Matti
Matti is a popular name in Finland, with its Finnish version being Mattias. This Finnish form of the name Matthew dates back to the 19th century. It is used both as a Finnish surname and as a given name. The female version of this name, Matilda, is also commonly used in Finland. It is derived from the Swedish name Mathilda and has Finnish and German origins. The beautiful meaning of this name is “powerful battler.” This is one of the most famous names in the Scandinavian country and is also used in English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada. This name’s feminine form is Matilda, also used as a Finnish baby girl name. Matti is also a popular Finnish baby boy name. It is often used as a middle or traditional female name in some countries. It is a common name throughout Finland and is still widely used today.
Jari
Jari is a traditional Finnish boy name of Finnish origin. It is also a common name for girls in Finland. Jari is derived from the Germanic word ‘Gerhard,’ meaning ‘strong spear.’ It was a popular name among Vikings and was used as far back as the Middle Ages. In the 19th century, it became Finland’s most common male name. The female version of Jari is Jarna, a trendy Finnish girl named today.
Lauri
Lauri is a traditional name in Finland, famous since the 19th century. It’s derived from the Latin word for ‘laurel’ and strongly connotates strength and victory. The name is often associated with the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala. Many famous Finns have been named Lauri, such as Olympic skier Lauri Leivo, former president Lauri Kristian Relander, and politician Lauri Ingman. The name can also be spelled as Lari, Larry, or Lawry.
Aapo
Aapo is a famous Finnish name and one of the country’s most traditional names. It’s derived from the biblical word “Abraham” and is often seen as an alternative to “Antti.” Aapo is known to be a strong and determined name and is often associated with hard work, success, and ambition. It is common to hear of successful business people, politicians, and even athletes bearing this name. It is also a popular choice amongst parents, especially in urban areas. A typical nickname for Aapo is “Aapeli.”
Hannu
Hannu is a classic Finnish name that has been in use for centuries. It is derived from the Germanic word “Hanne,” meaning “God is gracious.” In the past, it was often used as a nickname for Johan or Johannes and is still quite popular today. Hannu is sometimes shortened to Hanne, Hano, and Hanu.
In addition to being a famous name, Hannu is also the title of a famous Finnish poem by Runar Schildt. The verse tells the story of a young man named Hannu who is searching for his place in the world. His quest takes him to faraway lands and eventually leads him to a realization of what he truly wants in life. The poem has been translated into many languages, making it widely accessible to readers worldwide. In recent years, Hannu has become increasingly popular among Finnish parents looking for traditional yet modern names for their children. It’s easy to see why—it’s solid and unique but has deep historical roots in Finland. For those looking for a traditional yet unique Finnish name for their son, Hannu is an excellent choice.
Juuso
Juuso is a popular name among Finnish people. It is derived from the Latin name Iohannes, meaning “God is gracious.” Juuso is also known as Jooseppi, Jussi, and Yoossef in some dialects. This name has been popular since the 15th century and remains one of the most common names for boys in Finland. The Juuso name carries a certain level of respect and is often chosen for a child with special meaning to their parents. It is also unique and distinct, as it is rarely used in other countries. Juuso is usually associated with strong and successful men who are seen as hardworking and goal-oriented. This could be attributed to the various Juusos who have achieved great things throughout history, including those involved in science and technology, politics, and business. Juuso is a popular name amongst the older generation and is still growing in popularity among the younger generations. Juuso is a classic and timeless Finnish name that will remain popular for many years.
Teppo
Teppo is a masculine Finnish name derived from the Old Swedish word tepp, which means “covering, wrap or coverlet.” It is a popular name in Finland and has been used since the late 19th century. It is sometimes spelled as Tepo or Tepu.
In addition to its use as a given name, Teppo is also a nickname for the popular children’s game Tappelupeli (Finnish for “battle game”), which was invented in Helsinki in the 1930s and involves two players taking turns to build a tower of blocks. Teppo is often combined with the Finnish suffix -la, which gives it a diminutive feel. Common variants of Teppo are Teppola, Teppolainen, and Tepponen. The feminine form of Teppo is Teppana. Several notable people named Teppo, including film director Teppo Airaksinen and artist Teppo Väinölä.
Antti
Antti is a typical Finnish name derived from the Greek word Andreas. It is believed to be the most famous name in Finland, as almost 1 out of 20 Finns have this name. Antti has become a popular name in Finland since the 17th century, and it was used to name the first president of Finland, Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg. The term can also be seen in literature, such as in the play “Kullervo” by Aleksis Kivi and in the book series “The Moomins” by Tove Jansson. Antti is also associated with other popular Finnish names like Ville and Mikko. The name is often given to a boy, but it can also be given to a girl.
Ville
Ville is one of the most common Finnish names and can be used as a first, middle, or surname. It is derived from the Latin “villa,” meaning “village” or “settlement,” and is usually given to boys. The popularity of Ville as a name has been growing in Finland since the mid-20th century, and is now considered one of the top 10 most popular Finnish names. It is the third most popular male name in Finland today. Ville also has many variants in other languages, such as German (Wilhelm), French (Guillaume), Spanish (Guillermo), and Italian (Guglielmo). It has become a popular name in many other countries around the world too. Overall, Ville is a solid and masculine name with a history dating back centuries, and its popularity continues to grow even today.
Mikko
Mikko is a trendy name in Finland and is derived from the Latin name Michael. It is usually used as a nickname for Mikael, a common word variation. Mikko has been ranked as one of the most famous names in Finland since the early 2000s and is especially popular among younger generations. It is often combined with other names to create unique variations, such as Mika-Petteri or Mikko-Juhani. The name has a friendly, playful feel to it that is associated with the people of Finland and its culture. Read more about the common Finnish name.
FAQs
Some common Finnish first names for boys include Akseli, Eero, Ilari, Juho, and Mikko. Some common Finnish first names for girls are Aino, Elsa, Hilla, Maija, and Saara.
Finnish surnames are generally short, often consisting of just one or two syllables. Some common Finnish surnames include Niemi, Virtanen, and Järvinen.
Yes, many Finnish names have special meanings. For example, Aino means “the only one,” Eero means “eternal ruler,” and Maija means “bitter.” Some Finnish names are also derived from nature or geographic features, such as Metsä (forest) and Joki (river).
Finnish names can include special characters and accents, such as ä, ö, and å. These characters are part of the Finnish alphabet and represent specific vowel sounds. Including these characters when writing or pronouncing Finnish names is essential.
Many famous people have Finnish names, including Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, and Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen. Additionally, many people with Finnish heritage have made names for themselves in other countries, such as Matti Nykänen, a Finnish ski jumper who won multiple Olympic medals.
