Finnish Names

Sade

Finnish, Nigerian and Yoruba, diminutive of Folashade

"rain; honor bestows a crown"

The one-named singer clarified the confusing pronunciation on this one (in her case, it's shah-DAY), but a number of parents have looked for more phonetic spellings. The Finnish version means "rain."

Aili

Finnish and Sami variation of Helga, diminutive of Aileen, Anglicization of Eilidh

"holy, blessed; bright and shining light"

An attractive Scandinavian take on Helga, or a potential Helen nickname.

Ilma

Finnish, Hungarian, Spanish, or literary Quenya

"air; starlight"

A name that's unknown in the US and Britain but is popular as a nature name in Finland. May also be known as a Hungarian variation of Amelia and a Spanish form of Wilhelmina. Ilma also appears in…

Piritta

Finnish variation of Birgitta

"strength; exalted one"

A gentler form of Birgitta, linked to either Irish Bridget or Norse Birger, Piritta is a spirited Finnish name, which leads to short forms Pirjo, Pikko, and Pipsa.

Silja

Silja is a feminine name with Scandinavian and Finnish origins, representing a variation of Cecilia or a nickname for Sylvia in these cultures. The name carries a crisp, clean sound characteristic of…

Selka

Variation of Selkie, Selda, Zelda, Zelig, or Silke, Scottish, Polish, German, Yiddish

"seal folk; gray fighting maid; blessed, happy; heavenly"

Selka is an uncommon feminine name with a whole variety of possible origins. Its crisp, modern sound and rare-yet-familiar feel, make it an alluring choice. On one hand, it may refer to the Scottish…

Karoliina

Karoliina is a feminine name primarily used in Finnish and Estonian cultures. It's a variation of Caroline or Carolina, which ultimately derive from the masculine name Charles (Karl, Carl), meaning…

Pirkko

Diminutive of Piritta, Finnish

"strength; exalted one"

Cute and quirky nickname that stands on its own in Finland.

Ayn

English

"grace"

Ayn is a nonconformist name associated with controversial Russian-born writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, (born Alisa) author of The Fountainhead , who adopted it when she moved to the US in 1926.

Eeva

Eeva is a feminine name that is the Finnish and Estonian form of Eve. The name traces back to the Hebrew "Chavah" meaning "living one" or "source of life," and is associated with the first woman in…

Rikka

Rikka is a charming feminine name with Scandinavian and Finnish origins, functioning as a diminutive form of names containing 'rik' meaning 'ruler' or 'powerful.' In Norse traditions, it's connected…

Janne

Danish and Norwegian diminutive of Johanna

"God is gracious"

This common name for both boys and girls in Scandinavia would definitely work better as a feminine name in the U.S.

Leea

Leea is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Lea or Leah, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'weary' or 'meadow.' Alternatively, it could derive from the…

Pirjo

Diminutive of Piritta, Finnish

"strength; exalted one"

Cutesy short form of Piritta, the Finnish variation of Birgitta.

Kaarina

Kaarina is a Finnish feminine name derived from the name Katherine, ultimately tracing back to the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning 'pure.' Popular in Finland and among Finnish diaspora communities,…

Leeah

Leeah is a modern variation of the traditional Hebrew name Leah, which means 'weary' or 'delicate' in its original form, though some modern interpretations suggest it means 'wild cow' or 'gazelle' in…

Lilya

Lilya is a charming feminine name with Slavic and Russian origins, functioning as a diminutive of Liliya, the Russian form of Lily. The name ultimately connects to the lily flower, a symbol of…

Juni

Scandinavian

"June"

Juni is the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish form of the month name June. While Juni feels cute and fresh, most Americans would assume it was a nickname or a Joni variation. We prefer Juna or…