Finnish Baby Names for Girls
Updated Wed Jan 31 2024
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To the American ear, Finnish baby names sound much quirkier than the Scandinavian baby names of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. While there is a lot of crossover between Finnish and Scandinavian names, many Finnish names are closely related to Baltic names, particularly those from Estonia.
The most popular Finnish names for girls in Finland include Eevi, Venla, Aino, Aada, and Helmi. You may be familiar with Finnish girl names such as Lotta, Hanna, Anneli, Ulla, Minna, and Lumi, which is a rising name in the US and popular on Nameberry. Rarer Finnish names for girls that deserve your attention include Auri, Suvi, Ailana, Elvi, Ilta, and Kesia. Here are some of the most accessible baby names to the English speaker, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Lumi
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"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.
- Saija
Origin:
Finnish diminutive of SarahMeaning:
"princess"Description:
This pretty Finnish name is a diminutive of a diminutive, going from Sarah to Sari to Saija.
- Suvi
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"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.
- Anja
Origin:
Scandinavian; Finnish; Slovene; Croatian; Serbian, from RussianMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anja is one of the most international of several versions of Ann/Anna now being imported, also including Anya and Annika.
- Sade
Origin:
Finnish, Nigerian and Yoruba, diminutive of FolashadeMeaning:
"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."
- Iro
Origin:
Greek, Japanese, FinnishMeaning:
"hero; color; peace"Description:
A modern Greek form of the mythological name Hero, or a Japanese name meaning "color." Iro is also a name in Finnish mythology, derived from Irina and Irene. Iro was the mother of the three main gods of Finnish legend.
- Venla
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"to travel, to proceed"Description:
This elegant Finnish feminization of Wendell is one of those rare names that has never appeared on the US official charts, but is straightforward to spell and say. It has been among the most popular girl names in Finland for at least 15 years, and would be a lovely, unique way to honor Finnish culture.
- Minna
Origin:
Diminutive of Wilhelmina, GermanMeaning:
"resolute protection; love"Description:
One of those pan-European nickname names much more familiar in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe than in the US, though related name Mina is making a comeback here. Light and bright, it could be an alternative to Mila, Minnie, or Millie.
- Lotta
Origin:
Short form of Charlotta or CarlottaDescription:
This nickname-name is very popular in Germany, though Lottie is still the preferred version in the US. The problem, of course, is that you'll have to put up with a lotta jokes. See?
- Hanna
Origin:
Spelling variation of HannahDescription:
This simplified version is not nearly as popular as the original (it also destroys a perfectly good palindrome), and has been on the decline in recent years.
- Anneli
Origin:
Scandinavian variation of Annalie or HannahMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anneli is one of the hundreds of Anne variations with an intriguing spelling. This name has been popular throughout Scandinavia over time and would certainly translate easily to English-speaking countries.
- Tuuli
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"wind"Description:
A sweet and intuitive Finnish word name. The double U's up the quirkiness, for English speakers at least. Also used in Estonia, notable bearers include actress Tuuli Narkle, cartoonist Tuuli Hypén, singer Tuuli Rand, and footballer Tuuli Tasa.
- Maire
Origin:
Finnish, Irish variation of MaryMeaning:
"sweet; drop of the sea, bitter"Description:
Both Maire and Mare have begun making inroads with parents seeking novel yet authentic ways of honoring an ancestral Mary. The Finnish variation derives from the word mairea, meaning "sweet."
- Sari
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"noble"Description:
Sari is a cute spin on Sarah, though some may hear it as "sorry," and it is also an item of clothing worn in India. These days many people will also confuse Sari with Suri, the lovely and unsual name of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' much-publicized young daughter.
- Nea
Description:
Nea is a concise feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Finnish, it means 'the one who is irritated,' while in ancient Greek contexts, it relates to concepts of youth or newness, meaning 'new' or 'young.' The name also appears in Swahili where it means 'to speak,' and has connections to Greek mythology as one of Zeus's lovers. Nea's brevity gives it a modern feel despite its ancient roots, making it appealing to contemporary parents seeking short, distinctive names. While never widely common in English-speaking countries, Nea has maintained steady usage in Nordic countries, particularly Finland. Its simplicity, cross-cultural presence, and easy pronunciation contribute to its subtle charm.
- Auri
Origin:
FinnishDescription:
An airy variant of the Finnish name Aura, which derives either from the Greek "aura" (breath; breeze) or from Old Norse "aurr" (earth; clay). It is also sometimes encountered as a short form of Aurora or Aurelia.
- Via
Origin:
Nickname nameDescription:
Could be a short form of Sylvia, Olivia, or any other similar name. Or a vivid Italian word name.
- Ailana
Origin:
KazakhMeaning:
"moonlight"Description:
A pretty Kazakh name derived from Turkish ayla, meaning "moonlight". The Hawaiian name 'Ailana (with the 'okina mark) means "loving".
- Ulla
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"will, determination"Description:
Ulla, the beautiful Swedish secretary in The Producers (played by Uma Thurman in the movie) who purrs, "Ven you got it, flaunt it," has changed the image of this name forever. Ulla may stand on its own or be an abbreviation of Ursula or Ulrika; Ula may be seen as another spelling.
- Lumia
Origin:
Finnish, ItalianMeaning:
"snow; citron"Description:
Although Lumi (Finnish for "snow") is far more popular, the elaboration Lumia is used in Finland as well. It's also a technical word in English for patterns of light used as an art form, and in Italian it refers to the citron fruit and tree – a pear-shaped citrus fruit also known as a sweet lemon. Nokia chose the name for a brand of smartphone, now discontinued.