Message: "@ Satu (or other people knowledgeable about Finnish names)"

@ Satu (or other people knowledgeable about Finnish names)

by Caitlín (cait)

2/14/2005, 6:47 PM

I've been reading the Kalevala, and I was just wondering if any of the names are currently used in Finland. Would it be really odd to meet someone named Väinämöinen? How about Kyllikki? Aino? Louhi?

I love Finnish names...unfortunately most of them are nearly unpronounceable for English speakers. Or, like Louhi, have negative connotations. I like the way Louhi sounds, but ugh...what a character!

~ Caitlín

"Blue tinted individuals who go about armed to the teeth and quoting twelfth-century poetry are not easy to comprehend." ~ Lloyd Alexander

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- Satu (guest)

2/16/2005, 3:28 AM

Hi Caitlín,

Here are some statistics from Finland:

Kyllikki:

1940-59: 23638
1960-79: 4760
1980-99: 1314
2000-04: 143

Väinämöinen:

1940-59: 7
1960-79: 4
1980-99: 2
2000-04: 0

Aino:

1940-59: 8973
1960-79: 1877
1980-99: 5683
2000-04: 3207

Louhi

1940-59: 2
1960-79: 0
1980-99: 5
2000-04: 4

Regards, Satu

- Caprice +1

2/15/2005, 1:43 PM

Kyllikki and Aino are still used in Finland; I don't know about Louhi. Väinö is used, but I've never heard of Väinömöinen!
(I live in Sweden)

- riina (guest)

2/19/2005, 5:43 AM

... and in neighbouring Estonia, these names exist and are still in use as: Külli, Küllike or Külliki; Aino (f) and Väino (m). No Louhi. I'm a Canadian-born Estonian who now lives in Estonia. Cheers!

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