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Finnish Names for Girls

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Jun 09 2020
Finnish names for girls are light, bright, and beautiful! Vowel-rich versions of international favorites like Eeva, Saara and Noora are joined at the top of Finland's baby name rankings by stunning Finnish girl names inspired by nature, like Nameberry favorites Lilja ("lily") and Lumi ("snow"). If sweet and simple — but virtually undiscovered — girls' names are your style, then a Finnish baby girl name could be the way to go.

Find all of our fabulous Finnish names for girls here. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Lumi

    • Origin:

      Finnish

    • Meaning:

      "snow"

    • Description:

      Lumi may be a rare girls' name in the USA and England, but it comes in the Top 50 in Finland, where it means snow. Given the popularity of Winter, Holly, Ivy and many other wintery-christmassy names, we think that short and spunky Lumi definitely has potential for greater usage outside its home country as one of the more unusual names for Christmas babies.
  2. Juni

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "June"

    • Description:

      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 the English June.
  3. Sade

    • Origin:

      Finnish, Nigerian and Yoruba, diminutive of Folashade

    • Meaning:

      "rain; honor bestows a crown"

    • Description:

      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."
  4. Malin

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian diminutive of Magdalene

    • Meaning:

      "high tower or woman of Magdela"

    • Description:

      A multi-cultural name that's in the Norwegian Top 50 and well-used throughout the Scandinavian cultures. Malin has the advantage of being at once simple and unusual.
  5. Suvi

    • Origin:

      Finnish

    • Meaning:

      "summer"

    • Description:

      To the non-Scandinavian ear, a cute and unusual nickname name, used by Finnish supermodel Suvi Koponen. It has a zippy, yet sunny feel to it, and could make an interesting alternative to Susie.
  6. Aili

    • Origin:

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

    • Meaning:

      "holy, blessed; bright and shining light"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Finnish, Hungarian, Spanish, or literary Quenya

    • Meaning:

      "air; starlight"

    • Description:

      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.
  8. Ayn

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      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.
  9. Annalie

    • Origin:

      Nordic, German

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Melodious and unusual form of a name with an uncountable number of variations. Many will understand it as the more down-to-earth Annalee.
  10. Lilja

    • Origin:

      Icelandic, Faroese, and Finnish variation of Lily; "lily"

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

      Cute and quirky Lily alternative.
  11. Ailana

    • Origin:

      Kazakh

    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"

    • Description:

      A pretty Kazakh name derived from Turkish ayla, meaning "moonlight". The Hawaiian name 'Ailana (with the 'okina mark) means "loving".
  12. Meri

    • Origin:

      Finnish; Maori "sea; Mary"

    • Meaning:

      "sea; Mary"

    • Description:

      Upbeat name that cheers you as soon as you hear it. One famous bearer is Maori feminist Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia.
  13. Lilya

    • Description:

      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 purity, innocence, and beauty across many cultures. Lilya has been used traditionally in Eastern European countries including Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The name carries a delicate, feminine quality while maintaining a distinctive international character. Though less common in Western countries, it has gained some recognition through cultural exchange and immigration. Lilya offers parents a name that feels both familiar yet unique, with its connection to the popular 'Lily' family while maintaining its own cultural identity.

  14. Valo

    • Origin:

      Finnish; Malagasy

    • Meaning:

      "light; eight"

    • Description:

      Valo, an unusual entry in the o-ending category, can work for girls in the US. On Nameberry, it's especially popular among visitors from Bangladesh.
  15. Saija

    • Origin:

      Finnish diminutive of Sarah

    • Meaning:

      "princess"

    • Description:

      This pretty Finnish name is a diminutive of a diminutive, going from Sarah to Sari to Saija.
  16. Vilja

    • Origin:

      Finnish, Swedish, Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "grain, will, fairy"

    • Description:

      A name made most famous by the operetta The Merry Widow which features "The Vilja's Song". A vila is a woodland spirit or fairy in Slavic mythology. Vilja also means "grain" in Finnish and "will, intent" in Swedish, and is very popular as a girls' name in Scandinavia, ranking in the Top 100 in both Finland and Norway.
  17. Mini

    • Description:

      Mini is a feminine name that functions as both a standalone name and a diminutive nickname for longer names like Minerva, Minnie, Jasmine, or Dominique. Derived from various linguistic roots depending on the culture, it often connotes smallness or daintiness from the English word 'miniature.' The name has a playful, affectionate quality that maintains its charm from childhood through adulthood. While not among the most common given names in any country, Mini has international recognition and cross-cultural appeal. It gained some additional recognition through association with the Mini Cooper car brand and various fictional characters. The name's brevity and friendly sound make it accessible across language barriers.

  18. Selka

    • Origin:

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

    • Meaning:

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

    • Description:

      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.
  19. Silja

    • Description:

      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 Nordic naming traditions. In Finnish usage, it's been a consistently appreciated though not overwhelmingly popular choice. Silja has deeper historical roots than might appear at first glance, with connections to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. The name offers international appeal while remaining uncommon in English-speaking countries, giving it a distinctive quality. Its brevity and melodic sound make it both practical and aesthetically pleasing, potentially appealing to parents seeking a name that's simple but not commonplace.
  20. Maikki

    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Mary

    • Description:

      An unusual name that has not ventured outside the Finnish culture.