Draft:Ancient Finnish names

• Comment: I'm confused about the referencing. There are 'Sources' and 'Original sources' – what is the difference? And if either or both of those sets of sources are meant to be 'sources' in the sense of this draft being based on them, then why are all but one of the citations (in the 'Cites' section) to a single source, and why isn't that source among the 'Sources'?
  As for the 'Original sources', we will need something more specific than general hand-waiving in the direction of Kalevala etc. Also, the last two items are far too vague (as indeed noted by the citation-needed tags!) to be either useful or acceptable.
  I realise none of this is strictly the draft creator's fault, given that this was translated from the fi.wiki original, but that just highlights the need to ensure that references are up to en.wiki's standards before translating. DoubleGrazing (talk) 08:54, 18 September 2026 (UTC)

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Ancient Finnish names are names used in Finland before the age of Christianity. The old name system included a main name and, if necessary, an additional name. This old name system subsided during the appearance of rarer names of Christian origin and literaryization of the administration Pre-Christian Finnish names have lots in common with other Finno-Ugric, for example Estonian and Livonian, old name systems.

Information about old Finnish names can be found marginally from historic sources. Instead, they have survived quite commonly in last names and often in place names. In old documents, ancient names are mentioned for example in the Livonian Chronicle of Henry written in the early 13th century, which mentions the Finnish crusade preacher Kaikewalde i.e. Kaukovalta or Kaikkivalta. Old names from the 14th century have survived in Sääksmäki's church ban letter to the landlords from the year 1340 along with patents of nobility, in which have survived two ancient names, Hyvälempi and Mielivalta. The old Finnish name system is thought to have consisted of a group of base names, like Iha (ideal), Hyvä (good), Lempi (affection), Mieli (mind) and Valta (power), from which new names were made by either continuing (Hyvä-ri, Hyvä-tty, Mieli-tty, Mieli-kkä) or combining them (Ihalempi, Ihamieli, Lempivalta, Valtalempi). This two-part name tradition has possibly gotten influence in ancient times from the Germanics

Some old place names, like village or house names, still have traces of ancient names. For example Untamala and similiar place names include the personal name Unto i.e. Untamo, which is in Finland of pre-historic root, although originally foreign. Some information about ancient names has also survived through folktales. Names known in folktales, like Väinämö-, Kullervo-, Ilmari-, Ahti- and Kaleva-type names are also known from toponymy and in surnames.

Although old pre-Christian personal names were gradually left out of use, in certain areas they were still used for a long time in the middle ages and after. For example in the beginning of the modern era, Savo had dozens of men who's christian name was originally pre-christian, Joutti meaning bow. Some pre-christian names appeared back in everyday use during romantic nationalism in the transition between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Main name and byname

Ceremonially given pre-Christian main names were seen to be primarily names that included some wish or feeling for the child. These kinds of names are all Ihamieli-type abstract names, thats contents have not been directly characterizing the namebearer. These names are for example Kuuluva, Tietävä, Anottu, Kaivattu, Ampuja, Laulaja, Nousia etc. Mythological names have also been recognized as main names like Kaleva, Tapio, Tursas, Väinö, Äijö etc. Instead, names related to nature or namebearer's appearance, personality, hunting skills or different events have been primarily bynames. Old bynames would be for example Satajalka, Rautakopra, Kirjoparta, Tervahartia.

Ancient naming

The Finns' ancient ways of naming have barely left any traces. However, Novgorod's archbishop Makarij's waybills from the years 1534 and 1548 mention sages that lead the pagan trips of Finno-Ugric peoples living in paganism, karelians, ingrians and votians, that also did the namegiving. The overall belief has still been the idea that the name had to have something to do with the family. Distant kindred peoples to Finns have searched for a name for a child for example by listing names, at which the baby crying at a certain name was taken as a sign for a fitting name. The sage could also set fire with flint and still while reading the names and the right name was found when the tinder set fire. At the same time, it was often also about finding a name related to family, by which it was found out whose soul had settled into the child. The name may have also been chosen at the child's birth based on the situation of the choosers

Finnish ancient names

Ancient names according to Kustaa Vilkuna: Aikamieli, Aikio, Ano, Arijoutsi, Arpia, Auvo, Himottu, Hirvi ('Moose'), Hyvätty, Ihalempi, Ihamuoto, Ikitiera, Ikopäivä, Ikäheimo, Ikävalko, Ilakka, Ilma ('Air'), Ilmatoivia, Jurva, Kaivattu ('One who is longed for'), Kaipia, Kauko, Kaukovalta, Keiho, Kekko, Kokko, Kontio, Kostia, Kotarikko, Kultamies, Kultimo, Kukurtaja, Kylli, Lalli, Leino, Lemmäs, Lempiä, Lempo, Maanavilja, Meripäivä, Mielikki, Mielitty, Mielo, Montaja, Nousia, Osma ('Wolverine'), Osmo ('young man'), Otava, Päivälapsi, Päiviä, Rautia ('blacksmith'), Sarijoutsi, Sotijalo, Talvikki, Tapatora, Tapo, Tiera, Toiva, Toivelempi, Toivikki, Toivottu ('One who is wished for'), Torio, Tornia, Unaja, Untamo, Unti, Unto, Utujoutsi, Valta, Valtari, Vihas, Vihavaino, Vilja ('Wheat'), Viljakka, Viljari, Viti, Äijö.

Ancient names according to Laura Kolbe's Cultural History of Finland I: Airikka, Ampuja, Hellikki, Hopea, Hyvätty, Janakka, Joutsi, Joutsimies, Jutikka, Kainu, Kaivas, Kalamies, Kalervo, Kalpio, Kare, Koira, Koveri, Kulta, Kultimo, Kupias, Kurikka, Kuutamo, Laulaja, Lemmikki, Lyylikki, Mieho, Miela, Mielipäivä, Miekka, Mietti, Neuvo, Ora, Otra, Paasia, Paaso, Puukko, Päivö, Rahikka, Raita, Rasantaja, Repo, Salme, Susi, Säisä, Tammi, Tapavaino, Tietävä, Tornio, Toivas, Toivettu, Toivio, Tuiretuinen, Tulo ('fire'), Tuntia, Tuomikki, Tuuli, Untamo, Uro, Vaania, Vaino, Vaito, Vartia, Vasara, Venemies, Vesi, Vesivalo, Viljo, Väinä, Äiniö.

Sääksmäki's landlord names in the church ban letter from the year 1340: Asikka, Kallas, Kuningas, Laso, Meurakas, Mielenpito, Mielitty, Miemo, Satatieto, Yijä/Yi/Yö.

Finnish names mentioned in the 14th century patents of nobility: Hyvälempi, Mielivalta.

Names related to commanders, leaders and religious figures:Ahti, Ahti Rikas, Ahti Saarelainen, Arijoutsi, Antero, Ehtaro, Hirvi, Hyvätty, Hämäläinen, Ihalempi, Ihamuoto, Ikitiera, Ikopäivä, Ikuturso, Ikäheimo, Ikävalko, Ilakka, Ilmarinen, Ilmatoivia, Joukahainen, Joutsimies, Jutikka, Kainu, Kaivas, Kaleva, Kari, Kaukiainen, Kaukomieli, Kaukopäivä, Kukurtaja, Kullervo, Kultimo, Kuura, Lemminkäinen, Lempinen, Lempivalko, Lempo, Mielikäinen, Montaja, Niera, Nousia, Osma, Pakkanen, Panu, Rasantaja, Rauma, Rautia, Sampsa Pellervoinen, Sarijoutsi, Seppo, Seppo Ilmarinen, Sotijalo, Tapio, Tiera, Ukko, Uljas, Untamo, Unti, Unto, Urho, Urho Kaukopäivä, Uro Venemies, Utujoutsi, Valta, Valtari, Vehnäpää, Vihas, Vihavaino, Vilja, Viljakka, Viljari, Viti, Väinämöinen, Väinö, Äijö

 

Sources

• Maliniemi, Aarno (1933). "Henkilönnimet esihistoriallisena ja katolisena aikana". Suomen kulttuurihistoria I. Porvoo, Helsinki: WSOY.
• Vilkuna, Kustaa (1976). Etunimet. Helsinki: Otava.
• Voionmaa, Väinö (1947). Hämäläinen eräkausi. Porvoo, Helsinki: WSOY.
• Voionmaa, Väinö (1924). "Suur-Sääksmäen muinaishistoriasta". Historiallinen arkisto (32).

Original sources

• Mikael Agricola: Psalttari (1551)
• Kristfrid Ganander: Mythologia Fennica (1789)
• Elias Lönnrot: Kalevala
• Elias Lönnrot: Kanteletar
• Other folk poetry
• Old nomenclature

Cites

Category:Finnish folklore Category:Given names