in consonants).

For instance, we analyzed several hundred Finnish female names and found that the most common endings are ‘a’ (62%), ‘i’ (21%), ‘e’ (5%), ‘u’ (4%), and ‘o’ (2%).

So, in Finnish, it is a lot easier to find a female name that ends in ‘u’ or ‘o’ than in French or Italian.

And here are some that end in ‘o’:

If you are fond of female names that end in ‘i’, then you are in luck because Finnish has plenty of them. Here is are some examples:

Previously, we have written about French names that end in “ette.” In Finnish, you won’t see many girl names that end in “ette,” but you will encounter names that end in “-kki.” Here are some examples:

Popular Finnish Girl Names

Finnish girl names rise and fall in popularity, running through approximately 100-year cycles. In other words, many traditional names that were last in vogue a century ago are now once again having a moment.

The most common Finnish female names all have their own name days which are listed in the official Finnish almanac. To keep the names relevant, the almanac is updated every five years.

Aino

The name Aino is a good example of an old Finnish name that has gained new popularity in recent years.

The name is prominently featured in Kalevala, the Finnish national epic, which was first published in 1849. Aino was also the first name with full Finnish origins to appear in the Finnish almanac.

Eevi

Many popular girl names used in Finland (Emma, Ellen, and Ella to name just a few) begin with the letter 'E'. The name Eevi is currently the most popular of them all.

The name Eevi is a uniquely Finnish take on the name Eeva which is the Finnish equivalent of the name Eve. In keeping with the names' biblical roots, both Eevi and Eeva celebrate their name day on Christmas Eve.

Lilja

The name Lilja is one of many Finnish female names related to nature, « lilja » being the Finnish word for « lily ».

This is an old Finnish girl's name that has been in use since the 1800s. For the past decade or so, this traditional Finnish female name has been enjoying a real surge in popularity.

Helmi

Helmi is a beautiful Finnish name with an equally beautiful meaning: « helmi » is the Finnish word for « pearl ».

It is a very traditional Finnish girl's name dating back to the 1850s. In recent years, the name Helmi has been enjoying a new lease of life, ranking as one of the most popular names for several years running.

Aada

Aada has been an increasingly popular Finnish girl name since the early 2000s. The name has Biblical origins and in Hebrew, the word « ada » means « adornment ».

The Finnish name Aada can also be considered a more streamlined take on Germanic names like Adalberta and Adelheid where the prefix ada means nobility.

Venla

The Finnish name Venla can be traced back to the Swedish names Vendla and Vendela.

This pretty name has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent times. While it was still a relatively rare name in the 1990s, during the past two decades, Venla has consistently been one of the top 10 most popular girl names in Finland.

Traditional Finnish Female Names

These days, many of the names used in Finland are inspired by international trends rather than local traditions. As a result, names like Olivia, Sofia, and Emma are just as popular in Finland as in other parts of Europe and the US.

If you are looking for a distinctly Finnish name, it is best to look back in time and explore some of the more traditional names.

Here is a list of some classic Finnish female names:

Aune

Aune is an old Finnish name that was particularly popular at the beginning of the 20th century but less so in recent times.

This name is a Finnish interpretation of the name Agnes which has its roots in the Greek word agnós, meaning « pure » or « holy ».

Hilkka

Hilkka is a very traditional Finnish girl name that means « bonnet ». Thanks to the popularity of Little Red Riding Hood (Pieni Punahilkka in Finnish) by the Brothers Grimm, Hilkka became a popular Finnish female name starting in the 1800s.

Until the 1960s, Hilkka was a typical Finnish female name but has since fallen out of favor.

Tyyne

The name Tyyne carries a beautiful connotation, having its roots in the Finnish word tyyni which means calm or serene and is typically used to describe a calm body of water.

This classic Finnish name was one of the most popular names given to girls at the beginning of the 20th century but is currently a relatively rare name.

Vieno

Vieno is another beautiful girl name with a long history. It first became popular in the late 1800s when giving your child a name describing desirable qualities was fashionable.

The Finnish word vieno means « calm », « soft » and « quiet ».

Lempi

The name Lempi is an ancient name with a very long history, having been in use since before Christianity was introduced in Finland. Sadly, this unique Finnish female name has become relatively rare.

The name has a beautiful meaning, « lempi » being an old-fashioned Finnish word for « love ».

Beautiful Finnish Girl Names

Though notoriously difficult, Finnish is also a very beautiful language full of unique tones and nuances. It is not surprising then that the language has inspired some stunningly beautiful names.

Many of the prettiest Finnish female names sound beautiful phonetically and have a beautiful meaning.

Taika

Taika is the perfect name to give to your little miracle, as this beautiful name literally means « magic » in Finnish.

This modern name has only been in use for the past few decades. However, it quickly gained popularity and was added to the Finnish almanac in 2015.

Rauha

The name Rauha is the perfect example of a traditional girl name that carries a beautiful meaning: « rauha » means « peace » in Finnish.

During the first few decades of the 20th century, Rauha was a very popular girl name in Finland, but since the 1950s, its popularity has dropped drastically. However, nowadays, the name seems to be back in style again.

Säde

Säde is a pretty, if not a bit unusual, girl name which means « ray », as in "a ray of light".

The Finnish umlaut (Ä) is an essential part of this name, as leaving out the umlaut would change the meaning completely: « sade » means « rain » in Finnish.

Aava

Aava is another modern Finnish girl name with a beautiful meaning attached to it. Though the name was already in use in the early 1900s, it didn't become popular until the new millennium.

The name Aava refers to the Finnish expression « aava meri » which means “the open sea”.

Heljä

Heljä is a unique Finnish name, though it can be traced back to the Greek name Helena which means « shining light ».

It also resembles the Finnish name Helinä which means a delicate jingling or tinkling sound.

Heljä was a popular girl name in Finland during the 1940s and 50s but has since become increasingly rare.

Finnish Girl Names Related to Nature

From the elusive aurora borealis to endless stretches of pure white snow, the wonders of Finnish nature are truly mesmerizing. It only makes sense then that many parents turn to nature for inspiration when looking for the perfect name for their newborn.

Here is a list of some Finnish nature-related girl names:

Lumi

If you are looking for a beautiful name that captures the country's natural beauty, Lumi might just be the perfect name!

« Lumi » means « snow » in Finnish. The name has been in use for more than a century, but it didn't become frequently used until the early 2000s.

Suvi

After a long, harsh winter, it feels nothing short of a miracle to see the Finnish countryside blossom into summer. The name Suvi captures the beauty of the green season perfectly, as « suvi » is an old Finnish word for « summer ».

Suvi was a very common name in Finland during the 1980s, but since then it has become less popular.

Vuokko

Vuokko is a good example of a classic Finnish female name that's directly related to nature.

In Finnish, vuokko is the word for « anemone », a type of flower traditionally thought to signal the beginning of spring in Finland. The name was particularly popular in the 1940s and 50s.

Meri

The name Meri is relatively common in Finland and it has a lovely meaning.

Meri is the Finnish word for « sea ». Phonetically, the name is similar to the English name Mary. This was quite a popular Finnish female name in the 1980s but has since become less common.

Tuuli

Tuuli is another nature-related girl name that was very popular in Finland during the 1980s, but has become less common in recent years. The name means « wind » in Finnish.

The name's doubled vowels are a distinctly Finnish feature. Leaving out one of the U's would entirely change the meaning, as « tuli » means « fire » in Finnish.

Rare Finnish Names

Many popular Finnish girl names are popular the world over. Year after year, classics like Maria and Anna continue to be widely used in Finland. But there are also some names you'll only find in Finland - and some names that are truly unique even by Finnish standards.

Here is a list of some of the most unusual girl names in Finland:

Talvi

It's quite surprising that the name Talvi has not become more popular. While the name Lumi (meaning “snow”) is a very popular Finnish name, there are less than 100 people with the name Talvi (meaning “winter”) in Finland. That makes this name a great, unique choice for parents who really love winter!

Sievä

Sievä is a pretty name - literally: « sievä » means « pretty » in Finnish. While this name was somewhat common back in the early 1900s, since 2000, less than 30 Finnish babies have been given this name.

Pieta

The name Pieta is a unique take on the far more common name Beata which can be traced back to the Latin word « beatus » meaning « happy », « fortunate » or « blessed ».

This rare name has been used since the 1800s, mainly in Northern Finland, but has never become hugely popular.

Eloisa

The name Eloisa is lovely on two levels. Phonetically, this unique Finnish girl's name resembles the beautiful English name Eloise. It also has a pleasant meaning, as the word eloisa means “lively” in Finnish.

Despite these positive attributes, this is a very rare girl name: there are only around 100 people called Eloisa in Finland.

Conclusion

We hope you've enjoyed this guide to some of the most popular and beautiful Finnish girl names. Of course, what is popular now might seem old-fashioned in a few short years. Meanwhile, some classic Finnish female names have managed to stay relevant throughout the decades.

These days, many Finnish parents choose to name their kids based on international trends. If you're visiting Finland, you are guaranteed to come across more than a few Olivias, Emmas, and Sofias! It also follows that names that include the Finnish umlauts Ä and Ö have become less popular.

While global trends have a significant influence, many Finnish parents are interested in giving their children unique names. Often, they turn to nature or old Finnish names for inspiration. This means traditional Finnish female names - the kind you won't encounter anywhere else in the world - are also doing just fine.

Hopefully, this article has given you some new insight into Finnish names and the local culture in general. Perhaps you've even discovered a new favorite name! Most of all, we hope we've left you feeling inspired.

By Pia Vuolteenaho
Pia is a native Finnish speaker who has a Master’s degree from the University of Oulu, Finland