Message: "Finnish name (f) Inari"

[Facts] Finnish name (f) Inari

by Caitlín Malia (cait)

7/26/2007, 5:27 PM

Does anyone have information on the Finnish name Inari? I met someone with this name today, she is from Finland and in her late 20s. I know that there is a Lake Inari in Finland, and also that it is the name of a district, a town, and a dialect of Sami. Now I'm just interested in the etymology and meaning.

~ Caitlín

#Finnish #Inari

This message was edited 7/26/2007, 5:29 PM

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- Kevlar +3

7/27/2007, 12:43 AM

The first name Inari comes from the place name. The geographical name Inari comes from the original Inari Sami form Aanaar. The meaning of Aanaar is unknown.

Inari is not the only Laplandic place name that has become a given name. Other examples are Saana and Salla which are fells in Finnish Lapland.

- Caitlín Malia (cait) +2

7/27/2007, 2:13 AM

Thanks!

So I'm curious, are these Sami names used mostly by Sami people, or by Finns as well? And are there Finnish (not Sami) place names that are given as names to people?

- Kevlar +1

7/27/2007, 3:38 AM

They are used by Finns. A Finnish name book I have calls them "Lapland romanticism names".

I can't think of any Finnish place names that are used as first names, other than names like Kaarina and Loviisa which were first names before they became place names.

- Caitlín Malia (cait)

7/27/2007, 9:09 AM

Very interesting...thanks for the info.

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