According to Finland’s Digital and Population Data Services Agency, the most popular baby names in the country last year were Aino and Leo.
Here are Finland’s top 10 girl names and top 10 boy names of 2019:
Girl Names
- Aino, 278 baby girls
- Aada, 271
- Sofia, 255
- Eevi, 254
- Olivia, 246
- Lilja, 238
- Helmi, 236
- Ellen, 228
- Emilia, 223
- Ella, 220
Boy Names
- Leo, 380 baby boys
- Elias, 344
- Oliver, 332
- Eino, 318
- Väinö, 310
- Eeli, 267
- Noel, 259
- Leevi, 249
- Onni, 241
- Hugo, 195
The top girl name, Aino — rhymes with rhino — means “the only one.” It’s a poetic variant of the Finnish word ainoa, meaning “only” or “sole.” The name was invented by writer Elias Lönnrot for a character in the 19th-century Finnish epic poem the Kalevala. Originally, the character had been nameless and referred to simply as “the only daughter” (aino tyttönen) or “the only sister” (aino sisko).
In the girls’ top 10, Lilja, Ellen, and Emilia replaced Venla, Emma, and Isla.
In the boys’ top 10, Hugo replaced Niilo.
Among Finland’s Swedish-speakers (5% to 6% of the total population) the top baby names are Saga and Emil.
The top two names in Finland were the same (Aino and Leo) back in 2017, but they changed to Eevi and Eeli in 2018.
Sources: Names – Digital and Population Data Services Agency, Aino (mythology) – Wikipedia, Aino – Wiktionary
Image: Adapted from Flag of Finland (public domain)
