finnish names - the end

(1-3 by Maria Katerina, 4 via)

Today brings our last installation in the Finnish names series. I've included nature names, from divine proportions to weather events, as well as some interesting bits on Finnish naming practices. I really feel the strongest connection to this post, as we chose a Finnish nature name for our own daughter.


 It certainly makes good sense to walk the nature path if you want to go Finnish with your name selections. Roughly 85% of Finland is covered in pine, spruce and birch forests. There are 187,888 lakes, and at it's northern most, it boasts the aurora borealis, midnight sun and polar night. Finland could easily be said to be one of the most wondrous places for nature lovers. It's no surprise then that Finnish naming practices center around nature quite a lot.  

Nature names are rooted in the very tradition of Finnish surnames. Though the history and substantiality of Finnish surnames varies from East to West, surnames became more established throughout Finland in the late 19th and 20th centuries (when they were made a legal requirement in the 20th, but also, and more interestingly, during the social/politcal Fennoman movement of the 19th century.) 

During the Fennoman movement, a national identity was being proudly resurrected and sculpted anew, one that aimed to be distinct from both the Swedish and Russian influences in the country. Part of this was a major language and literature revival, which of course, affected names. Because there aren't many records of pre-Christian names in Finland, many took surnames from the natural world. So the very process of making one's surname Finnish was to take on a nature name. Currently, six of the ten most popular Finnish surnames are nature names which directly translate to: stream, peninsula, hill, wave, rapids and lake.

According to this great source, a lot of Finnish babes receive three names (in addition to surnames), with the longest middle name coming last, and many parents will call their children by their second or even third names. 

 If the sounds of Finnish names, themselves, don't appeal to you, but you (like the mind behind Japanese textile line, Mina Perhonen, "sympathize with the lifestyle and the culture of Finland"), the aforementioned naming practices could be engaged as a more subtle way of honoring the culture and beauty of Suomi while using names from virtually any language.  

So here they are, my favorite Finnish nature words:   

Hirsi - timber

Ilma - air

Multa - soil

Tuli - fire

Vesi - water

Revontulet - Aurora Borealis. Anna Emilia explained it to me:  "Repo is an old name or maybe a nickname for a fox, 'kettu'. Tuli means 'fire'. So together it is The Fire(s) of A Fox."  Thank you, Anna Emilia! Isn't this so beautiful! 

Aurinko - sun

Kuu - moon

Tähti - star

Otava - the big dipper

Tähdenlento - shooting star

Taivo - sky

Tuuli  - wind

Valo - light

Valoisa - bright

Kipinä - spark, flicker 

Salama - lightning

Sade - rain

Rae - hail

Myrsky - storm

Sumu - fog

Usva - mist

Pilvi - cloud

Lumi - snow

Lumikki - snow white

Pyry - snow shower

Myräkkä - snow storm

Hyhmä - snow floating atop water

Valli - wall of snow

Kuura - frost

Halla - frost

Kivi - stone

Vuori - mountain

Laakso - valley

Niitty - meadow


Mäki - hill






Puro - creek, brook, stream


Joki - river


Järvi - lake (so appropriate to anyone wanting to pay homage to Finland)


Meri - sea


Aalto - wave, billow  (feminine form is Aalotar)


Solina - ripple, murmur, gurgle (in the stream of life? for those who want to bestow gentleness?)


Virta - current, stream


Inari -- name of a lake in Finland


Saimaa -- fourth largest lake in all of Europe, actually. 


Enonvesi -- also name of a lake. 'uncle water'? very cool if this akin to a "father time" type thing. of course, it very well could mean simply "uncle's lake".


Orivesi -- 'stallion lake'? again, cool. 

Puutarha - garden

Kukka - flower, blossom

Kukkia - bloom

Kielo - lilly of the valley


Ruusu - rose


Terälehti - petal


Apila - clover


Puuvilla - cotton






Metsä - forrest


Ikivihreä - evergreen


Mänty - pinewood


Setri - cedar


Punapuu - sequoia 

Vanamo - Linnea

Vesa - young tree

Visa - curly birch tree

Koivu - birch tree

Varpu - twig

Haara - branch

Odake -thistle

Omena - apple

Luumu - plum

Persikka - peach

Kirsikka - cherry

Selja - berry

Hunaja - honey

Mesi - nectar

Maito - milk

Minttu - mint

Sahrami  - Saffron 

Sieni - mushroom

Joutsen - swan (the national bird)

Lintu - bird, birdie

Sulka - feather

Varpunen - sparrow

Kotka - eagel

Hirvi - elk, deer

Karhu - bear (the national animal)

Kani - rabbit

Kettu - fox

Koi - moth

Perhonen - butterflly

Susi - wolf 

Tiikeri - tiger

Tila - space


Ympyrä - circle


Kierre - spiral


Yksi - one

Kolme - three

Vappu - Mayday, a big ole Spring celebration. 

This was such a fun series. Thanks for participating with me! Any of my Finnish readers care to clarify any of the meanings I wasn't clear on? Additionally, let me know if I've got anything wrong. 

Any favorites from the list? Any creative ways to using the Finnish practices without using the names, themselves? I'd love to hear your ideas and combinations!

consultation: bessie's girl-boy twins

(images: 1 - by Sayaka Minemura, 2 -by little flower school, 3 by Jutta of Kootut Murut, 4 by Bessie of Sisserman Sable,)

Since this is my last consultation for a long while, and I'm really going to miss doing them, I went a little overboard with suggestions. But maybe this family (and others) will benefit my need to over indulge a bit. 


Bessie, of Sisserman Sable, needs you to rally round to help her with the name-lover's ultimate dream: girl - boy twins!  


 Sister-brother twins are being welcomed by siblings:

William Sorrel Vermont  

Stella Primrose Plum

Phoebe Ottoline Nell

Lowe Ivy Moonstone

  

Bessie writes:

-- " My philosophy for names is to use something simple and straightforward for the First Name, and then party-in-the-back for the Middle. We need help creating combinations of names that work not only together but with our other childrens'. Here are some names we like:

Girls: 

Agnes  

Olive

 Edith 

Helena

Eleanor 

Julia

Cleo 

Tess 

Elle 

Luna 

Lyra 

Hera 

and for baby boy we think we've found *the* name:

Rupert 

For Middles, I spotted Honey-Myrtle on your site and we both really like it. And also Pear as a middle name is awesome. 

Finnally, there are a few ideas we'd like to represent:

- My Finnish Heritage. For these two babies I'd like at least one to have something to do with Finland or Summer {I used to spend summers with my grandparents in finland}.(Ed. Bessie wrote a beautiful post on her childhood summers in Finland, and this will guide some of my suggestions)

- Lots of Flowers/Plants! As you can see from my children's names we have tried to include nature into their names. My mother was a florist and she is one of my favorite people, so I like to think we are honoring her by giving our children flower related names.

 - Anything to do with Family and Sibling bonds!

- Lastly, our family is about to embark on a new 'journey' we are moving and creating a whole new life for our selves so any names representing spring and a new beginning are welcomed suggestions."  

                ************************************ 

Bessie, I love the names of your children! And this is one of the funnest naming challenges I've ever been part of. Congratulations, and thank you for bringing your quest our way! 

Since Bessie and I have spent some time discussing our tastes, and we have such similarities in our naming styles, I'm going with many of my personal favorites here today (extra fun!)

Baby girl:

UPFRONT NAMES: 

From your list, I most love Agnes, Edith and Olive. You can't go wrong with any of them. 

Additionally, I think the following would be nice considerations for their consonant endings, syllable-balance, or harmony of meaning with the siblings' names:

Jane -- I would so love to see her hyphenated with something Finnish. You mentioned that you guys really like Sisko. I'm particularly fond of 
Jane-Sisko Rosalie. 

Miriam 'Mim' -- I am just going to keep suggesting her until someone grabs her up, but truly, this is a stunner with your bunch.

Mildred 

Artemis -- this is another that I'll just keep on suggesting, but it's particularly cozy in your family with it's roots, meanings and three syllables. Artemis and Rupert? yep.  

Berenice

Claudine -- Remember, there's debate on the meaning; not everyone thinks it means 'lame'. This is another that I suggest frequently, and she fits in so well here. 


Clemence


Cypress -- you could always save her for a middle slot, but I think she works well upfront, too, and offers something of a bridge between Lo and the rest. 

Fernandine 'Fern' ("adventuresome journey")(pronunciation) 

Gladys -- really love her for you. 

Helen -- If Helena's ending is too similar to sister Stella's, I think Helen is a great choice. Helen Honey-Myrtle (or Honey-Rose)is alliterative, which I know you fancy, and her seriousness balances the playfulness of the middle name you both like so much.


Hesper -- Do you like that she matches sister Stella's "star" or is this off-putting? 

Maude


Malgosia -- if not upfront, then a nice middle for her many syllables. Malgosia Omena Jane has a nice flow. 

Sigrid 

Tabitha

Opal  -- especially if born in June! and she ties to Lo's Moonstone.

Pearl

Beryl

FINNISH NAMES for one of her middle names -- I love the idea of hyphenating Finnish nature names for the middle. And many of these are good on either gender, as well: 

Ilta (evening)

Tähti(star)


Suvi(summer) 


Kulta (gold)


Apila (clover)


Helmi (pearl)


Totta (true)


Laulu (song)


Runo (poem)


Satu (fairytale)


Satka (goddess of the sea)


Tuli (fire)


Valoisa (bright)


Pilvi (cloud)


Omena (apple)-- 


Lintu (bird, birdie)


Sulka - feather


Sisko (sister)


NATURE NAMES for a middle spot(these are my favorites for your family. I included non-plants/flowers for the ties they bring to other siblings):
Bloom


Clove

Egret 


Anemone


Gardenia


Mum


Zinnia


Forsythia


Meadowlark -- Oh man, do I love Miriam Meadowlark.


Nettle


Rosalie -- would be so great in there, with her three syllables, R connection to Rupert, flower connection, etc.


Rosevine


Swan


Sun -- my favorite combo right now is Sun-Margaret -- please someone use this in the middle. For you guys, I love Tabitha Sun Margaret 'Totta'(Finnish for "truth".) 


Sundew -- this pretty little flower sounds more adventuresome than most.

SIBLING/FAMILY BONDS NAMES:

Sisko (sister)

Adelpha (sister)

Pleiade (group of stars named after the "seven sisters" from Greek mythology) 

Merope (one of the aforementioned seven sisters)

Alcyone (one of the aforementioned seven sisters)

Ruth (companion/friend)

Thomasina (twin) **I would so consider this for a first name.  She can go by 'Totta' or 'Tess'!

NEW/SPRING/JOURNEY NAMES:
Beatrice (life voyager/blessed)


Dagny (new day)

Fernanda or Ferdinande (adventuresome journey)

Neoma (new moon)


Nova (new)




Baby boy:


UPFRONT NAMES (just in case Rupert doesn't work when you meet him, which you noted as a possibility):


Augustine 


Cassius


Claude


Crocus


Fergus 


Frederick


Gaspard


Junius


Sigmund




FINNISH NAMES for a middle spot: 

Veli (brother)

Talvi (winter) -- could be neat to have sister be summery and brother be winter?

Toivo (hope)

Kivi (stone)

Kielo (lily of the valley)

Jalo (noble)

Turi (god of the honey land)

Hirsi (timber)

Myrsky (storm)

Vuori (mountain)

Järvi (lake) -- I really think this would be special for you.

Metsä (forrest)

Setri (cedar)

NATURE NAMES for a middle spot:

Cotton

Carnelian  

Cedar -- ties to brother's a bit. Rupert Cedar Swan is lovely if you love that much nature, which I know you do! I also like Rupert Cedar Augustine.

Crocus --  Rupert Frederick Crocus or Rupert Crocus Constantine are nice. 

Evergreen -- Rupert 

Fig -- Rupert Junius Fig


Fieldfare 


Hickory

Oriole

Pear -- you're right, this is a beautiful middle name. I have a Swedish male neighbor wearing it, too. 


Aves -- bird natured

Rustylark 

Swan -- ties to sister Phoebe's bird appellation, and is also the national bird of Finland. I love Rupert Swan.

Whimbrel

Thistle 


Vine

SIBLING/FAMILY BONDS NAMES:

Adelphe (brother)

Veli (brother)

Pollux (twin)

Bonamy (good friend)

Gladwin (light hearted friend)

NEW/SPRING/JOURNEY NAMES:

Ferdinand (adventuresome traveler)

Neville  (new village)


Spring


Rothwell (red spring)-- not the season, itself, but sure brings it to mind. 

 Here are my favorite combos for you (because I just can't resist doing this), though Bessie-made mashups of these and other names will likely be better tailored to your unique tastes, of course. (boy's name first b/c we know it already):

Rupert Kielo Ferdinand   and    Miriam Suvi Gardenia 'Mim'

Rupert Rothwell Swan     and    Edith Rosalie Lintu 

Rupert Barnaby Crocus    and    Artemis Ilta Maude 

Rupert Frederick Myrsky  and    Cypress Omena Ruth   

Rupert Cedar Vuori       and    Hesper Valoisa Sundew  

Rupert Setri Swan        and    Helen Omena Bloom  


Rupert Veli Pear         and    Jane-Sisko Rosalie  


Rupert Jarvi Fieldfare   and    Suvi Gardenia Maude 


Rupert Hickory Claude    and    Gladys Tahti Fernadine 


Rupert Junius Toivo      and    Sigrid Sun Margaret


Rupert Kivi Ferdinand    and    Opal Omena Lou


Rupert Gladwin Evergreen and    Eleanor Mëtsa Mum

Rupert Bonamy Swan       and    Omena Mildred Sundew

Rupert Veli Balthasar    and    Agnes Anemone Sisko  

Rupert Adelphe Fig       and    Thomasina Honey-Rose 'Totta' or                   


                                'Tess' (though if she goes by  


                                'Tess', you'll want to get a 


                                Finnish middle name in there - 


                                Thomasina Kielo Swan or Thomasina         
               
                                Tuli Rosamond?)

Additionally, Bessie, stay tuned for my next post -- it will be the last in my Finnish names series and will be comprised of more Finnish nature names. It will also suggest a way of organizing the three names you select so that they're in keeping with Finnish naming practices!   

Readers, I'm sure you can see beautiful, clever pairings that I didn't, or come up with even more names. What names or name combinations from Bessie's required categories do you like for this family? Which would you pick for yourselves?  Thank you!