130+ Finnish Dog Names for your Nordic Pentu
Imagine strolling through vast snow-covered forests, the crisp air filling your lungs, as you watch your pup frolicking in the snow. Afterwards, you snuggle up with your pooch in front of a roaring fire – you are sipping on a warm cup of kahvi while your dog dreams of chasing reindeer through the Nordic wilderness under the glow of the Northern Lights.
Whether you're a devoted dog lover, a language aficionado, or simply intrigued by the wonders of Finnish heritage, get ready to immerse yourself in the delightful fusion of Finnish culture and canine cuteness that awaits you on this comprehensive list of Finnish dog names.
♀️ Female Finnish Dog Names for your Tyttö Koira
Are you head-over-paws in love with your beautiful girl dog? Then giving her one of these amazing Finnish names is a great way to show how special she is to you. Our favorite name is “Eevi” – what’s yours?
| Aili |
| Aino |
| Eevi |
| Enni |
| Helmi (means “pearl”) |
| Kaarina |
| Lempi |
| Liisa |
| Lumi (means “snow” in Finnish) |
| Maija (Finnish form of Maria) |
| Pihla |
♂️ Male Finnish Dog Names for your Poika Koira
A great way to highlight the masculinity of your boy dog is by giving him a name that exudes strength and charisma with a dash of mischievous charm. We agree with everyone in Finland, “Onni” is a great boy’s name – for humans and fur-babies.
Over the past few years, we have curated more than 20,000 dog names.
In just a few easy steps, you can discover a wide array of wonderful names, each selected to match your dog’s size, color, gender, personality, and beyond. Plus, there's the option to save your top picks and share them with friends or family.
It will only take two minutes and it's completely free!
| Aapo (Finnish version of Abraham) |
| Aatos (means “thought” or “noble idea”) |
| Akseli |
| Auri |
| Edvin |
| Eero (Finnish form of Eric) |
| Erno |
| Kalle |
| Olavi |
| Onni (Number 1 Finnish boys name) |
😁 Funny Finnish Words That Make Awesome Dog Names
Finnish Lapphunds, affectionately known as “Lappies” are happy dogs known for their fluffy coats. We think “Turkista” is a great name that highlights the luscious coats of these gorgeous pups. We also love the name “Tassu” for a dog with big paws.
| Hamstrata | means “to hoard” |
| Häntää | means “tail” |
| Hau Hau | means “woof woof” |
| Jänishousu | means “scaredy-cat” – literally “rabbit-pants” |
| Koiranleuka | means “joker” – literally “dog jaw” |
| Kultaseni | means “sweetheart” |
| Kuono | means “snout” |
| Rakkaus | means “love” |
| Tassu | means “paw” |
| Turkista | means “fur” |
🦌 Names for Dogs Inspired by the Finnish Words for Animals
Does your pup hoard stolen treasures (your favorite slippers) like a little magpie? Then “Harakka” is the perfect name. Perhaps your dog bounces around like a bunny or is really fluffy like a bear. Naming your pooch after their inner spirit animal is a fun way to highlight their unique personality traits and give them a name that no other dog has.
| Ahma | wolverine |
| Harakka | magpie |
| Kani | bunny |
| Karhu | bear |
| Kettu | fox |
| Kissa | cat |
| Koira | dog |
| Kukko | rooster |
| Poro | reindeer |
| Susi | wolf |
🏞️ Cool Dog Names Derived from the Geography of Finland
“Aura” is a great name for a dog whose personality flows with elegance and grace. We love the name “Levi” for those dogs with an insatiable playful spirit and boundless energy. But our absolute best name is “Sinki” (short for Helsinki, the capital of Finland) for any dog with a regal demeanor and an extra touch of cultural class.
| Aura | river |
| Eura | river |
| Helsinki | capital city of Finland |
| Kemi | city |
| Koli | national park |
| Kymi | river |
| Lahti | city |
| Levi | one of the largest ski and recreation resorts in Finland |
| Mikkeli | city |
| Oulu | city |
| Pori | city |
| Saimaa | lake |
| Tana | river |
| Torne | river |
| Turku | city |
🎨 Dog Name Ideas Based on Finnish Words for Colors
The Tamaskan Dog is a rare Finnish breed that has been bred to resemble a wolf. There are 3 possible shades of grey that you can typically expect its coat to be – red/gray, wolf gray and black/gray – you could have a lot of fun experimenting with those Finnish words for colors to come up with a truly unique name for your Tamaskan pup.
| Harmaa | gray |
| Hopeanvärinen | silver |
| Keltainen | yellow |
| Kullanvärinen | gold |
| Musta | black |
| Oranssi | orange |
| Punainen | red |
| Ruskea | brown |
| Sininen | blue |
| Valkoinen | white |
| Vihreä | green |
| Violetti | purple |
🥛 Dog Names Inspired by Popular Finnish Drinks
Sip, savor, and let the names on this list leave you thirsty for more! “Jallu” is a great name for your Finnish dog – so bottoms up, or as they say in Finland, “Kippis!”
| Glogg | Spiced alcoholic drink that is served warm – like mulled wine |
| Jaloviina | cut brandy – known by the Finns as “Jallu” |
| Kahvi | coffee |
| Kilju | homemade alcohol made with sugar, yeast and water |
| Lakka | cloudberry liqueur |
| Lonkero | long drinks – spirits like gin and vodka that are mixed with fruit flavored soft drinks |
| Maito | milk |
| Sahti | traditional Finnish beer |
| Sima | fermented sparkling mead with low/no alcohol |
🥧 Great Names for Dog Derived from Finland’s Delicious Cuisine
Finnish food is a delightful medley of traditional recipes and tongue-twisting names. We highly recommend devising a nickname based on these scrumptious foods like we have done for “Salmiakki”, the beloved Finnish candy that takes licorice to a whole new level of intensity!
| Blueberry | Blueberry pie is the most popular dessert in Finland because blueberries grow abundantly in the forests in the summer |
| Gravlax | thinly sliced salmon that has been cured with salt, sugar and dill |
| Karelian | pastry/pies – filled with rice pudding |
| Leipäjuusto | bread cheese – also called Finnish squeaky cheese because it squeaks in your mouth when you eat it |
| Lohikeitto | creamy salmon soup |
| Mykyrokka | blood dumpling soup – “Rokka” for short |
| Poronkäristys | sauteed reindeer |
| Ruisleipä | Finnish rye bread |
| Salmiakki | salty liquorice – so many options here for nicknames “Sal”, “Mia”, “Miakki”, “Akki” |
📜 Finnish Dog Names Based on Memorable Historical Figures and Famous People from Finland
Finland’s historical figures and famous icons offer a kaleidoscope of creativity and inspiration when searching for the perfect name for your Finnish dog. Your pup would be proud to be named after any of these remarkable individuals who have shaped Finland's history and continue to inspire the world with their extraordinary contributions.
| Alma | singer |
| Darude | record producer and DJ |
| Jean | Jean Sibelius – composer |
| Karita | Karita Mattila – operatic soprano |
| Linus | Linus Torvalds – software programmer/engineer |
| Renny | Renny Harlin – film director |
| Sanna | Sanna Marin – Finland's youngest prime minister |
| Tarja | Tarja Halonen – first female president of Finland |
| Tove | Tove Jansson – artist and author |
| Valo | Ville Valo – music artist |
🎥 Dog Names Inspired by Popular Characters in Finnish Movies, TV Shows and Books
Sharing your life with a dog is the embodiment of love and friendship with a sprinkle of mischief and that's exactly what you get when you enter the whimsical world of the Moomins, where cuddly creatures with round snouts and quirky personalities dwell in an enchanting valley called Moominvalley. Created by Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson, the Moomins have captured the hearts of millions around the globe with their delightful adventures and heartwarming tales – and let’s be honest, you couldn’t ask for a better selection of dog names!
| Fillyjonk | The Moomins | Female |
| Hodgkins | The Moomins | Male |
| Joxter | The Moomins | Male |
| Little My | The Moomins | Female |
| Misabel | The Moomins | Female |
| Moomintroll | The Moomins | Unisex |
| Mymble | The Moomins | Female |
| Sniff | The Moomins | Unisex |
| Snork | The Moomins | Male |
| Snufkin | The Moomins | Male |
🌙 Finnish Dog Names Inspired by the Country’s Mythology and Folklore Tales
Folklore and mythology always heralds some of the best options for dog names and Finland doesn’t disappoint in this regard. Our favorite name is “Otso” for a cuddly and fluffy pooch who has undeniable alpha-dog qualities.
| Ajatar | evil forest spirit |
| Akka | goddess of fertility – wife of Ukko – means “old lady” |
| Haltija | Finish elves/gnomes |
| Hiisi | goblin-like creatures that dwell in deep woods and inside mountains |
| Kuutar | goddess of the moon |
| Menninkäinen | leprechaun-like creature that inhabits forests |
| Mielikki | wife of Tapio |
| Näkki | evil water spirit |
| Otso | a bear who is the sacred king of the animals and leader of the forest – Otso is the Finnish national animal |
| Tapio | god of the forest |
| Ukko | god of the sky, weather and crops – means “old man” |
🌅 Charming Finnish Dog Names Inspired by Beautiful Nature
Finnish nature words offer a whimsical way to honor the natural world while adding a touch of charm to your canine companion's name. We love the name “Korpi” for a puppy whose adventurous spirit is as untamed as the Finnish wilderness.
| Aurinko | sun |
| Järvi | lake |
| Joki | river |
| Korpi | wilderness |
| Lampi | pond |
| Mäki | hill |
| Meri | sea |
| Neva | marsh or bog |
| Ranta | beach |
| Saari | island |
🏒 Sporty Name Ideas for your Finnish Dog
Put your pup on the winners podium with this selection of dog names that embody the spirit of champions. We love “Mika” for a speedy pup that loves to dash about the dog park.
| Hanna | Hanna-Maria Seppälä – swimming |
| Heikki | Heikki Ikola – biathlete |
| Kaarlo | Kaarlo Kangasniemi – weightlifting |
| Kaisa | Aino-Kaisa Saarinen – cross country skiier |
| Mika | Mika Häkkinen – formula 1 |
| Minna | Minna Kauppi – athlete |
| Pertti | Pertti Ukkola – wrestler |
| Pukki | Teemu Pukki – football |
| Saku | Saku Koivu – ice hockey |
| Valtteri | Valtteri Bottas – formula 1 |
Final Thoughts
Kiitos (thank you) for joining us on this fun journey through the land of a thousand lakes and exploring all Finland has to offer. We hope you have found the perfect name for your Finnish pup.
I’m Shelley, a content creator and copywriter from Wicklow in the Irish countryside. I am a big animal lover, so writing about dogs is a dream come true! I’m the crazy lady who will stop you in the street while you’re out walking your dog to give it cuddles. I adore all dogs, but I would have to say the big slobbery ones are my favorite.
