Finnish first names with a meaning

FINNISH FIRST NAMES WITH A MEANING
Male Names Female Names

MALE NAMES

Aarre 'treasure'

Aatos 'thought'

Ahti God of sea in the Finnish national epic Kalevala

Aimo a little old-fashioned word for 'generous amount' of something

Aku Donald Duck's first name in Finnish

Armas 'dear'

Arvo 'value'

Aulis 'willing'

Auvo 'bliss'

Eemeli Well-known Astrid Lindgren's character, the name therefore has certain rural feel to it.

Heimo 'tribe'

Ilkka Also the last name of a peasant rebellion leader Jaakko Ilkka, occured in 1590's

Ilmari Shorter version of 'Ilmarinen', a skilled blacksmith in Kalevala

Into 'enthusiasm'

Jaska shorter version of Jaakko, also the Charlie Brown's first name in Finnish

Juha also the name of a famous play by Juhani Aho

Jussi also the shorter version of Juhani and Johannes

Johannes John the Baptist's name in Finnish, somewhat old-fashiond name nowdays

Jorma one of the many slang words for that longer part of male genitalia

Kai 'perhaps'

Kalle a rascal type of character in numerous Finnish jokes, used in form 'Pikku-Kalle' (Little Kalle)

Kari a rock in a lake or sea just below the water surface

Lassi Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes comic strips) in Finnish

Leevi Hobbes (from Calvin and Hobbes comic strips) in Finnish

Oiva 'splendid'

Onni 'happiness'

Otso one of the many synonyms or 'nicknames' for bear

Pauli male version of 'Paula'

Petteri Rudolf the reindeer's first name in Finnish

Rami also the shorter version of Raimo

Riku the shorter version of Rikhard

Roope Scrooge McDuck's first name in Finnish

Sampo magical machine in Kalevala

Sulo 'charm', 'grace'

Taisto 'fight', a little poetic word, more commonly used in form 'taistelu'

Taito 'skill'

Tapani also the genetive form of 'habit' (tapa), meaning 'my habits'

Tapio Finnish god of forest and animals in Kalevala

Tarmo 'energy', 'vigour'

Tenho 'fascination', 'enchantment'

Toimi 'occupation', 'profession'

Toivo 'hope'

Topi also the shorter version of Toivo

Unto sometimes used as a slang word for stupid or 'little dim', as is the name 'Untamo'

Urho from 'urhea' (brave), also the name of Finland's most respected president Urho Kekkonen

Usko 'faith'

Veli 'brother'

Vesa young tree (sapling), see 'Taimi' from female names

Visa 'birchwood', also the Finnish form of 'quiz'

Voitto 'victory'

Väinö shorter version of 'Väinämöinen', a mage and a bard in Kalevala

Yrjö popular slang word for 'vomit'

FEMALE NAMES

Aino a tragical character in Kalevala, girl who drowns herself when forced to marry an old man

Anna 'give' as in 'give me'

Ansa 'trap'

Aura 'the aura', 'a plow'

Eeva Adam's wife Eve in Finnish

Elena Russian form of 'Helena', often pronounced with slight 'j' sound on front of the word.

Emmi shorter version of Emilia, also one form of the verb 'hesitate', 'älä emmi' = 'don't hesitate'

Esteri appears in a proverb too vulgar to be repeated here, describing heavy rain (and its source)

Hanna also the shorter version of Johanna

Hellä 'gentle'

Helmi 'a pearl'

Hertta the 'heart' in cards

Hilkka 'a hood', 'a cap', a women's scarf worn in head

Iiris the 'iris' in eye

Iines Donald Duck's girlfriend Daisy in Finnish

Kanerva 'heather'

Laina 'a loan'

Lempi 'love'

Lemmikki 'pet'

Meri 'sea'

Marja 'a berry'

Minttu 'mint' (bright greenish color and a candy flavour)

Orvokki 'violet' (a flower)

Paula older word for a piece of string or a lace, worn in women's hair or as part of trap

Rauha 'peace'

Roosa pinkish color

Salli 'let' as in 'let me'

Satu 'fairy tale','a bedtime stoy'

Sini 'blue'

Sisko 'sister'

Suvi 'summer'

Taimi young plant (sapling), see 'Vesa' in male names

Taru 'a legend', 'a myth'

Terttu a bunch of berries growing in a tree or a bush

Tuuli 'wind'

Unelma 'a dream', do not confuse this with 'uni' which people see when they sleep

Vappu Finnish spring celebration, takes place in may

Varma 'certain'

Vuokko 'anemone' (a flower)

Aarre	'treasure'
Aatos	'thought'
Ahti	God of sea in the Finnish national epic Kalevala
Aimo	a little old-fashioned word for 'generous amount' of something
Aku	Donald Duck's first name in Finnish
Armas	'dear'
Arvo	'value'
Aulis	'willing'
Auvo	'bliss'
Eemeli	Well-known Astrid Lindgren's character, the name therefore has certain rural feel to it.
Heimo	'tribe'
Ilkka	Also the last name of a peasant rebellion leader Jaakko Ilkka, occured in 1590's
Ilmari	Shorter version of 'Ilmarinen', a skilled blacksmith in Kalevala
Into	'enthusiasm'
Jaska	shorter version of Jaakko, also the Charlie Brown's first name in Finnish
Juha	also the name of a famous play by Juhani Aho
Jussi	also the shorter version of Juhani and Johannes
Johannes	John the Baptist's name in Finnish, somewhat old-fashiond name nowdays
Jorma	one of the many slang words for that longer part of male genitalia
Kai	'perhaps'
Kalle	a rascal type of character in numerous Finnish jokes, used in form 'Pikku-Kalle' (Little Kalle)
Kari	a rock in a lake or sea just below the water surface
Lassi	Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes comic strips) in Finnish
Leevi	Hobbes (from Calvin and Hobbes comic strips) in Finnish
Oiva	'splendid'
Onni	'happiness'
Otso	one of the many synonyms or 'nicknames' for bear
Pauli	male version of 'Paula'
Petteri	Rudolf the reindeer's first name in Finnish
Rami	also the shorter version of Raimo
Riku	the shorter version of Rikhard
Roope	Scrooge McDuck's first name in Finnish
Sampo	magical machine in Kalevala
Sulo	'charm', 'grace'
Taisto	'fight', a little poetic word, more commonly used in form 'taistelu'
Taito	'skill'
Tapani	also the genetive form of 'habit' (tapa), meaning 'my habits'
Tapio	Finnish god of forest and animals in Kalevala
Tarmo	'energy', 'vigour'
Tenho	'fascination', 'enchantment'
Toimi	'occupation', 'profession'
Toivo	'hope'
Topi	also the shorter version of Toivo
Unto	sometimes used as a slang word for stupid or 'little dim', as is the name 'Untamo'
Urho	from 'urhea' (brave), also the name of Finland's most respected president Urho Kekkonen
Usko	'faith'
Veli	'brother'
Vesa	young tree (sapling), see 'Taimi' from female names
Visa	'birchwood', also the Finnish form of 'quiz'
Voitto	'victory'
Väinö	shorter version of 'Väinämöinen', a mage and a bard in Kalevala
Yrjö	popular slang word for 'vomit'

Aino	a tragical character in Kalevala, girl who drowns herself when forced to marry an old man
Anna	'give' as in 'give me'
Ansa	'trap'
Aura	'the aura', 'a plow'
Eeva	Adam's wife Eve in Finnish
Elena	Russian form of 'Helena', often pronounced with slight 'j' sound on front of the word.
Emmi	shorter version of Emilia, also one form of the verb 'hesitate', 'älä emmi' = 'don't hesitate'
Esteri	appears in a proverb too vulgar to be repeated here, describing heavy rain (and its source)
Hanna	also the shorter version of Johanna
Hellä	'gentle'
Helmi	'a pearl'
Hertta	the 'heart' in cards
Hilkka	'a hood', 'a cap', a women's scarf worn in head
Iiris	the 'iris' in eye
Iines	Donald Duck's girlfriend Daisy in Finnish
Kanerva	'heather'
Laina	'a loan'
Lempi	'love'
Lemmikki	'pet'
Meri	'sea'
Marja	'a berry'
Minttu	'mint' (bright greenish color and a candy flavour)
Orvokki	'violet' (a flower)
Paula	older word for a piece of string or a lace, worn in women's hair or as part of trap
Rauha	'peace'
Roosa	pinkish color
Salli	'let' as in 'let me'
Satu	'fairy tale','a bedtime stoy'
Sini	'blue'
Sisko	'sister'
Suvi	'summer'
Taimi	young plant (sapling), see 'Vesa' in male names
Taru	'a legend', 'a myth'
Terttu	a bunch of berries growing in a tree or a bush
Tuuli	'wind'
Unelma	'a dream', do not confuse this with 'uni' which people see when they sleep
Vappu	Finnish spring celebration, takes place in may
Varma	'certain'
Vuokko	'anemone' (a flower)