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Ilmari and Väinö became first popular in the late 1800's and the early 1900's (inspired by Kalevala and the national romanticism) and now (= ca. from the 1980's to today) they're trendy again. Both names are perceived as "true" Finnish names as they're shortened versions of Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen, characters from Kalevala. Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen themselves are not used in real life: they're considered too long and mythological, and the "-nen" part is tricky because it's the most common suffix in Finnish surnames (e. g. Ilmarinen Virtanen sounds/looks silly to a Finnish person).

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Otava is a newer name despite its archaic etymology. It has really been used in the 2000's and 2010's, and it's still a rare name. But I think it has potential to become a new trendy nature/Finnish mythology inspired name.

This message was edited 4/20/2019, 8:16 AM