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Family History names Finnish , Italian, American

BrookeSiskey
By BrookeSiskey
Updated Mon May 22 2023
Finnish names- my family immigrated from Finland & my great grandfather came from Italy. Also have some old American names from my dad's side of the family as well as some odd names from my husband's family history
  1. Matilda

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "battle-mighty"

    • Description:

      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 rise, along with others of its class like Eloise and Caspian.
  2. Elias

    • Origin:

      Greek variation of Elijah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Yahweh is God"

    • Description:

      Strong, charismatic, and sleek, Elias has followed in the footsteps of Elijah and Eli to become a popular choice among parents today.
  3. Katherine

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Katherine is one of the oldest, most diverse, and all-around best names: it's powerful, feminine, royal, saintly, classic, popular, and adaptable. Long one of the top girls' names starting with K, Katherine has now been unseated on the popularity list by upstarts Kennedy and Kinsley, but a dip in popularity only adds to its charm.
  4. Solomon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Solomon, a name that evokes wisdom and peace, is an Old Testament name that, along with other patriarchal classics, is finally beginning to shed its long white beard and step from the pages of the Old Testament into modern nurseries.
  5. Francis

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "Frenchman or free man"

    • Description:

      Since this was the name chosen by the late Roman Catholic pope in 2013, Francis has come into the spotlight.
  6. Chester

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "fortress, walled town,"

    • Description:

      Chester is a comfortable, little-used teddy-bear of a name that suddenly sounds both quirky and cuddly.
  7. Helen

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "torch; shining light"

    • Description:

      Helen is a name that has connoted beauty since ancient times – Helen of Troy was the the mythological "face that launched a thousand ships," over whom the ten-year Trojan War was fought.
  8. Abraham

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "father of multitudes"

    • Description:

      Abraham is among the most classic baby names that's still widely-used today, popular for its references to both the Bible and American history. The Biblical Abraham was the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and is considered the founding father of the Jewish people. He was originally named Abram, until, according to Genesis, he was told, "No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations."
  9. Oswald

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "divine power"

    • Description:

      Despite the success of so many O-starting boys names--Oliver, Owen, Otis, Oscar--Oswald has not yet shown any signs of resurrection, though he does have the animating nicknames Ozzie/Ozzy and Oz. The name has some literary cred--in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's King Lear and a novel by H. G.Wells--and there was early cartoon character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
  10. Emilio

    • Origin:

      Spanish and Italian variation of Emil

    • Meaning:

      "rival"

    • Description:

      Dashing and suave, with a hint of poetry and gentleness, Emilio is an appealing and international choice. A solid favorite in Italy, it is also on the rise in the US, France, Austria, and the UK.
  11. Christina

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "a Christian"

    • Description:

      Christina, a pretty and feminine, crystal clear classic, may be trending downward, but it's never out of style. Christina's short forms Chris, Christie, and Tina all seem dated—making the royal Christina best used in its full glory.
  12. Lorna

    • Origin:

      English literary name

    • Description:

      One of those names like Pamela, Vanessa and Wendy, Lorna was invented for a particular literary character--the protagonist of the 1869 novel Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore--and then perpetuated as the name of a shortbread cookie. The author claimed to have based it on the Scottish place-name, Lorn. In baby name limbo for quite some time, it was chosen by Judy Garland for her younger daughter, Lorna Luft. Lorna Simpson is an important contemporary American artist.
  13. Laila

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Layla or Sami variation of Helga, Arabic or Finnish

    • Meaning:

      "night; holy"

    • Description:

      Beguiling and lovely, Laila is one of the lilting variations of Leila and Layla. It's the name of the former-boxer daughter of Muhammad Ali and of actor Shawn Wayans. In Finland, the Sami people use this in place of the Scandinavian name Helga.
  14. Clarice

    • Origin:

      Medieval form of Clarita, a derivative of Clara

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      If you’re a fan of the annual animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, you’ll recognize the name of Rudolph’s beautiful doe sweetheart, pronounced cla-REES—uncomfortably close to the Silence of the Lambs pronunciation. Clarice was the name of the wife of Lorenzo de' Medici, and Clarice Cliff was a famed British ceramics artist. Though a Top 300 name from 1906 to 1934, modern parents might prefer the more delicate Clarissa.
  15. Emanuel

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Emmanuel, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is with us"

    • Description:

      Fewer letters does not always mean easier—the traditional spelling is the one most people will recognize.
  16. Eleazer

    • Origin:

      Variation of Lazarus

    • Meaning:

      "God is my helper"

    • Description:

      Four-syllable names can be tricky, but this rarely used Old Testament appellation has considerable potential. In the Bible, Eleazer is a son of Aaron and nephew of Moses who succeeds his father as High Priest.
  17. Abijah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "God is my father"

    • Description:

      Abijah is a truly unusual, truly unisex, truly appealing biblical name. There were several male Abijahs in the Bible, one of them, known as Abijah of Judah, was the fourth king of the House of David, and also a couple of females.
  18. Matti

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Martha or Matilda, Aramaic or "lady; battle-mighty"

    • Meaning:

      "lady; battle-mighty"

    • Description:

      Matti could be a short form of Martha, Matilda, or even Madeline. The -i ending makes it feel cute and light. With names like Teddi trending for girls, Matti makes a spunky, tomboyish option.
  19. Waino

    • Description:

      Waino is a masculine Finnish name derived from the epic Finnish poem 'Kalevala,' where Väinämöinen (shortened to Väinö, which became Waino in Anglicized form) appears as a wise, ancient hero and central figure. The name carries meanings of 'quiet,' 'peaceful,' or 'undisturbed waters.' Waino gained modest popularity among Finnish immigrants to America in the early 20th century, particularly in the Upper Midwest. Though rare today, it represents Finnish heritage and Nordic naming traditions. The simplicity of its pronunciation (WHY-no) belies its distinctive character and cultural richness. Waino offers a connection to Finnish mythology and literature while providing an uncommon option for parents seeking a name with authentic cultural roots and a gentle yet strong masculine quality.

  20. Urho William