Finland's name-giving traditions have shifted dramatically, with classic compound names like Anna-Liisa and Veli-Matti now becoming exceptionally rare. According to Minna Saarelma-Paukkala, a name day expert and docent of onomastics at the University of Helsinki, compound names have almost completely vanished from the modern naming landscape. This marks a stark departure from their peak popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, when they were highly fashionable, particularly for girls. “The first to become popular was Anna-Liisa, followed in its wake by Marja-Leena, Maija-Liisa, Ulla-Maija and so on,” Saarelma-Paukkala states.
The Rise and Fall of a Naming Trend
For boys, compound names gained popularity slightly later, primarily in the 1950s. Popular examples from that era include Veli-Matti, Juha-Pekka, and Jukka-Pekka. The trend for these hyphenated names faded but made a brief, modified comeback in the 1980s. “Back then, they were often single-word names, like Hannamari, Sannamari and Annaleena,” explains Saarelma-Paukkala. That resurgence, however, was short-lived. The fundamental shift, she notes, is that today's parents seek highly individualistic names for their children. This pursuit of uniqueness is reflected even in the scant compound names that are still given, which now favor peculiar combinations over traditional pairings.
The Quest for Uniqueness Over Tradition
“You can make compound names from almost any combination of names,” Saarelma-Paukkala observes, highlighting the contemporary drive for distinctiveness. She cites modern, unconventional examples given to girls, such as Aino-Kuutamo, Iiris-Mustikka, or Kerttu-Kaneli. For boys, names like Janne-Elvis, Sisu-Mies, or Halti-Matias have been recorded. “But they are certainly rare,” she confirms. This trend underscores a broader cultural move where parents view a child's name as a primary marker of individuality, often drawing from nature, concepts, or unique phonetic combinations rather than family or religious traditions.
The New Standard: Three Given Names
While compound names dwindle, a new norm has firmly taken hold: Finnish children are now receiving more given names than ever before. Current naming law permits up to four first names, and the practice of bestowing three has become commonplace. “Giving three first names has really become widespread. About half of all children already receive three first names, whereas two first names used to be the prevailing practice,” Saarelma-Paukkala explains. This change allows parents to accommodate several favorite names. “Especially since families have fewer children nowadays, they often like to give three first names so that all the favorite names can be used,” she ponders.
The typical structure for these triple names often follows a rhythmic pattern. Saarelma-Paukkala notes that the first name is usually longer, the middle one shorter, and the third one longer again. A typical modern name for a girl, for instance, could be Amelia Elsi Aurora. This structure allows for a flow that feels both complete and melodious, satisfying parental tastes for multiple honorifics or meaningful names within a single legal identity.
Generational Cycles in Name Popularity
The evolution of naming trends follows distinct generational cycles. “Every generation has its own name favorites,” Saarelma-Paukkala states. She points to the 1980s, when names like Laura and similar styles were given in abundance. “When people get used to them, and they start to wear out a bit, they are no longer wanted.” This cyclical nature explains the disappearance of once-ubiquitous names, as they become associated with a specific parent cohort rather than feeling fresh for new babies.
Some names, however, demonstrate remarkable staying power, defying these typical cycles of fashion. “For example, Emma and Aino are such names,” she notes, pointing to classic Finnish names that maintain consistent appeal across decades. The endurance of these names suggests a deep-rooted cultural resonance that transcends temporary trends, anchoring them in the national consciousness regardless of the prevailing style for uniqueness or multiplicity.
What Names Reveal About Society
The shift from standardized compound names to a landscape of unique single names and multiple given names is more than a stylistic change. It reflects deeper societal transformations, including smaller family sizes, increased emphasis on individual identity, and perhaps a more globalized perspective where distinctiveness is valued over communal naming patterns. The decline of the hyphenated name, a quintessential feature of mid-20th century Finland, signifies a break with a specific post-war cultural identity. Meanwhile, the rise of the three-name model illustrates a desire to pack more meaning, heritage, or personal flair into a child's official identity from birth.
As naming laws remain liberal, the trajectory suggests this exploration and personalization will continue. The question for future name researchers will be whether today's inventive single names like Aino-Kuutamo or the triple-name formula become the defining legacy of this era, or if a future generation will again swing the pendulum back toward collective simplicity. For now, the era of Anna-Liisa is firmly in the past, archived in family trees and historical records, as Finnish parents chart new, individualistic paths for their children's identities.