Finnish Baby Names

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.

A vintage Finnish name most common in the early 20th century.

Cosmo's Finnish cousin.

This sweet and straightforward Finnish name could be an ideal choice for a daughter born at night.

Eetu is a perennial favorite in Finland, but is rarely if ever used in the States - probably because of the unfamiliar (to most people) spelling and pronunciation.

Classic Finnish name also found in neighboring Estonia.

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

This common name in Finland, which is also a diminutive for Jan in Sweden, might feel a bit feminine in the English-speaking world, too close to girls' names Jan and Jane.

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

Originally a short form of Konstantin, the Finnish form of Constantine, Konsta came to be used on its own, staying in the Finnish Top 50 boy names from 2004 to 2014. With its cool K initial and fashionable ending sound, Konsta would also be a handsome choice outside of Finland.

Teemu ultimately derives from the Greek name Nicodemus via the Icelandic Demus and Finnish Tiemus.

Taru is both the Finnish word for "epic," making it a translation of the Swedish name Saga, and a pet form of Tarja, the Finnish form of Daria.

A popular choice in Finland, where it ranks among the Top 50 boy names.

This Finnish nickname for Klaus could stand independently on birth certificates.

Senja is the Finnish form of Xenia as well as the Indonesian word for "dusk."

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.

Hilma is heard in Germany and the Scandinavian countries, and sometimes used as a shortening of Wilhelmina--though there are more appealing German names for girls. to be found. Hilma Wolitzer is an American novelist and the mother of author Meg Wolitzer.

The pronunciation may not be intuitive to English speakers, but this Finnish nature name is a top choice in its country of origin. Pihla derives from pihlaja, the Finnish word for the rowan tree.

Joonas is a masculine Finnish variant of the biblical name Jonah (or Jonas), which derives from Hebrew and means 'dove'. This name is particularly popular in Finland and Estonia, where it represents a traditional choice with strong cultural roots. The double 'o' spelling reflects Finnish orthography and pronunciation patterns. Joonas carries the biblical associations of its root name—connecting to the story of Jonah and the whale—while maintaining a distinctive Nordic character. The name experienced popularity peaks in Finland during the 1980s and 1990s but remains in consistent use. Outside the Nordic countries, Joonas is rare, giving it an exotic quality while still being relatively straightforward to pronounce for English speakers.

Tarvo has two potential origin stories. The first is that it derives from the Old Finnish word tarvas, meaning "wild aurochs," a wild species of cattle that is now extinct. The second possible derivation is from the Estonian tarv, meaning "energy."