163 Finnish Baby Boy Names With Meanings

From the land of a thousand lakes and northern lights come these Nordic names.

Written by Angela Alex, MA Specialty: Baby NamesExperience: 2 years

Angela is an honors student with a master's degree in Linguistics from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s Col... more

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• Oct 31, 2023

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Finnish boy names have grown in popularity over the years. The masculine name Initially, Finnish boy names were not only Finnish in origin, but the nation’s history had a big role to play. With the ever-growing Finnish nationalism in the 1900s, names that were originally Swedish or of any foreign origin were converted into Finnish names. Finnish names have also begun to have a global appeal, and Leo, a Finnish name, was most popular in Finland in the year 2021 and ranked as the 22nd most popular name in the US in 2022 (1).

During the 16th century, the majority of Finnish families started naming their children after Catholic saints or were given Christian names. In modern times, the Act on Forenames and Surnames of 2017 states that Finnish citizens must have at least one given name, with four being the maximum number of surnames. The law also states that the parents of newborn babies should register their child’s name within three months after being born. Some rules laid down by the Finnish government when it comes to picking a name include not choosing a name that is deemed offensive, insulting, that may cause future harm to the baby, or a name that does not fit the bill of a given name. The names should also follow the naming practices of the land, should be of the same gender, and is not like a surname or a last name (2).

According to the naming traditions, the first son inherits his paternal grandfather’s name, and the second son is named after his maternal grandfather. Similar rules apply to the daughters in the family. It is also not uncommon for the names of deceased siblings to pass down to the next child. The only rule is that the next child should also be of the same sex. Below we have compiled a list of masculine Finnish baby names for you to choose from. Have a look at our post and choose the name you think would suit your baby best.

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Maxis	Unisex	Powerful; Great
Maylea	Boy	Graceful; Imaginative
Miika	Boy	Who looks like God; Who is like the powerful God
Mikka	Unisex	Gift from God; Three trees together
Nante	Boy	Confidence
Nantia	Boy	Confident leader
Nieko	Unisex	Brave; Victorious; Strong
Niky	Boy	Who can be equal to God
Nillo	Boy	The crowd of success or triumph
Noki	Unisex	Peaceful; Serene; Calm

Nooa	Boy	The lady of the sun
Norielle	Unisex	Graceful; Radiant; Divine
Oiva	Boy	A noble and brave person
Oja	Boy	Short form of Ojala; Vitality
Okko	Boy	The color of Blue; The blue-colored person
Olavi	Boy	One who always proves as superior
Oskari	Boy	A jumping and leaping warrior
Osmo	Boy	A young and energetic name
Ossian	Boy	Fawn; a trusted and happy individual
Parvi	Unisex	Festival

Pekko	Boy	One with a sensitive and practical nature
Raimo	Boy	Protector of advice
Raitis	Boy	A sober man
Rammi	Boy	A high father
Reijo	Boy	An alert and always watchful person
Reimo	Boy	A man who gives advice
Reino	Boy	A wise ruler of men
Reko	Boy	A person who is very watchful and careful
Rheign	Unisex	Regal; Powerful; Sovereign
Rikkard	Boy	A very strong one who rules men

Roope	Boy	A bright and famous person
Rotri	Boy	One who is famous wolf
Runo	Boy	A man of secret lore
Rylo	Unisex	Unique; Modern; Energetic
Sakki	Boy	The God remembers all
Sampo	Boy	A God's temple
Samuli	Boy	The God's name
Sanni	Unisex	Truth
Seela	Unisex	Blissful; blessed
Seli	Unisex	Graceful; Blessed

Sepi	Boy	Smith
Sisu	Unisex	Stoic determination; Tenacity; Resilience; Hardiness
Soppa	Boy	A woman with knowledge or wisdom
Sulo	Boy	He who is of grace and charm
Tanel	Boy	God is my judge
Tapio	Boy	One who rules the forest
Tarmo	Boy	One who is energy driven
Tarvo	Boy	Wild aurochs
Tauno	Boy	A modest man
Teemu	Boy	People of victory

Tero	Boy	A manly warrior
Teuvo	Boy	A gift of God
Toivo	Boy	Faith; Trust; Promise
Tommi	Unisex	Twin
Topias	Boy	A jewel that is precious
Treasure	Unisex	Valuable, precious, rare
Tresor	Unisex	Treasure or precious
Tuomas	Boy	Two babies born at the same time from the same pregnancy
Tuomo	Boy	A form of Thomas; Twin
Valo	Unisex	Light

Vayla	Unisex	Hindu female deity of forests
Vesa	Unisex	Spruce tree
Viro	Unisex	Hero

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Finnish boy names have crossed boundaries and are considered a popular choice for boys in different parts of the world. Many Finnish names are the result of the nationalist movement of the 1900s. If you are planning to give your child a Finnish name, keep in mind the laws and regulations set by the Act on Forenames and Surnames of 2017. Family members can also inherit Finnish names, often tracing back through generations.

Infographic: Fantastic Finnish Baby Boy Names With Meanings

Finnish baby names have made their mark in other parts beyond Finland. These names have gained popularity across various continents due to their charming sound and unique spellings. So, are you looking for a Finnish name for your son? Check out the infographic below as we present such names, along with their meanings.

finnish names for your feisty little son (infographic)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Finnish name means protector?

Eetu, Jalmari, and Rami are Finnish boy names that mean “protector.” The masculine name Raimo means “wise protector.”

2. What name means hope in Finnish?

Toivo is a popular Finnish boy name that means “hope.”

3. What Finnish boy name means gift?

Jesse is a Finnish masculine form of the Hebrew name Yishai meaning “gift.” The name Jesse was borne by the father of King David in the Old Testament. Lahja is a Finnish feminine name that means “gift.”

4. What Finnish name means happy?

The Finnish name Ilona, a possible Hungarian derivative of Helen, is associated with joy and happiness from the root word ilo, meaning “joy.”

5. What Finnish name means love?

The Finnish name Lempi denotes the meaning of “love.”

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Popularity of name Leo.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
First and Surname Act.
https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2017/20170946

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.