Finnish girl names

Matilda

German

"battle-mighty"

Matilda is a sweet vintage name that has been gently climbing the popularity list for the past 15 years, after a half-century slumber. The spunky children's book heroine Matilda is one factor in its…

Amalia

German

"work"

Originally popularized in eighteenth century Europe due to the fame of Anna Amalia, a Duchess who was a great patron of the arts, Amalia is now a widely cross-cultural name, heard from Italy to…

Lotta

Short form of Charlotta or Carlotta, forms of Charlotte, French

"free man"

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?

Aila

Finnish variation of Helga or Scottish Gaelic

"from the strong place"

Now that Isla Fisher has pushed her once-obscure name into the Top 150, some parents are looking for similar-sounding Scottish names for girls that are further off the beaten path. This one is…

Verla

Verla is a feminine name with Germanic origins, possibly derived from 'vera' meaning 'true' or as a variant of Veronica. This uncommon name enjoyed brief popularity in the United States during the…

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."

Else

Else is a feminine name with Germanic origins, functioning as both a standalone name and a short form of names containing the element 'Elis' such as Elisabeth or Elise. In German and Scandinavian…

Neva

Spanish

"white snow"

Has a pure, clean aura, but is also evocative.

Jenni

Jenni is a feminine given name primarily used as a diminutive form of Jennifer. Jennifer originates from the Cornish name Guinevere, meaning 'white wave' or 'fair one.' Jenni offers a friendlier,…

Mikaela

Swedish and Finnish variation of Michaela, Hebrew

"who is like God"

Variation of Michaela often used in Scandinavian countries. Oscar-winning actress Mikey Madison's formal name is Mkaela, spelled this way. Mikaela is a Top 20 name in Puerto Rico.

Frida

German

"peace"

The dynamic personality and paintings of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo have inspired growing numbers of parents to resurrect this form of the name. It does much better in certain European countries,…

Sonja

Russian, Slavic, and Scandinavian form of Sophia, Greek

"wisdom"

Popular throughout Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly in countries like Sweden, Norway, Russia, and Germany, Sonja has a rich cultural heritage. The name gained international recognition…

Linnea

Swedish

"twinflower, lime tree"

Linnea is an attractive Scandinavian name that derives from the renowned 18th century Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who developed the Linnean system of classifying plants and animals. Linnea is…

Dagmar

Norse

"Day maiden"

This royal Danish name has long been used across Scandinavia, Germany and Slavic countries and somewhat in the US around the turn of the last century --it was #622 in 1888. There were two notable…

Annika

Swedish diminutive of Anna

"grace"

Annika is a surprise hit of recent years, inspired by golfer Sorenstam; for Trekkies, it was also the name of a 'Star Trek:Voyager' character. Some people's first memory of it might be as Pippi…

Verna

Latin

"springtime"

Verna may mean "springtime," but May or Spring is fresher.

Mari

Variation of Maria or Mary, Basque, Japanese

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved; gift, mother; truth, genuine, villlage"

Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is also…

Aava

Aava is a feminine name of Finnish origin, meaning 'open water' or 'wide and open space.' It draws connections to nature, particularly bodies of water that remain unfrozen during winter. The name has…

Aino

Finnish

"the only one"

What a lovely name for the much-longed for daughter - no wonder Aino is in the Top 5 in Finland, whence the name originates. Like other popular Finnish names, Aino is short and avoids the ubiquitous…

Ansa

Finnish

"trap"

An attractive and easily translatable Finnish name.