Finnish Names for Boys

Finnish names for boys include some seriously strong and striking options, like Nameberry favorite Eero, which ranks over 3000 places higher on our site than in the official stats. That certainly makes it one to watch! And Eero is just one of a whole group of awesome o-ending Finnish boy names which we think have real potential further afield — even more obscure options include Aro, Reino, Timo and Valo. Popular boy names in Finland range from the familiar (Leo, Oliver) to the utterly unique (Eetu, Onni).

You're sure to find something to suit in our long-list of Finnish baby boy names, below. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Eero
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Eric
    • Meaning:

      "eternal ruler"
    • Description:

      Creative gem perfect for an architect's son, in tribute to modern Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen.
  2. Timo
    • Origin:

      Norwegian, Finnish, German, and Dutch variation of Timothy
    • Meaning:

      "honoring God"
    • Description:

      Popular in its own right in Germany and definitely makes a more intriguing and grownup short form of the classic Timothy than Timmy or even Tim.
  3. Rasmus
    • Origin:

      Finnish and Scandinavian variation of Erasmus
    • Meaning:

      "beloved, desired"
    • Description:

      A form of ancient name newly popular in Eastern Europe, Rasmus is rugged and distinctive - and on trend in Estonia and Finland. Virtually unknown in the U.S. but with its philosophical roots and uplifting meaning, Rasmus seems prime for use. The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band.
  4. Aalto
    • Origin:

      Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "wave"
    • Description:

      The last name of Finnish moderne designer/architect makes an original, creative choice with an unexpected water-related meaning.
  5. Valo
    • Origin:

      Finnish; Malagasy
    • Meaning:

      "light"
    • Description:

      Really offbeat, upbeat multi-cultural name with light sound and meaning. Valo might make a more unique spin on Milo.
  6. Kalani
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "the heavens"
    • Description:

      This name is one of the hot new spiritual names for both sexes. In Hawaiian it means "chieftain of the sky" or "spirit of the sky,"and is extremely popular for boys.
  7. Jari
    • Origin:

      Short form of Jalmari, Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "helmet protector"
    • Description:

      Sleek modern short form of a classic Scandinavian name.
  8. Onni
    • Origin:

      Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "happiness, luck"
    • Description:

      Onni is the Number 1 boy's name in Finland yet largely unknown in the English-speaking world. Its uplifting meaning makes it a plausible possibility if you want to honor your Nordic heritage.
  9. Aro
    • Origin:

      Finnish diminutive of Aaron
    • Description:

      Aro is a cute name from Scandinavia which, given the popularity of similar names like Milo, Arlo etc might be ripe for more usage outside of the Nordic countries.
  10. Akseli
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Axel, Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "father of peace"
    • Description:

      A popular choice in Finland, where it ranks among the Top 50 boy names.
  11. Matti
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Matthew, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"
    • Description:

      We like Matti in theory, but in practice it’s likely to get confused for the girlish Maddie.
  12. Janne
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of John
    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"
    • Description:

      This common name in Finland, which is also a diminutive for Jan in Sweden, might feel a bit feminine in the English-speaking world, too close to girls' names Jan and Jane.
  13. Jalmari
    • Origin:

      Finnish form of Old Norse Hjalmar
    • Meaning:

      "helmet protector"
    • Description:

      Distinctive-sounding Scandinavian name. with deep roots. Short form is the attractive Jari.
  14. Esa
    • Arto
      • Toivo
        • Origin:

          Finnish
        • Meaning:

          "hope"
        • Description:

          This name was on the U.S. Top 1000 in the early 20th century, when recent immigrants frequently chose native names that have since died out for American babies. But if you're of Finnish ancestry, you may want to consider reviving this one with a positive meaning.
      • Jorma
        • Origin:

          Finnish, variation of Jeremiah
        • Description:

          Rarely heard in the US, but borne by Jorma Taccone an actor featured on the TV series Girls., who was named after the Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. Taccone--who plays Booth Jonathan on the show-- has been quoted as saying, "I grew up in Berkeley and my parents were hippies, obviously, since my name is Jorma.
      • Severi
        • Origin:

          Finnish variation of Severin, French
        • Meaning:

          "stern, serious"
        • Description:

          Makes Severin and Severus a little less, well, severe.
      • Kalle
        • Taavi