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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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,…

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…

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."

Oona

Irish, variation of Una

"lamb"

Oona is a name made famous by Eugene O'Neill's daughter, who became Charlie Chaplin's wife. One of the original Oona's granddaughters was named after her, and is now an actress famous in her own…

Gretel

Diminutive of Margarete, German

"pearl"

Gretel originated as a nickname for Margarete, the German form of Margaret. It’s a charming name, but most American parents prefer Greta, as Gretel is strongly tied to the fairy tale heroine. The…

Neva

Spanish

"white snow"

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

Verna

Latin

"springtime"

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

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…

Inari

Finnish place name; Japanese

"loaded with rice"

A unisex cultural crossover that has seen a little use from the 1990s onwards. In Japanese mythology, Inari is an androgynous deity associated with rice, tea and foxes. In Finland, it is the name of…

Seela

Finnish variation of Sela, Hebrew

"rock"

An intuitive and attractive Finnish choice.

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,…

Louna

French variation of Luna, Latin

"moon"

The modern French take on Luna, ranking in the French Top 100, but sure to cause confusion in the US.

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…

Katja

German; Scandinavian; Finnish; Dutch; Slovene; Croatian, from Greek

"pure"

A sweet and international short form of Catherine, pronounced like Katya and used in various European languages.