This is a list of notable people from

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

. Finland is a

Nordic country The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; lit. 'the North') are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. It includes the sovereign states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Swed ...

located between Sweden, Norway and Russia.

Actors

Ida Aalberg Ida Aalberg (4 December 1857 – 17 January 1915) was the most notable and internationally known Finnish actress of her time. Biography Aalberg was born in , Janakkala. She was a member of the Theatre of Finland from 1874 to 1883 and later a re ...

(1858–1915) * Miica Patrick Johannes Ruohonen *

Jouko Ahola Jouko Ahola (born December 1, 1970) is a Finnish former strongman, powerlifter and actor. He is a two time World's Strongest Man winner, a two time Europe's Strongest Man winner, and is regarded as on ...

* Joalin Loukamaa *

Olavi Ahonen Kauko Olavi Ahonen (21 July 1923 in Tikkakoski – 1 September 2000 in Helsinki, Finland) was a Finnish film actor. Ahonen first appeared in film in 1954 and made many appearances in Finnish film between then and 1997. He also appeared in ma ...

Irina Björklund Irina Felicia Björklund (born 7 February 1973) is a Finnish actress and singer. Early life and education Björklund was born in Danderyd, Stockholm County, Sweden before moving to Finland with her family. Björklund also lived in France during h ...

Anna Easteden Anna Easteden (born 29 November 1976) is a Finnish-American actress. Her film appearances include ''The House of Branching Love'' (2009) and ''Sideways'' (2009). She is known for her performance as "Bee Sting" in ''Who Wants to Be a Superher ...

Samuli Edelmann Samuli Casimir Edelmann (born 21 July 1968) is a Finnish actor and singer. Family and career Edelmann was born in Pori, Finland, the son of actress Marja-Leena Kouki and composer Toni Edelmann. Edelmann has two children with his wife, Laura Tuo ...

Peter Franzén Peter Vilhelm Franzén (born 14 August 1971) is a Finnish actor, author, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for his role as King Harald Finehair in ''Vikings'' (2016–2020). Personal life Franzén was born in Keminmaa, north Finland. ...

George Gaynes George Gaynes (born George Jongejans; May 16, 1917 – February 15, 2016) was a Finnish-born American singer, actor, and voice artist. Born to Dutch and Russian-Finnish parents in the Grand Duchy of Finland of the Russian Empire, he served in the ...

(1927–2019) *

Gina Goldberg The following women have appeared in the American or international edition of ''Playboy'' magazine as Playmate of the Month. Those who were also named Playmate of the Year are highlighted in green. A common misconception is that Marilyn Monroe wa ...

Ville Haapasalo Ville Juhana Haapasalo (born 28 February 1972) is a Finnish stage and film actor who has worked in Finland and Russia. His acting career started in 1995, after he finished his studies in St. Petersburg. In 2003, he was honored with the State Priz ...

Anna-Leena Härkönen Anna-Leena Härkönen (born 10 April 1965) is a Finnish writer and actress. She was born in Liminka and studied acting at the college of drama and the University of Tampere's program of drama studies, which she concluded in 1989. She won the J. ...

* Ansa Ikonen *

Anni-Kristiina Juuso Anni-Kristiina Juuso ( se, Ánne Risten Juuso; born 4 May 1979, in Ivalo, Finland) is a Sámi actress, who played the leading female role in the movies '' The Cuckoo'' and ''The Kautokeino Rebellion''. She was awarded Russia's Best Actress award ...

Kata Kärkkäinen Katariina Souri (born Minna Katariina "Kata" Kärkkäinen; 27 October 1968) is a Finnish author, artist, columnist and '' Playboy's'' Playmate of the Month for December, 1988. She has been a writer after her brief Playboy career. On January 25, ...

Krista Kosonen Krista Erika Kosonen (born 28 May 1983) is a Finnish actress. She is known for her appearances in movies such as '' Jade Warrior'' (2006), ''Princess'' (2010), and the Norwegian HBO series ''Beforeigners'' (2019, 2021). She has also appeared in ...

Marta Kristen Marta Kristen is a Norwegian-born American actress. Kristen is best known for her role as Judy Robinson, the oldest child of Professor John Robinson and his wife, Maureen, in the television series ''Lost in Space'' (1965–1968). Her character w ...

Mikko Leppilampi Mikko Johannes Leppilampi (born 22 September 1978 in Pälkäne, Finland) is a Finnish actor, musician, and TV host. He is the son of Jukka Leppilampi (born 1954), a Finnish gospel musician. Leppilampi is considered to be one of the most promisin ...

Vesa-Matti Loiri Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri (4 January 1945 – 10 August 2022) was a Finnish actor, musician and comedian, best known for his role as Uuno Turhapuro, whom he portrayed in a total of 20 movies between the years 1973 and 2004. According to Yle Ne ...

Masa Niemi Martti "Masa" Elis Niemi (20 July 1914 – 3 May 1960) was a Finnish actor. Career Niemi started his career as a drummer, but became popular as a comedian. He is most famous for his role as "Pätkä" (in English: Stub) in all thirteen ori ...

* Maila "Vampira" Nurmi *

Kati Outinen Anna Katriina "Kati" Outinen (born 17 August 1961) is a Finnish actress who has often played leading female roles in Aki Kaurismäki's films. Outinen was born in Helsinki. Having studied under Jouko Turkka during his "reign" of drama studies i ...

Jasper Pääkkönen Joona Jasper Pääkkönen (; born 15 July 1980) is a Finnish film actor and entrepreneur. Following a two-decade-plus career in Finnish movies, Pääkkönen's international breakthrough role came in 2015 in the historical drama television series ...

Turo Pajala Turo Pajala (16 November 1955 − 28 February 2007) was a Finnish actor. Pajala played the leading role as an unemployed coal miner Taisto Kasurinen in an Aki Kaurismäki film '' Ariel'', and won the Bronze St. George award for Best Actor at the 1 ...

Tauno Palo Tauno Valdemar Palo (born Tauno Brännäs; 25 October 1908 – 24 May 1982) was a Finnish actor and singer in what some consider the golden age of Finnish cinema. In ''Guide to the Cinema of Sweden and Finland'' Peter von Bagh names Palo as the ...

(1905–1982) * Pertti "Spede" Pasanen (1930–2001) *

Matti Pellonpää Matti Pellonpää (28 March 1951 in Helsinki – 13 July 1995 in Vaasa) was a Finnish actor and a musician. He rose to international fame with his roles in both Aki Kaurismäki's and Mika Kaurismäki's films; particularly being a regular in Aki's ...

(1951–1995) *

Lasse Pöysti Lasse Erik Pöysti (24 January 1927 – 5 April 2019) was a Finnish actor, director, theatre manager and writer. He was born in Sortavala. Biography Pöysti began his career as a child actor, becoming known to the Finnish public as Olli Suomin ...

Pentti Siimes Pentti Kalevi Siimes (10 September 1929 – 27 October 2016) was a Finnish actor. He appeared in more than 80 films and television shows between 1946 and 2008. Siimes starred in the film ''Miriam'', which was entered into the 8th Berlin In ...

Maria Silfvan Maria Elisabeth Silfvan, as married Lempke and then Westerlund, in Swedish called Maria Sylvan, (25 March 1802 in Turku – 10 September 1865 in Oulu), was a Finnish actor, among the first professional native actors in Finland. Life Maria Sil ...

(1800–1865), possibly Finland's first actress *

Markku Toikka Markku Tapani Toikka (born 5 April 1955 in Somero, Finland) is a Finnish stand-up comedian and actor. His acting roles include "Rahikainen" in Aki Kaurismäki's ''Crime and Punishment'' and "Pekka" in another Aki Kaurismäki film '' Calamari ...

Architects

Aino Aalto Aino Maria Marsio-Aalto (born Aino Maria Mandelin; 25 January 1894 – 13 January 1949) was a Finnish architect and a pioneer of Scandinavian design. She is known as a co-founder of the design company Artek and as a collaborator on its most well ...

(1894–1949) *

Alvar Aalto Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (; 3 February 1898 – 11 May 1976) was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware, as well as sculptures and paintings. He never regarded himself as an artist, see ...

(1898–1976) *

Marco Casagrande Marco Casagrande (born 7 May 1971) is a Finnish architect, environmental artist, architectural theorist, former mercenary, writer and professor of architecture. He graduated from Helsinki University of Technology department of architecture (2001 ...

(born 1971) *

Herman Gesellius Herman Ernst Henrik Gesellius (16 January 1874 – 24 March 1916) was a Finnish architect. Biography Gesellius graduated from the Helsinki University of Technology, Polytechnical Institute in 1897. In 1896 he founded the architecture firm Geselli ...

(1874–1916) * Elna Kiljander (1889–1970) *

Juha Leiviskä Juha Ilmari Leiviskä (born 17 March 1936 in Helsinki) is a prominent Finnish architect and designer. He is especially known for his churches and other sacral buildings. Life and career The son of engineer Toivo Ilmari Leiviskä and teacher ...

(born 1936) * Yrjö Lindegren (1900–1952) *

Armas Lindgren Armas Eliel Lindgren (28 November 1874 – 3 October 1929) was Finnish architect, professor and painter. Biography Early life and career Armas Lindgren was born in Hämeenlinna on 28 November 1874. He studied architecture in the Polytechnical I ...

(1874–1929) * Wivi Lönn (1872–1966) *

Juhani Pallasmaa Juhani Uolevi Pallasmaa (born 14 September 1936 in Hämeenlinna, Finland) is a Finnish architect and former professor of architecture and dean at the Helsinki University of Technology. Among the many academic and civic positions he has held are ...

(born 1936) * Reima Pietilä (1923–1993) *

Viljo Revell Viljo Gabriel Revell (25 January 1910 – 8 November 1964) was a Finnish architect of the functionalist school. In Finland he is best known for the design of the Lasipalatsi ("Glass Palace") and Palace Hotel, both in Helsinki. Internationally, ...

(1910–1964) *

Aarno Ruusuvuori Aarno Emil Ruusuvuori (14 January 1925, Kuopio – 22 February 1992, Helsinki) was a Finnish architect, professor and director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture. He studied at Helsinki University of Technology, completing his studies in 1951 ...

(1925–1992) *

Eero Saarinen Eero Saarinen (, ; August 20, 1910 – September 1, 1961) was a Finnish-American architect and industrial designer noted for his wide-ranging array of designs for buildings and monuments. Saarinen is best known for designing the General Motors ...

(1910–1961) *

Eliel Saarinen Gottlieb Eliel Saarinen (, ; August 20, 1873 – July 1, 1950) was a Finnish-American Architecture, architect known for his work with art nouveau buildings in the early years of the 20th century. He was also the father of famed architect Eero ...

(1873–1950) * J. S. Sirén (1889–1961) *

Lars Sonck Lars Eliel Sonck (10 August 1870 – 14 March 1956) was a Finnish architect. He graduated from Helsinki Polytechnic Institute in 1894 and immediately won a major design competition for a church in Turku, St Michael's Church, ahead of many esta ...

(1870–1956) *

Josef Stenbäck Josef Daniel Stenbäck (May 2, 1854, Alavus — April 27, 1929, Helsinki) was a Finnish church architect and engineer. He designed 35 churches for Finland, which until 1917 was part of the Russian Empire. Four of the churches were located in the ...

(1854–1929) *

Uno Ullberg Uno Werner Ullberg (15 February 1879 in Viipuri – 12 January 1944 in Helsinki) was a famous Finnish architect. Background Educated in Helsinki, Ullberg returned to his home town Viipuri in 1906. He drew most of his buildings in Viipuri, bu ...

(1879–1944) *

Martti Välikangas Martti Välikangas (born Martti Buddén, August 1, 1893, County of Kuopio – May 9, 1973, Helsinki) was a Finnish architect renowned for the design of so-called "Puu-Käpylä" ood-Käpylä the Garden City housing area in Käpylä near Helsi ...

(1893–1973)

Visual artists

Wäinö Aaltonen Wäinö Valdemar Aaltonen (8 March 1894 – 30 May 1966) was a Finnish artist and sculptor. The Chambers Biographical Dictionary describes him as "one of the leading Finnish sculptors". He was born to a tailor in the village of Karinainen, Finla ...

– sculptor (1894–1966) *

Eija-Liisa Ahtila Eija-Liisa Ahtila (born 1959 in Hämeenlinna, Finland) is a contemporary visual artist and filmmaker who lives and works in Helsinki. Ahtila is most known for her multi-panel cinematic installations. She experiments with narrative storytellin ...

– photographer, video artist (born 1959) * Helena Arnell – painter (1697–1751) *

Margareta Capsia Margareta Capsia (1682 – 20 June 1759) was a Swedish/Finnish artist, the first professional native female artist in Finland, which during her lifetime was a part of Sweden. She mainly painted altarpieces, but was also active as a portrait pa ...

– painter (1682–1759) *

Emil Cedercreutz Emil Herman Robert Cedercreutz (16 May 1879 – 28 January 1949), was a Finnish Baron, sculptor and silhouette artist best known of his horse sculptures. He was a member of the family. Life Cedercreutz was born in the and studied in the Acade ...

– sculptor (1879–1949) *

Albert Edelfelt Albert Gustaf Aristides Edelfelt (21 July 1854 – 18 August 1905) was a Finnish-Swedish painter noted for his naturalistic style and Realist approach to art. He lived in the Grand Duchy of Finland and made Finnish culture visible abroad, befor ...

– painter (1854–1905) *

Magnus Enckell Knut Magnus Enckell (9 November 1870 in Hamina – 27 November 1925 in Stockholm) was a Finnish symbolist painter. At first he painted with a subdued palette, but from 1902 onwards used increasingly bright colors. He was a leading member of the ...

– painter (1870–1925) *

Gunnar Finne Johan Gunnar Finne (4 April 1886 – 17 September 1952) was a Finnish sculptor. The architect Elna Kiljander became a single mother after a brief marriage with Finne from 1918 to 1926. Finne's best-known work is the memorial for the author Zach ...

– sculptor (1886–1952) *

Hilda Flodin Hilda Flodin (16 March 1877 – 9 March 1958) was a Finnish artist. She worked in a variety of media, but in the first part of her career primarily sculpture and etchings, later primarily painting, especially portraits. Life and career Flodin w ...

– sculptor (1877–1958) *

Alina Forsman Alina Forsman (1845–1899) was a Finnish sculptor. She is referred to as the first female sculptor in Finland.kansallisbiografia Suomen kansallisbiografia (National Biography of Finland) Life Alina Forsman reportedly had a "burning interest" f ...

– sculptor (1845–1899) *

Akseli Gallen-Kallela Akseli Gallen-Kallela (26 April 1865 – 7 March 1931) was a Finnish painter who is best known for his illustrations of the ''Kalevala'', the Finnish national epic. His work is considered a very important aspect of the Finnish national ident ...

– painter (1865–1931) *

Jorma Gallen-Kallela Jorma Gallen-Kallela (né Gallén) (22 November 1898, in Ruovesi – 1 December 1939) was a Finnish artist. He followed in the footsteps of his father, the famed artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Biography He studied arts in Buenos Aires in 1915– ...

– painter (1898–1939) * Eemil Halonen – sculptor (1875–1950) *

Pekka Halonen Pekka Halonen (23 September 1865 – 1 December 1933) was a painter of Finnish landscapes and people in the national romantic style. His favorite subjects were the Finnish landscape and its people which he depicted in his Realist style.Aimo Reita ...

– painter (1865–1933) * Edvin Hevonkoski – sculptor (1923–2009) *

Eila Hiltunen Eila Vilhelmina Hiltunen (22 November 1922, Sortavala – 10 October 2003, Helsinki) was a Finnish sculptor. She is most famous for the Sibelius Monument (1967). A statue by Hiltunen resembling a smaller version of the Sibelius Monument stands on ...

– sculptor (1922–2003) * Kari Huhtamo – sculptor (born 1943) *

Tove Jansson Tove Marika Jansson (; 9 August 1914 – 27 June 2001) was a Swedish-speaking population of Finland, Swedish-speaking Finnish author, novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. Brought up by artistic parents, Jansson studied art from ...

– painter, illustrator, and cartoonist of ''

Moomin The Moomins ( sv, Mumintroll) are the central characters in a series of novels, short stories, and a comic strip by Finns, Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish language, Swedish by Schildts in Finland. The ...

'' (1914–2001) *

Viktor Jansson Viktor Bernhard "Faffan" Jansson (1 March 1886 in Helsinki – 22 June 1958 in Helsinki) was a Finnish sculptor belonging to the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland. Early life Jansson was born in Helsinki in 1886 to Julius Viktor Jansson a ...

– sculptor (1886–1958) *

Antti Jokinen Antti Juhanpoika Jokinen (born 26 April 1968) is a Finnish music video and film director as well as a former college basketball player. He is married to actress Krista Kosonen. Biography Early life Born in Nurmijärvi to the family of a sports ...

– video director in Hollywood (born 1968) *

Eero Järnefelt Erik "Eero" Nikolai Järnefelt (8 November 1863 – 15 November 1937) was a Finnish painter and art professor. He is best known for his portraits and landscapes of the area around Koli National Park. He was a medal winner at the Paris ''Expositi ...

– painter (1863–1937) *

Ville Juurikkala Ville Akseli Juurikkala (born 6 March 1980) is a Finnish photographer and music video director. He is best known as a "rock photographer", having had a long working relationship with bands such as HIM, Nightwish and Apocalyptica. Other notable fi ...

– photographer (born 1980) *

Rudolf Koivu Rudolf Koivu (1890–1946) was a Finnish illustrator and painter, best known for illustrating books of fairytales for children, which are enduringly and timelessly popular. He was born in St. Petersburg. He illustrated stories by Zacharias Top ...

– illustrator (1890–1946) * Mauri Kunnas (born 1950) * Touko Laaksonen (Tom of Finland) – fetish artist (1920–1991) * Kari T. Leppänen – cartoonist (born 1945) *

Otto Maja Otto Maja (born 1987) is a Finnish street artist living and working in Helsinki. He is known for translating the visual language cultivated on the streets into illustrations, paintings and drawings. His works have been exhibited in several locat ...

– graffiti artist (born 1987) *

Totte Mannes Totte Mannes (born 1933 in Kajaani, Finland) is a visual artist whose oil paintings are on display in many museums and collections. She lives in Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4&nbs ...

– painter (born 1933) * Arno Rafael Minkkinen – photographer *

Helvi Mustonen Helvi Mustonen (born 1 July 1947 in Kemi), is a Finnish artist and a painter. Mustonen's works of art are mainly paintings, but she also creates sculptures in bronze. Helvi Mustonen's art has typically very strong and emotional themes and strong ...

– painter (born 1947) *

Kalervo Palsa Huugo Kalervo Palsa, known as Kalle (12 March 1947 – 3 October 1987), was a Finnish artist whose style has been described as fantastic realism. Although his work did not draw significant attention in his lifetime, Kalervo Palsa has experienced ...

– painter (1947–1987) *

Tuulikki Pietilä Ida Helmi Tuulikki Pietilä (18 February 1917 – 23 February 2009) was an American-born Finnish graphic artist and professor. Pietilä is considered one of Finland's most influential graphic artists, with her work being shown in multiple art exh ...

– graphic artist (1917–2009) *

Walter Runeberg Walter Magnus Runeberg (29 December 1838 – 23 December 1920) was a Finnish neo-classical sculptor. He was the son of Finnish national epic poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg. Biography Runeberg was born in Porvoo as the eldest son of J. L. Runeberg ...

– sculptor (1838–1920) * Sampsa – painter and street artist *

Helene Schjerfbeck Helena Sofia (Helene) Schjerfbeck (; July 10, 1862 – January 23, 1946) was a Finnish painter. A modernist painter, she is known for her realist works and self-portraits, and also for her landscapes and still lifes. Throughout her long life, he ...

– painter (1862–1946) *

Hugo Simberg Hugo Gerhard Simberg (24 June 1873 – 12 July 1917) was a Finnish symbolist painter and graphic artist. Life and career Simberg was born on 24 June 1873, at Hamina (in the original Swedish: ''Fredrikshamn''), Finland, the son of Colonel Nicol ...

– painter (1873–1917) *

Venny Soldan-Brofeldt Wendla Irene Soldan-Brofeldt, known as Venny (2 November 1863, Helsinki – 10 October 1945, Lohja) was a Finnish painter, illustrator, graphic artist, wood sculptor and jewelry designer. She belonged to the Swedish speaking population of Finland ...

– painter (1863–1945) *

Kaj Stenvall Kaj Kristian Stenvall (born 25 December 1951 in Tampere) is a Finnish artist who became internationally famous when he began his career in 1989 for painting what his site describes as "a very familiar looking duck." Many have likened this duck to ...

– painter (born 1951) *

Kari Suomalainen Kari Yrjänä Suomalainen (15 October 1920, in Helsinki – 10 August 1999, in Valkeakoski) was Finland's most famous political cartoonist, known as Kari. His cartoons appeared daily in ''Helsingin Sanomat'' from 1951 to 1991 and they became p ...

– painter and cartoonist (1920–1999) *

Reidar Särestöniemi Reidar Särestöniemi (14 May 1925, Kittilä – 27 May 1981, Kittilä) was a Finnish painter from Finnish Lapland. He is considered one of the greatest Finland-Lappish artists in the entire history of Finland. Särestöniemi was born as the youn ...

– painter (1925–1981) *

Kain Tapper Kain Tapper (6 June 1930, in Saarijärvi – 17 August 2004) was a Finnish sculptor. He created works that are "remote", evoking things contemplated from a distance. Even when small, his pieces loom like menhirs, their massiveness imposing an inhu ...

– sculptor (1930–2004) * Ellen Thesleff – painter (1869–1954) * Salla Tykkä * Ville Vallgren – sculptor (1855–1940) *

Marja Vallila Marja Vallila (October 20, 1950 – December 23, 2018) was an American artist, painter, ceramicist and sculptor. Biography Marja Vallila was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia to a Finnish father, diplomat Olli Vallila, and a mother of Czech desce ...

– sculptor (born 1950)

Business people

Sari Baldauf Sari Maritta Baldauf (born 10 August 1955 in Kotka, Finland) is a Finnish businesswoman who is chairman of the board of directors of Nokia. She joined the board in 2018 and became vice chair in 2019, before she succeeded Risto Siilasmaa as chairma ...

– former

Nokia Nokia Corporation (natively Nokia Oyj, referred to as Nokia) is a Finnish multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications industry, telecommunications, technology company, information technology, and consumer electronics corporatio ...

executive * Jorma Eloranta – CEO of

Metso Metso Oyj was a Finnish industrial machinery company focusing on providing technology and services for mining, Construction aggregate, aggregates, and Petroleum industry, oil and gas, recycling, pulp and paper and other process industries. On ...

* Aatos Erkko – minister, billionaire and major owner of

Sanoma Sanoma Corporation (, formerly SanomaWSOY) is Finland's largest media group. The company has media business in Finland and a learning business in Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Norway and Spain, among others. The company is headquarte ...

* Maija-Liisa Friman (born 1952) – board member of several companies *

Harry Harkimo Harry Juhani "Hjallis" Harkimo (born 2 November 1953) is a Finnish businessman, sportsperson, and a member of the Finnish Parliament. Previously a National Coalition Party MP, he now chairs his own political party, Movement Now. First elected to ...

– businessman in ice hockey business *

Antti Herlin Antti Herlin (born 14 November 1956) is a Finnish billionaire businessman, and the chairman of the Finnish KONE Corporation. He is the son of Pekka Herlin, former chairman of KONE. He is the former chairman of the Confederation of Finnish Indust ...

–

chairman of the board The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...

KONE Kone Oyj (; officially stylized as KONE and trading as KONE Corporation) is an elevator engineering company employing over 60,000 personnel across 60 countries worldwide. It was founded in 1910 and is now headquartered in Espoo near Helsinki, F ...

, the richest man in

with assets worth over 1 billion euros in

stock In finance, stock (also capital stock) consists of all the shares by which ownership of a corporation or company is divided.Longman Business English Dictionary: "stock - ''especially AmE'' one of the shares into which ownership of a company ...

owned through his

holding companies A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own shares of other companies ...

* Sara Hildén (1905–1993) – businesswoman and art collector *

Fredrik Idestam Knut Fredrik Idestam (28 October 1838, Tyrväntö, Grand Duchy of Finland – 8 April 1916, Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland) was a Finnish mining engineer and businessman, best known as a founder of Nokia. In May 1865, Idestam obtained a permit ...

– industrialist and founder of

Kari Kairamo Kari Antero Oswald Kairamo, titled '' Vuorineuvos'' (31 December 1932, in Helsinki in Finland – 11 December 1988, in Espoo, Finland), was a Chairman and CEO of Nokia Corporation and a significant and popular person in the industry, who was als ...

– former CEO of Nokia (1932–1988) *

Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo (born 13 July 1953) chaired the committee for World Design Capital Helsinki 2012, and is the former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Nokia, as well as a former board member of Nokia Siemens Networks. Career ...

– former CEO of Nokia *

Jorma Ollila Jorma Jaakko Ollila CBE (born 15 August 1950) is a Finnish businessman who was chairman of Royal Dutch Shell from 1 June 2006 to May 2015, and at Nokia Corporation chairman from 1999 to 2012 and CEO from 1992 to 2006. He has been a director of ...

– former CEO of Nokia, Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell *

Kirsti Paakkanen Kirsti Paakkanen ( Poikonen; 12 February 1929 — 2 November 2021) was a Finnish entrepreneur and business executive. Career Paakkanen studied advertising, and worked for many years in the marketing departments of Finnish retail companies incl ...

– former CEO of

Marimekko Marimekko Oyj is a Finnish textiles, clothing, and home furnishings company founded by Viljo and Armi Ratia in Helsinki in 1951. Marimekko made important contributions to fashion in the 1960s. It is particularly noted for its brightly colored pri ...

* Jaana Tuominen – CEO of

Paulig Paulig is a Finnish family-owned food and drink company, founded in 1876. The company's brands are Paulig, Santa Maria, Risenta and Poco Loco. Paulig has 2,000 employees in 13 countries and its net sales in 2019 were EUR 921 million. History The ...

(born 1960) *

Björn Wahlroos Björn Arne Christer Wahlroos (born 10 October 1952 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Swedish-speaking Finn, best known as a banker, investor and the chairman of the Board in Sampo Group and UPM-Kymmene. Before switching to banking Wahlroos worked as a ...

– Chairman of Sampo *

Rudolf Walden Karl Rudolf Walden (1 December 1878 in Helsinki – 25 October 1946) was a Finnish industrialist and a military leader. Education Walden received his military education at the Hamina Cadet School and graduated in 1900. He was dismissed from serv ...

(1878–1946) – founder of United Paper Mills *

Poju Zabludowicz Chaim "Poju" Zabludowicz (born 6 April 1953) is a Finnish-born British billionaire businessman, art collector and philanthropist.Midgley, Dominic (5 March 2010)"FINN CITY..." ''Highbeam Business'' (London). Retrieved 23 June 2013. Early life a ...

– billionaire, philanthropist, and owner of

Tamares Group Tamares Group is a global private investment group based in London. Tamares has international interests in real estate, finance, technology, communications, manufacturing, leisure and media.Johan Helsingius Johan "Julf" Helsingius, born in 1961 in Helsinki, Finland, started and ran the Penet remailer, Anon.penet.fi internet remailer. Background Anon.penet.fi was one of the most popular anonymous remailers, handling 10,000 Electronic mail, messages a da ...

– creator and operator of The Penet remailer *

Aapo Kyrölä ''Habbo'' (formerly ''Habbo Hotel'') is an online community aimed at teens and young adults. It is owned and operated by Sulake, a Finnish company. Founded in 2000, Habbo has expanded to nine online communities (or "hotels"), with users from ...

– creator of Sulake *

Jarkko Oikarinen Jarkko Oikarinen (born 16 August 1967) is a Finnish IT professional and the inventor of the first Internet chat network, called Internet Relay Chat (IRC), where he is known as WiZ. Biography and career Oikarinen was born in Kuusamo. While worki ...

– creator of

Internet Relay Chat Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a text-based chat system for instant messaging. IRC is designed for group communication in discussion forums, called ''channels'', but also allows one-on-one communication via private messages as well as chat and ...

(IRC) *

Linus Torvalds Linus Benedict Torvalds ( , ; born 28 December 1969) is a Finnish software engineer who is the creator and, historically, the lead developer of the Linux kernel, used by Linux distributions and other operating systems such as Android. He also c ...

– initial creator of

Linux kernel The Linux kernel is a free and open-source, monolithic, modular, multitasking, Unix-like operating system kernel. It was originally authored in 1991 by Linus Torvalds for his i386-based PC, and it was soon adopted as the kernel for the GNU ope ...

Michael Widenius Ulf Michael Widenius (often called Monty; born 3 March 1962, in Helsinki, Finland) is the main author of the original version of the open source MySQL database, a founding member of the MySQL AB company and CTO of the MariaDB Corporation AB. Add ...

– creator of

MySQL MySQL () is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS). Its name is a combination of "My", the name of co-founder Michael Widenius's daughter My, and "SQL", the acronym for Structured Query Language. A relational database o ...

* Tatu Ylönen – creator of

SSH The Secure Shell Protocol (SSH) is a cryptographic network protocol for operating network services securely over an unsecured network. Its most notable applications are remote login and command-line execution. SSH applications are based on ...

Designers

Eero Rislakki Eero Ensio Rislakki (25 June 1924, in Helsinki – 7 June 2017)Taskinen, Rita: Suomalainen Design From Finland, Kuka kukin on, Who’s Who in Finnish Design. Helsinki: Ornamo, 1992. . was a Finnish industrial engineer. He designed, among other thin ...

Eero Aarnio Eero Aarnio (born 21 July 1932) is a Finnish interior designer, noted for his innovative furniture designs in the 1960s, such as his plastic and fibreglass chairs. He was born in Helsinki. Aarnio studied at the Institute of Industrial Arts in ...

Erik Bruun Erik Bruun (born 7 April 1926) is a Finnish graphic designer. Biography Bruun was born in Viipuri on 7 April 1926. He spent his childhood in village of Säiniö on the Karelian isthmus. In the war years his family was forced to move to Helsinki, ...

Kaj Franck Kaj Gabriel Franck (9 November 1911 Vyborg, Grand Duchy of Finland – 26 September 1989 Santorini, Greece) was one of the leading figures of Finnish design and an influential figure in design and applied arts between 1940 and 1980. Franck's paren ...

Maija Isola Maija Sofia Isola (15 March 1927 – 3 March 2001) was a Finnish designer of printed textiles, and the creator of over 500 patterns, including ''Unikko'' ("Poppy"). The bold, colourful prints she created as the head designer of Marimekko made t ...

Stefan Lindfors Erik Stefan Lindfors, known as Stefan Lindfors (born 3 May 1962, Mariehamn) is a Finnish industrial designer, interior designer, film-maker and sculptor. He attended high school at the Åbo Cathedral School in Turku in 1982, and then went on to s ...

Vuokko Nurmesniemi Vuokko Hillevi Lilian Eskolin-Nurmesniemi (born 12 February 1930 in Helsinki) is a Finnish textile designer. She is best known for her work as one of the two leading designers of the Marimekko company. Her signature striped ''Jokapoika'' shirt he ...

* Katja Pettersson *

Timo Sarpaneva Timo Tapani Sarpaneva (31 October 1926 – 6 October 2006) was an influential Finnish designer, sculptor, and educator best known in the art world for innovative work in glass, which often merged attributes of display art objects with utilitaria ...

* Esteri Tomula *

Tapio Wirkkala Tapio Veli Ilmari Wirkkala (2 June 1915 – 19 May 1985) was a Finnish designer and sculptor, a major figure of post-war design. Life and work Wirkkala was born in Hanko in 1915. He attended the Töölö co-educational school in Helsinki. His fat ...

* Miica Patrick Johannes Ruohanen

Filmmakers

Zaida Bergroth Zaida Bergroth (born 8 February 1977) is a Finnish film director best known for her 2020 film '' Tove''. Career Bergroth was born in Kivijärvi in 1977. She graduated from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in 2004. He ...

Anna Eriksson Anna Sofia Eriksson (born 22 April 1977) is a Finnish artist, filmmaker, composer, and singer. In September 2018, avantgarde film '' M'' directed and produced by Eriksson was having the world premiere at the Venice International Film Critics Wee ...

Renny Harlin Renny Harlin (born 15 March 1959) is a Finnish film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter who has made his career in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood and Cinema of China, China. His best-known films include ''A Nightmare on Elm ...

Erkki Karu Erkki Karu (born Erland Fredrik Kumlander) (10 April 1887 Helsinki – 8 December 1935 Helsinki) was a Finnish film director, screenwriter and producer. He was one of the pioneers of the Finnish cinema. Career Karu started his career as a member ...

(1887–1935) *

Aki Kaurismäki Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (; born 4 April 1957) is a Finnish film director and screenwriter. He is best known for the award-winning '' Drifting Clouds'' (1996), ''The Man Without a Past'' (2002), ''Le Havre'' (2011) and ''The Other Side of Hope'' (20 ...

Mika Kaurismäki Mika Juhani Kaurismäki (; born 21 September 1955) is a Finnish film director. Biography Mika Kaurismäki is the elder brother of Aki Kaurismäki, and the father of Maria Kaurismäki, who graduated from Tampere School of Art and Media in 2008 ...

Ere Kokkonen Erkki Olavi "Ere" Kokkonen (7 July 1938 – 16 October 2008), born in Savonlinna, was a Finnish film director and screenwriter. He worked closely with Spede Pasanen all the way from the 1960s until Spede's death, as a director, writer and also ...

(1938–2008) * Juho Kuosmanen *

Edvin Laine Edvin Laine (13 July 1905 – 18 November 1989) was a Finnish film director. Laine was born Bovellán. Laine directed a comedy ''Aaltoska orkaniseeraa'' and family film ''Sleeping Beauty (1949 film), Sleeping Beauty'', both in 1949. ''The U ...

(1905–1989) *

Glory Leppänen Glory Leppänen ( Renvall; 28 November 1901 — 26 October 1979) was a Finnish actress, theatre and film director, and writer. She was the first Finnish woman film director. Personal life Glory Renvall was born in Paris to a wealthy Finnish fa ...

(1901–1979) *

Aku Louhimies Aku Louhimies (2009) Aku Louhimies (born 3 July 1968) is a Finnish film director and screenwriter. He has directed feature films, documentary films, commercials and music videos. His international breakthrough was the 2016 serial drama '' Rebe ...

Risto Orko Risto Orko (born Risto Eliel William Nylund; 15 September 1899 – 29 September 2001) was a Finnish film producer and director. Orko was born in Rauma. With a career of over 60 years at the film studio Suomi-Filmi, he rose to be head of prod ...

(1899–2001) *

Spede Pasanen Pertti Olavi "Spede" Pasanen (10 April 1930 – 7 September 2001) was a Finnish film director and producer, comedian, and inventor. During his career he directed, wrote, produced or acted in about 50 movies and participated in numerous TV p ...

(1930–2001) *

Diana Ringo Diana Ringo (born 8 March 1992) is a Finnish film director, composer and visual artist. Her director debut is dystopian feature film drama ''Quarantine'' (2021) which was shortlisted for the 2022 Golden Globes as a foreign entry. She was also c ...

Teuvo Tulio Theodor Antonius Tugai (23 August 1912 – 8 June 2000), better known as Teuvo Tulio, was a Finnish film director and actor. Beginning his career as an actor at the end of the silent film, silent era, Tulio turned to directing and producing in t ...

(1912–2000) *

Valentin Vaala Valentin Vaala (born Valentin Yakovich Ivanoff, Russian: Валентин Якович Иванов; 13 October 1909 in Helsinki – 21 November 1976 in Helsinki) was a Finnish film director, screenwriter and film editor. His career spanned sever ...

(1909–1976)

Musicians

Classical

Kalevi Aho Kalevi Ensio Aho (born 9 March 1949) is a Finnish composer. Early years Aho began his interest in music at the age of ten, when he discovered a mandolin in his home and began to teach himself how to play it. He soon was taken under the tutelag ...

– composer *

Paavo Berglund Paavo Allan Engelbert Berglund (14 April 192925 January 2012) was a Finnish conductor and violinist. Career Born in Helsinki, Berglund studied the violin as a child, and played an instrument made by his grandfather. By age 15, he had decided on ...

– conductor *

Linda Brava Linda Magdalena Cullberg Lampenius (born 26 February 1970), better known by her maiden name Linda Lampenius and international stage name Linda Brava, is a Finnish classical concert violinist. Named as one of the most versatile and accomplished ...

– violinist *

Mikko Franck Mikko Franck is a Finnish conductor and violinist. Biography Franck was born in Helsinki. He began learning the violin at the age of 5 and started violin studies at the Sibelius Academy in 1992. The Academy let Franck conduct an orchestra in 19 ...

– conductor *

Ralf Gothóni Ralf Georg Nils Gothóni (born 2 May 1946, Rauma) is a Finnish-German pianist and conductor. He is also active as a chamber musician, professor, composer, and author. Born in Rauma, Finland he made his orchestra debut at age 15. Besides his worl ...

– pianist (father of Maris) * Ilkka Kuusisto – composer *

Pekka Kuusisto Pekka Kuusisto (born 7 October 1976 in Espoo) is a Finnish musician. Biography Kuusisto comes from a musical lineage. His grandfather was a composer and organist, his father is a jazz musician who has composed operas, and his mother is a music t ...

– conductor, violinist, composer *

Jaakko Kuusisto Jaakko Ilkka Kuusisto (17 January 1974 – 23 February 2022) was a Finnish violinist, composer, and conductor. Education After initial studies under Géza Szilvay and , Kuusisto went on to win the 1989 , place 4th in the International Jean Sib ...

– conductor, violinist, composer * Risto Lauriala – pianist *

Hannu Lintu Hannu Petteri Lintu (born 13 October 1967) is a Finnish conductor. Biography Lintu was born in Rauma. He studied piano and cello at the Turku Conservatory and at the Sibelius Academy. He also studied conducting with Atso Almila, and later with ...

– conductor *

Klaus Mäkelä Klaus Mäkelä (born 17 January 1996) is a Finnish conductor and cellist. He is currently chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic, music director of the Orchestre de Paris, and artistic partner and chief conductor-designate of the Royal Concertg ...

– conductor, cellist * Janne Mertanen – pianist *

Olli Mustonen Olli Mustonen (born 7 June 1967 in Vantaa, Finland) is a Finnish pianist, conductor, and composer. Biography Mustonen studied harpsichord and piano from the age of five with Ralf Gothóni and then Eero Heinonen. He studied composition with Eino ...

– pianist, composer *

Sakari Oramo Sakari is a given name, and may refer to: * Sakari Kukko (born 1953), Finnish saxophonist and flutist * Sakari Kuosmanen (born 1956), Finnish singer and actor * Sakari Oramo (born 1965), Finnish conductor * Sakari Pinomäki, Finnish mechanical and ...

– conductor *

Selim Palmgren Selim Gustaf Adolf Palmgren (16 February 1878 – 13 December 1951) was a Finnish composer, pianist, and conductor. Palmgren was born in Pori, Finland, February 16, 1878. He studied at the Conservatory in Helsinki from 1895 to 1899, then ...

– composer, pianist, conductor *

Jorma Panula Jorma Juhani Panula (born 10 August 1930) is a Finnish conductor, composer, and teacher of conducting. He has mentored many Finnish conductors, such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mikko Franck, Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Osmo Vänskä and Klaus ...

– conductor and conducting educator pioneer *

Einojuhani Rautavaara Einojuhani Rautavaara (; 9 October 1928 – 27 July 2016) was a Finnish composer of classical music. Among the most notable Finnish composers since Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), Rautavaara wrote a List of compositions by Einojuhani Rautavaara, gre ...

– composer *

Herman Rechberger Herman Rechberger (14 February 1947 – 11 January 2022) was an Austria-born Finnish composer, conductor and musician. Life and career Born in Linz, Allied-occupied Austria, Rechberger studied classical guitar at the Bruckner-Konservatorium ...

– composer *

Santtu-Matias Rouvali Santtu-Matias Rouvali (born 5 November 1985) is a Finnish conductor and percussionist. He is currently chief conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orc ...

– conductor, percussionist *

Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Inter ...

– composer *

Esa-Pekka Salonen Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and music di ...

– conductor, composer *

Jukka-Pekka Saraste Jukka-Pekka Saraste (born 22 April 1956) is a Finnish conductor and violinist. Biography Saraste was born in Heinola He was trained as a violinist. He later studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula in the same class as Esa-Pek ...

– conductor *

Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius ( ; ; born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius; 8 December 186520 September 1957) was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic and 20th-century classical music, early-modern periods. He is widely regarded as his country's greatest com ...

– composer *

Dalia Stasevska Dalia Stasevska (born 30 December 1984) is a Finnish conductor. She is currently the principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and chief conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. Biography Born in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, ...

– conductor *

John Storgårds John Gunnar Rafael Storgårds (born 20 October 1963 in Helsinki) is a Finnish violinist and conductor. Biography Storgårds studied violin with Esther Raitio and Jouko Ignatius at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and continued his violin studies ...

– conductor *

Elina Vähälä Elina Vähälä (born 15 October 1975, Iowa City, Iowa) is a Finnish classical violinist. Biography Born in the United States in Iowa City, Iowa, Vähälä began violin studies at the age of three, following her family's return to Finland, at the ...

– violinist *

Osmo Vänskä Osmo Antero Vänskä (born 28 February 1953) is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist, and composer. Biography Vänskä started his musical career as an orchestral clarinetist with the Turku Philharmonic (1971–76). He then became the principal clar ...

– conductor, composer, clarinetist *

Sauli Zinovjev Sauli Zinovjev (born 1988) is a Finnish composer. Zinovjev was born in Lahti, and studied composition in Sibelius Academy (2010–15) and in HfM-Karlsruhe (2013–14) under guidance of Tapio Nevanlinna and prof. Wolfgang Rihm. Zinovjev's works a ...

– composer *

– composer

Electronic

*Miika Eloranta & Janne Mansnerus – musicians, producers (as

Super8 & Tab Super8 and Tab are a Finnish trance music duo of producers and DJs from Finland named Miika Eloranta (Super8) and Janne Mansnerus (DJ Tab). They recorded music as individual musicians until they officially decided to team up in 2005 after collab ...

) *Paavo Siljamäki – DJ and producer; part of a Trance music group Above & Beyond *

Jori Hulkkonen Jori Hulkkonen (born 28 September 1973), is a Finnish DJ and a producer of house music, originally from Kemi, Finland. Hulkkonen started his career in the early 1990s when he worked with Jukka Hautamäki, Tuomas Salmela and Ari Ruokamo for the ...

– DJ, musician, producer * Petri Kuljuntausta – composer, musician *

Erkki Kurenniemi Erkki Juhani Kurenniemi (10 July 1941, Hämeenlinna, Finland – 1 May 2017,Elektronisen m ...

– musician, inventor *Lassi Lehto a.k.a.

Jimi Tenor Jimi Tenor (born Lassi O. T. Lehto, 1965) is a Finnish musician. His artist name is a combination of the first name of his youth idol Jimmy Osmond and the tenor saxophone. His band Jimi Tenor & His Shamans released its first album in 1988, whilst ...

– acid jazz musician * Lassi Nikko a.k.a.

Brothomstates Brothomstates is one of the stage names of Lassi Nikko, a Finnish composer and musician. He also used to produce music in the demoscene under the moniker of Dune in the demogroup Orange. His works are mostly downtempo or ambient, but he is also kn ...

a.k.a. Dune – musician *Sasu Ripatti a.k.a.

Vladislav Delay Vladislav Delay is the most frequently used pseudonym of Sasu Ripatti (born 1976), a Finnish electronic musician. He has also recorded as Luomo, Sistol, Uusitalo, Conoco, and Ripatti, working in styles such as minimal techno, glitch, and house. ...

– musician, DJ *Esa Juhani Ruoho a.k.a.

Lackluster Esa Ruoho (born 26 October 1978 in Helsinki, Finland), better known as Lackluster, is a Finnish electronic music producer and performer from Kontula, Helsinki. He is also known as Esa Ruoho, XLLV, Can'O'Lard and Kökö and the Köks. Ruoho has ...

– musician *Jaakko Salovaara a.k.a.

JS16 Jaakko Salovaara (born 13 January 1975), better known by his stage name JS16, is a Finnish musician, DJ and record producer. He is best known for his work with Finnish hip hop group Bomfunk MC's, producing their most successful song " Freestyle ...

– musician, producer *

Mika Vainio Mika Tapio Vainio (May 15, 1963 – April 12, 2017) was a Finnish electronic musician. He was best known as a member of Pan Sonic. In addition to his real name, he recorded under the aliases Ø, Kentolevi, Philus, and Tekonivel. He has worked wi ...

– musician, member of

Pan Sonic Pan Sonic was a Finnish electronic music group founded in Turku in 1993. The group consisted of Mika Vainio, Ilpo Väisänen, and Sami Salo. Salo left in 1996 leaving Pan Sonic a duo. The group was originally named Panasonic until 1998. In Dece ...

* Ville Virtanen a.k.a. Darude *

Ilpo Väisänen Ilpo Väisänen (born 1963 in Kuopio) is a Finnish electronic musician. He is best known as a member of Pan Sonic. In addition to his real name, he has recorded under the aliases ''I-LP-O In Dub'', ''I-LP-ON'', ''Liima'' and ''Piiri''. Together w ...

– musician, member of

* Heidi Kilpeläinen – multimedia artist, singer and recording artist, known by the stage name

HK119 HK119 is the alter ego of Finnish multimedia artist, singer and recording artist Heidi Kilpeläinen, who lives and works in London, England. Background Having graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 2004 with an MA i ...

– composer

Folk

Islaja Islaja or Merja Kokkonen (born 19 May 1979) is a singer-songwriter and musician from Helsinki, Finland. Besides her solo career, she is a member of free improv and psychedelic folk bands Avarus, Kemialliset Ystävät, and the trio Hertta Lussu � ...

– acid folk singer *

Konsta Jylhä Konsta Viljami Jylhä (14 August 1910 Kaustinen – 13 September 1984 Kokkola) was a folk-virtuoso who, in Finnish fiddling, made the traditional '' pelimanni-style'' folk music a Finnish cultural phenomenon of wider currency, bringing his natural ...

– folk musician * Maria Kalaniemi – folk music accordion player *

Sanna Kurki-Suonio Sanna Kurki-Suonio (born 1966) is a Finnish singer, kantele player and composer in the contemporary folk / neo-folk music genre. She is most well known for her work with the band Hedningarna, which extended over eight years between 1991 and 1999. Sh ...

– folk music singer *

Lau Nau Lau Nau or Laura Naukkarinen (born 1980) is a composer, producer and musician from Finland. She plays also under the moniker Subatlantti, in IAX, a band formed with Kuupuu and Tsembla and is a visiting member of The Matti Bye Ensemble. She ...

– acid folk singer *

Gösta Sundqvist Gösta Erik Sundqvist (May 17, 1957, Espoo – August 16, 2003) was a Finnish musician and radio personality. He was the lead singer for Leevi and the Leavings since the forming of the band. The name "Leevi" is often taken to mean Sundqvist person ...

– folk music singer,

Leevi and the Leavings Leevi and the Leavings was a Finnish rock band that operated from 1978 to 2003. The band consisted of Gösta Sundqvist, Risto Paananen, Juha Karastie and Niklas Nylund. Sundqvist was the leader of the band, he composed and wrote all the band's ...

' singer *

Jenny Wilhelms Jenny Wilhelms (born 1974) is a Finnish musician. She studied classical and folk music in many Nordic countries. She has been the lead singer of the innovative Folk music, folk band Gjallarhorn (band), Gjallarhorn from 1994. Later, according t ...

– folk music singer

Metal

Marko Hietala Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala (born 14 January 1966) is a Finnish heavy metal vocalist, bassist and songwriter. Internationally, he is best known as the former bassist, male vocalist and secondary composer to Tuomas Holopainen, of the symphonic ...

– bassist and backing vocalist of

Nightwish Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Neva ...

, main vocalist and co-founding member of

Tarot The tarot (, first known as '' trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots, ...

Zachary Hietala Sakari "Zachary" Hietala (born August 10, 1962 in Tervo, Finland) is the guitarist, co-songwriter and founding member of Finnish heavy metal band ''Tarot'' (formerly ''Purgatory'') in early 1980s, together with his younger brother Marko Hietala ...

– guitarist and co-founding member of

* Sami Hinkka – bassist and lyricist of

Ensiferum Ensiferum (Latin: , n adj., meaning "sword bearing") is a Finnish folk metal band from Helsinki. The members of the band label themselves as "melodic folk metal." History Formation, demos and ''Ensiferum'' (1995−2002) ''Ensiferum'' was founde ...

Esa Holopainen Esa Holopainen (born 1 October 1972) is a Finnish musician, currently the main songwriter, occasional lyricist, founding member and lead guitarist of the Finnish metal band Amorphis. He is one out the two longest standing members of the band (t ...

– Main songwriter, current lead guitarist, and founding member of the Finnish metal band

Amorphis Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band founded by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other genres, including progressive metal, an ...

Tuomas Holopainen Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen (born 25 December 1976) is a Finnish songwriter, record producer and musician, best known as one of the founders and the leader, keyboardist and songwriter of symphonic metal band Nightwish. He has stated that hi ...

– composer, songwriter, keyboardplayer and founding member of

Jan Jämsen Jan Jämsen, better known as Katla, is a Finnish songwriter, former singer, and co-founder and singer in the folk metal band Finntroll. Finntroll In 1997, Katla and Somnium (the future guitarist of Finntroll) founded a band. Later they recrui ...

– ex-vocalist and current lyricist of folk metal band

Finntroll Finntroll is a Finnish metal band from Helsinki that combines elements of black metal and folk metal. Finntroll's lyrics are mostly in Swedish, the only exception being the song "Madon Laulu" on ''Visor om slutet''. Finntroll's original singer, ...

Tomi Joutsen Tomi Joutsen (born 30 April 1975) is a Finnish musician, perhaps best known as the vocalist/frontman of the heavy metal band Amorphis (2005–), although also a member of other metal bands including Corpse Molester Cult (2008-), as their guitari ...

– lead singer of

Tony Kakko Toni Kristian "Tony" Kakko (born 16 May 1975) is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative lead of the band Sonata Arctica since 1996. Biography Kakko was born in Kemi, Finland and ...

– vocalist, composer and songwriter of

Sonata Arctica Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, Finland. Created as a hard rock band named Tricky Beans, they later changed to Tricky Means and finally to Sonata Arctica, when they shifted to power metal. The current lineup ...

Jari Kainulainen Jari "Jartsi" Kainulainen (born 29 April 1970) is a Finnish bass guitarist. He is best known for having been the bass player of the power metal band Stratovarius from 1993 until 2005. Kainulainen is currently the bassist of Masterplan, having ...

– ex-bassist of

Stratovarius Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1985. Since their formation, they have released sixteen studio albums, five DVDs and six live albums. In its history, the band has gone through many chaotic lineup changes, and after fo ...

* Antti Boman – guitarist and vocalist of death metal band Demilich *

Perttu Kivilaakso Perttu Päivö Kullervo Kivilaakso is a cello player for Finnish band Apocalyptica. Like fellow band members Eicca Toppinen and Paavo Lötjönen, he attended Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He plays a German 19th century cello; he started play ...

– cellist of cello-metal band

Apocalyptica Apocalyptica is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Helsinki, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso, and jazz drummer Mikko Sirén. Originally a classical ...

Timo Kotipelto Timo Antero Kotipelto (born 15 March 1969) is a Finnish musician best known as the lead singer of the power metal band Stratovarius, whom he joined in 1994, as well as fronting his own band Kotipelto. Biography He studied vocals at the pop/ja ...

– lead singer of

Ville Laihiala Ville Laihiala (born 13 June 1973) is a Finnish musician. He was the vocalist and guitarist of the gothic metal band Poisonblack. He was also the frontman for Sentenced from 1996 (when he replaced their former bassist and vocalist Taneli Jarv ...

– frontman of Sentenced and

Poisonblack Poisonblack was a Finnish gothic metal band led by singer and guitarist Ville Laihiala. History In 2003, the band's first album, ''Escapexstacy'', was on the Finnish national charts for three weeks, peaking at No. 21. They opened for Iro ...

Alexi Laiho Alexi Laiho ( IE-ho born Markku Uula Aleksi Laiho; 8 April 1979 – 29 December 2020) was a Finnish guitarist, composer, and vocalist. He was best known as the lead guitarist, lead vocalist and founding member of the melodic death metal band C ...

– frontman and lead guitarist of

Children of Bodom Children of Bodom was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993 as Inearthed, the final line-up of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of Alexi Laiho (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henkka Sep ...

Roope Latvala Roope Juhani Latvala (born 25 June 1970) is a Finnish guitarist, best known as the former rhythm guitarist for the band Children of Bodom from 2003 to 2015 and the co-lead electric guitarist for Sinergy. He was also one of the founding members ...

– guitarist of

Jani Liimatainen Jani Allan Kristian Liimatainen (born 9 September 1980) is a Finnish musician, songwriter and backing vocalist, currently a member of melodic death metal band Insomnium. He is the former guitarist and one of the founding members of the power m ...

– former guitarist for

Petri Lindroos Petri Lindroos (born 10 January 1980 in Espoo, Finland) is a melodic death/folk metal guitarist and vocalist. He is currently the lead vocalist in Ensiferum. Previously, he was a founding member and lead vocalist for Norther. Biography At 14 ye ...

– guitarist and main vocalist of

and former

Norther Norther was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo formed in 1996 and broke up in 2012. History Norther formed under the name Requiem (Lindroos, Korpas, Hallio) in 1996 after various early stage band formations. The band's debut effort w ...

Jari Mäenpää Jari Mäenpää (born 23 December 1977) is a Finnish heavy metal multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is the founder of Wintersun for which he records all instruments except the drums. Before forming Wintersun, Mäenpää was best known for ...

– composer, singer and guitarist of

and

Wintersun Wintersun is a Finnish heavy metal band from Helsinki originally formed as the side project of Jari Mäenpää, then-vocalist and guitarist of folk metal band Ensiferum. In 2003, Mäenpää began pulling together songs that he had been work ...

Jukka Nevalainen Jukka Antero "Julius" Nevalainen (born 21 April 1978, in Kitee, Finland) is the former drummer in the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Personal life He spent his early years in the city of Kitee. His music teacher at school told him t ...

– drummer of

Anne Nurmi Anne Marjanna Nurmi (born 22 August 1968) is a Finnish singer, composer and keyboard player who is a member of the band Lacrimosa. She lives in Switzerland. Nurmi was born in Tampere. In her youth she sang in church choirs and began playing ke ...

– vocalist and keyboard player of

Lacrimosa The ''Lacrimosa'' (Latin for " weeping/tearful"), also a name that derives from ''Our Lady of Sorrows'', a title given to The Virgin Mary, is part of the Dies Irae sequence in the Roman Catholic Requiem Mass. Its text comes from the Latin 18th an ...

Janne Parviainen Janne Parviainen, born 1973 in Finland, is a heavy metal drummer, who plays in the bands Sinergy, Barathrum and Ensiferum. He is a former member of Waltari and Zwanziger. Janne joined Barathrum in 2000, and Sinergy and Ensiferum more recently. ...

– drummer of

Sinergy Sinergy was a Finnish/Swedish Heavy metal music, heavy metal band started in 1997 by American musician Kimberly Goss. The idea for a "balls-out female-fronted metal band" was first formed when Kimberly Goss of Dimmu Borgir met Jesper Strömbla ...

and

Barathrum Barathrum is a Finnish black-doom metal band, formed in 1990. The band's name is Latin for ''pit'' or ''abyss''. The first letters of their eight full-length albums spell "HEIL SOVA" - referring to the band's frontman, Demonos Sova, who is the ...

Tomi Putaansuu Tomi Petteri Putaansuu (born 15 February 1974), best known by his stage names Mr Lordi or Mr L, is a Finnish musician, businessman, special effect make-up artist, songwriter, painter, comics artist and graphic designer. He is best known as the l ...

– frontman and singer of

Lordi Lordi () is a Finnish hard rock/ heavy metal band, formed in 1992 by the band's lead singer, songwriter and costume maker, Mr Lordi (Tomi Petteri Putaansuu). In addition to their melodic metal music, Lordi are also known for wearing monster ma ...

Jaska Raatikainen Jaska Raatikainen (born 18 July 1979) is a Finnish musician, he is best known as the former drummer and co-founder of the melodic death metal band Children of Bodom from 1993 until his departure in 2019. He is currently in the project called Me ...

– drummer for

Sami Raatikainen Sami Raatikainen is a Finnish guitarist who played for the German technical death metal band Necrophagist. He joined Necrophagist in 2006 after the departure of Christian Müenzner. He also plays guitar in the Finnish technical death metal band ...

– guitarist for

Necrophagist Necrophagist was a German technical death metal band founded and fronted by guitarist and vocalist Muhammed Suiçmez. The band used baroque music-influenced compositions paired with extreme metal drumming. The name originates from the Greek ro ...

Henkka Seppälä Henri "Henkka T. Blacksmith" Seppälä (Born 7 June 1980), is the former bassist of the Finnish metal band Children of Bodom from 1995 to 2019. He is also responsible for backing vocals both in studio and live. He is currently the bassist for t ...

– bassist for

* Emmi Silvennoinen – keyboardist of

Jani Stefanovic Jani Stefanovic (born 23 May 1979) is a Swedish multi-instrumentalist that primarily plays Swedish death metal. Jani started playing around the age of 13–14 years old. Personal life Jani was born in Gothenburg, Sweden to a Finnish mother and a ...

– guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, and bassist for

Miseration Miseration is a Swedish death metal band formed in 2006. Their lyrics primarily deal with themes of inner struggles and religious conflict. The band is one out of a collection of collaborations with both former Crimson Moonlight guitarist Jani St ...

and Solution .45, formerly of

Crimson Moonlight Crimson Moonlight is a Sweden, Swedish unblack metal band. The band was formed in the summer of 1997 with the mere intention of recording a primitive old school black metal demo and playing one show before breaking up. However, the breakup neve ...

and Renascent * Markus Toivonen – founder, guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist of

Timo Tolkki Timo Tapio Tolkki (born 3 March 1966) is a Finnish musician best known as the former guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer of the power metal band Stratovarius. With his tenure lasting for more than twenty years, he was the longest standing ...

– guitarist and ex-singer of

Eicca Toppinen Eino Matti "Eicca" Toppinen (born 5 August 1975) is a Finnish cellist The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four str ...

– cellist of cello-metal band

Emppu Vuorinen Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nev ...

– guitarist of

Janne Wirman Janne Viljami "Warman" Wirman (born 26 April 1979) is a Finnish musician; he is the former keyboardist for the Finnish metal band Children of Bodom from 1997 to 2019 and currently collaborating with Warmen. Biography 150px, left, Wirman in 2 ...

– keyboard player of

Opera

Emmy Achté Emmy Charlotta Achté née Strömer (1850–1924) was an operatic mezzo-soprano, the first prima donna of the Finnish Opera. She performed in Helsinki from 1873 to 1879, excelling in dramatic roles. She was also a voice teacher for over 40 years ...

(1876–1924), mezzo-soprano *

Aino Ackté Aino Ackté (originally Achte; 24 April 18768 August 1944) was a Finnish soprano. She was the first international star of the Finnish opera scene after Alma Fohström, and a groundbreaker for the domestic field. Biography Ackté was born in ...

(1876–1944), soprano * Ida Basilier-Magelssen (1846–1928), soprano *

Kim Borg Kim Borg (August 7, 1919April 28, 2000) was a Finnish bass, teacher and composer. He had a wide-ranging, resonant, warm voice. Biography Kim Borg was born in Helsinki. He studied voice with Heikki Teittinen at the Sibelius Academy (1936–1941 ...

(1919–2000), bass *

Monica Groop Gerd Monica Groop née Riska (born 14 April 1958 in Helsinki) is a Finnish operatic mezzo-soprano. After graduating from the Sibelius Academy, she joined the Finnish National Opera in 1986 where she remains a member. She has sung leading roles a ...

(born 1958), mezzo-soprano * Alma Fohström (1856–1936), soprano * Elin Fohström (1868–1949), soprano *

Jorma Hynninen Jorma Kalervo Hynninen (born 3 April 1941) is a Finnish baritone who performs regularly with the world's major opera companies. He has also worked in opera administration. Hynninen was born on 3 April 1941 in Leppävirta, Finland. He studied fro ...

(born 1941), baritone *

Soile Isokoski Soile Marja Isokoski (born 14 February 1957) is a Finnish lyric soprano. She is an opera singer as well as a concert and lieder singer. Career Isokoski was born in Posio, Finland. She graduated from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (a cantor ...

(born 1957), soprano *

Tom Krause Tom Gunnar Krause (5 July 1934 − 6 December 2013) was a Finnish operatic bass-baritone, particularly associated with Mozart roles. Early life Born in Helsinki, Tom Krause studied medicine for three years with the intention of becoming a psyc ...

(1934–2013), bass-baritone *

Karita Mattila Karita Marjatta Mattila (born 5 September 1960) is a Finnish operatic soprano. Mattila appears regularly in the major opera houses worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, Théâtre du Châtelet, Opéra Bastill ...

(born 1960), soprano *

Matti Salminen Matti Kalervo Salminen (born 7 July 1945) is a Finnish operatic bass, now retired, who has sung at the most important opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan and Bayreuth Festival. He is distinguished by an imposing figure and ...

(born 1945), bass *

Martti Talvela Martti Olavi Talvela (4 February 1935 – 22 July 1989) was a Finnish operatic bass. Born in Hiitola, Finland (now in the Republic of Karelia), the eighth of ten children

(1935–1989), bass *

Tarja Turunen Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli (born 17 August 1977), known professionally as Tarja Turunen or simply Tarja, is a Finnish heavy metal singer, best known as the former lead vocalist of Nightwish. She is a soprano with a three and a half o ...

(born 1977), soprano

Other

A–M

* Jonne Aaron – frontman of Negative *

Ismo Alanko Ismo Kullervo Alanko (; born November 12, 1960) is a Finnish musician. He is known as the frontman of several bands, most famously Hassisen Kone, Sielun Veljet and Ismo Alanko Säätiö, as well as a successful solo artist. Alanko is known f ...

– rock musician *

Jukka Ammondt Jukka Ammondt is a Finnish literature professor who has recorded popular music, including songs of Elvis Presley, in Latin and Sumerian. Jukka Ammondt is a professor of literature in the University of Jyväskylä, Finland with a Ph.D in philos ...

– literature professor and musician who has recorded songs of

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

and Sumerian. *

Nikke Ankara Niiles Hiirola, professionally known as Nikke Ankara, is a Finnish rapper. His first single "Perjantai 13.", produced by Henri "MGI" Lanz, was released in May 2014 through Universal Music Finland. He also appears as a featured guest on fellow rap ...

– rap musician * Mikko Aspa – lead singer of

Deathspell Omega Deathspell Omega is a French black metal band formed in 1998 in Poitiers. Their lyrical content deals primarily with Satanism on a metaphysical level – as the band has stated that "all other interpretations of Satan are intellectually invalid" ...

and owner of Northern Heritage label * Kirill Babitzin (1950–2007) * Maximilian Theodor Buch – historic academic and nationalist *

Carola Carola is a female given name, the Latinized form of the Germanic given names Caroline or Carol. People named Carola include: Acting * Carola Braunbock (1924–1978), Czech-born East German actress *Carola Höhn (1910–2005), German actres ...

– jazz and pop singer *

Elastinen Kimmo Ilpo Juhani Laiho (born 1981), better known by his stage name Elastinen (meaning ''elastic'' in Finnish), is a Finnish rap musician and also known as one of the founders and is the CEO of the Finnish independent rap label Rähinä Records ...

– rap musician, half of the rap duo

Fintelligens Fintelligens is a hip hop group from Helsinki, Finland. The band is formed of two MCs: Elastinen and Iso H. The band has released three albums and one compilation, all selling more than 150,000 copies. Career In the early 1990s the Finnish hi ...

Cheek The cheeks ( la, buccae) constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. "Buccal" means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve. The area between the inside ...

– rap musician, broke many Spotify records in Finland *

Irwin Goodman Antti Yrjö Hammarberg (14 September 1943 – 14 January 1991), professionally known as Irwin Goodman, was a popular Finnish rock and folk singer. In the late 1960s he was widely known as a protest singer. He recorded over 300 songs, most of which ...

a.k.a. Antti Hammarberg (1943–1991) – protest singer *

Sara Forsberg Sara Maria Forsberg (born 2 May 1994), known professionally as SAARA (formerly Smo, Smoukahontas, or Smokahontas), is a Finnish singer, songwriter, YouTube personality, and television presenter. As a singer, Forsberg was signed to Capitol Record ...

a.k.a. SAARA – Swedish-Finnish American *

Aki Hakala The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band that formed in 1994 in Helsinki while the band members were in upper comprehensive school.Main source of the band's history: The original band members were Lauri Ylönen (lead singer-songwriter), Eero Heinonen ...

– drummer of

The Rasmus The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band that formed in 1994 in Helsinki while the band members were in upper comprehensive school.Main source of the band's history: The original band members were Lauri Ylönen (lead singer-songwriter), Eero Heinonen ...

Hector In Greek mythology, Hector (; grc, Ἕκτωρ, Hektōr, label=none, ) is a character in Homer's Iliad. He was a Trojan prince and the greatest warrior for Troy during the Trojan War. Hector led the Trojans and their allies in the defense o ...

Lasse Heikkilä Lasse Heikkilä (born May 27, 1934) is a retired professional ice hockey player and coach who played in the SM-liiga. Heikkila played for Karhut and Ässät. He was later inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame The Finnish Hockey Hal ...

– composer, songwriter, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist *

Eero Heinonen The Rasmus is a Finnish rock band that formed in 1994 in Helsinki while the band members were in upper comprehensive school.Main source of the band's history: The original band members were Lauri Ylönen (lead singer-songwriter), Eero Heinonen ...

– bassist of

Reino Helismaa Reino Vihtori "Repe" Helismaa (12 July 1913, Helsinki – 21 January 1965) was a Finnish singer-songwriter, musician and scriptwriter, mainly known for his humorous, yet homely songs. One of his best-known interpreters was Tapio Rautavaara. He a ...

(1913–1965) *

Janita Janita Maria (née Raukko; born 28 December 1978), better known by her stage name Janita, (pronounced "YA-nee-tah") is a Finnish-born, American singer-songwriter. Born in Helsinki, she started her career in Finland and later moved to Brooklyn a ...

– soul, pop, and alternative singer-songwriter *

– lead singer of

* Markus Kaarlonen – "Captain" keyboardist and producer of rock band

Poets of the Fall Poets of the Fall (POTF) is a Finnish rock band from Helsinki. The group consists of Marko Saaresto (lead vocals), Olli Tukiainen (lead guitar), Markus "Captain" Kaarlonen (keyboards, production), Jani Snellman (bass), Jaska Mäkinen (rhythm ...

* Maria Kalaniemi * Mika Karppinen – drummer from the band HIM * Viktor Klimenko *

Samuli Kosminen Edea is a Finnish musical group. The Edea's song lyrics are written in an older form of the Finnish language and speak of old traditions as well. The mysterious runic symbols inscribed on the bows of Viking boats, door posts, drinking vessels, and ...

Sakari Kukko Sakari Kukko, (full Name: Jyrki Sakari Kukko, born 8 July 1953, Kajaani, Finland) is a Finnish musician. Career Kukko started his career in the early 1960s as a singer participating in several singing contests and performing in radio stations, ...

Mikko Kuustonen Ari-Mikko Kuustonen (born 4 March 1960 in Leppävirta, Finland) is a Finnish singer-songwriter and television personality. In 1998 Kuustonen was the first Finn to be nominated as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador __NOTOC__ UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador ...

– singer-songwriter * Hildá Länsman (born 1993) – Sámi pop singer *

Juice Leskinen Juhani Juice Leskinen (officially Pauli Matti Juhani "Juice" Leskinen; 19 February 1950 – 24 November 2006), better known as Juice Leskinen ( as if the word ''juice'' were Finnish) was one of the most important and successful Finnish singer- ...

– rock musician *

Mikko Lindström Mikko is a Finnish masculine given name and equivalent of the English name Michael, having been borrowed into the Finnish language. The given name Mikko is shared by the following notable people: * Mikko Alatalo, Finnish musician and politician * ...

– guitarist from the band HIM * Jyrki Linnankivi – lead singer of

the 69 Eyes The 69 Eyes are a Finnish rock band. It was founded in 1989 in Helsinki by vocalist Jyrki 69 (who also writes the band's lyrics), guitarists Bazie, Timo-Timo and bassist Archzie, joined in 1992 by drummer Jussi 69; the lineup never changed sin ...

* Jaska Makinen – rhythm guitarist of rock band

Tommy Mansikka-Aho Edea is a Finnish musical group. The Edea's song lyrics are written in an older form of the Finnish language and speak of old traditions as well. The mysterious runic symbols inscribed on the bows of Viking boats, door posts, drinking vessels, and ...

Jarkko Martikainen Jarkko Martikainen (born 24 October 1970 in Greifswald, GDR) is a Finnish singer, songwriter and member of the rock band YUP. In addition to his musical career, Martikainen has worked as a columnist, a record producer and a documentary filmmaker. ...

Andy McCoy Antti Hulkko (born 11 October 1962), better known as Andy McCoy, is a Finnish musician. He is best known for his role as the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the rock band Hanoi Rocks, but has also played with Iggy Pop and a variety of oth ...

– former guitarist of

Hanoi Rocks Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. The band broke up in June 1985 after drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley died in a drunk driving acciden ...

, rock musician *

Michael Monroe Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm (born 17 June 1962), better known by his stage name Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star sid ...

– former singer of

, rock musician

N–Z

* Sara Nunes – singer *

Tuomari Nurmio Judge Bone, Tuomari Nurmio, is the artist name of Hannu Juhani Nurmio (b. 1950 in Helsinki), a Finnish rock singer and songwriter. Work Since his debut album, Nurmio has been regarded one of the most original Finnish singer-songwriters. His l ...

* Harri Nuutinen *

Mikko Paananen Mikko Henrik Julius Paananen (born 19 December 1974), better known as Mige, is a Finnish musician, best known as the bassist and founding member of the gothic rock band HIM. Born to an artistic family, Mige attended the Sibelius Upper Secondary ...

– bass player for the rock band HIM * Olga Oinola (1865–1949) – President of the Finnish Women Association *

Hanna Pakarinen Hanna Helena Pakarinen (born 17 April 1981) is a Finnish pop and pop-rock singer who rose to fame as the winner of the first series of the Finnish singing competition '' Idols'' in 2004. Since then she has represented Finland in the Eurovision S ...

– Finland's first '' Idols'' winner, pop singer * Paleface – rap musician * Maukka Perusjätkä – punk rocker *

Mika Pohjola Mika Pohjola ( (born December 1, 1971) is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer who resides in Stockholm. He is one of the most prolific Scandinavian jazz musicians in his generation. Biography Childhood in Helsinki, Finland 1971-87 Mika P ...

– jazz pianist and composer *

Pekka Pohjola Jussi Pekka Pohjola (13 January 1952 – 27 November 2008) was a Finnish multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer. Best known as a bass player, Pohjola was also a classically trained pianist and violinist. Pohjola rose to fame as the ba ...

Kimmo Pohjonen Kimmo Pohjonen (born August 16, 1964) is a Finnish accordionist who is known for his avant-garde and experimental work with his custom-made electrified and modified instrument. He has released nine albums of his work and has toured Europe extens ...

Lauri Porra Lauri Porra (born 13 December 1977) is a Finnish bass guitarist and a composer who has written scores for films and other media, as well as commissions from orchestras such as the Lahti Symphony and the Finnish Radio Symphony. He is also known fo ...

Janne Puurtinen Janne Johannes Puurtinen (born 17 October 1974), better known as Burton or Emerson Burton, is a Finnish musician. He is best known as the keyboardist of the Finnish gothic rock band HIM, with whom he has released six studio albums, and has gone ...

– keyboard player from the band HIM *

Iiro Rantala Iiro Rantala (born 1970, in Helsinki) is a Finnish jazz pianist. He studied piano in the jazz department of Sibelius Academy and classical piano at the Manhattan School of Music. He is one of the best known Finnish jazz pianists, both in Finlan ...

Pauli Rantasalmi The Rasmus is a Finnish Pop music, rock band that formed in 1994 in Helsinki while the band members were in upper comprehensive school.Main source of the band's history: The original band members were Lauri Ylönen (lead singer-songwriter), Eer ...

– guitarist of

Tapio Rautavaara Kaj Tapio Rautavaara (8 March 1915 – 25 September 1979) was a Finnish singer (bass-baritone), athlete and film actor. Life Early years Tapio Rautavaara was born in the municipality of Pirkkala (now Nokia), a suburb of the industrial city o ...

Marko Saaresto Marko Saaresto (born 5 December 1970) is the founding member, lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the Finnish alternative rock band Poets of the Fall. Saaresto worked as a graphic designer before forming the band in late 2002. Sam Lake, Saa ...

– lyricist, lead singer of rock band

*Jari Salminen – drummer of rock band

Jari Sillanpää Jari Veikko Sillanpää (; born 16 August 1965) is a Finnish-Swedish singer. With over 820,000 records sold, he is the fifth-best-selling music artist and second-best-selling solo artist in Finland. Life and career Born into a Sweden-Finnish ...

– Finnish " tango king", singer *

Sir Christus Sir Christus (born Jukka Kristian Mikkonen; April 10, 1978 – December 7, 2017) was a Finnish guitarist, best known as the former rhythm guitarist of the glam rock band Negative. His father was Arwo Mikkonen, guitarist of the Finnish rock band Pop ...

– former guitarist for the band Negative *

Aki Sirkesalo Aki Pekka Antero Sirkesalo (25 July 1962 – 26 December 2004) was a Finnish singer and broadcaster. Career Sirkesalo started his public career in 1984 as an announcer in the Finnish Broadcasting Company radio show ''Rockradio''. In 1986, he fo ...

(1962–2004) – singer *Jani "Hellboy" Snellman – bass guitarist of rock band

* Kyllikki Solanterä (1908–1965) – popular singer, vocal teacher and lyricist *

Topi Sorsakoski Pekka Erkki Juhani Tammilehto (27 October 1952 – 13 August 2011), better known by his stage name Topi Sorsakoski, was a Finnish singer. His father was Finnish tango singer Yrjö Johannes "Tapio" Tammilehto. Career Sorsakoski started his care ...

– schlager and rock'n'roll singer *

Jonna Tervomaa Jonna Marika Tervomaa (born January 7, 1973) is a Finnish pop singer and songwriter. She was born in Forssa Forssa is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located almost in the centre of a triangle defined by the three largest major cit ...

– pop singer *

Jukka Tolonen Jukka Jorma Tolonen (born 16 April 1952) is a Finnish jazz guitarist.Lönnqvist, Niclas.Jukka Tolonen är musikern av Guds nåde (in Swedish), Hufvudstadsbladet, August 3, 2018. Tolonen became famous as guitarist for the progressive rock band T ...

Antti Tuisku Antti Tuisku (born 27 February 1984) is a Finnish pop singer. He finished third in the 2003 '' Idols'' talent show, the Finnish version of ''Pop Idol''. Tuisku has sold over 300,000 records during his career in Finland. In 2016, Tuisku won the ...

– pop musician, '' Idols'' star *Olli Tukiainen – lead guitarist of rock band

Tellu Turkka Tellu Turkka (formerly Tellu Paulasto, Tellu Virkkala, born 1969, Koskenpää) is a Finnish fiddler and singer in the contemporary folk / neo-folk music genre. She studied violin at the Jyväskylä Conservatory from 1978 to 1985, at the Savonlinna ...

– former lead singer of the symphonic metal band

Petri Walli Petri Ilari Walli (February 25, 1969 – June 28, 1995) was the founder, vocalist, guitar-player, songwriter and producer of the Finnish psychedelic rock-band Kingston Wall. Petri was born in Finland, his brother is Aki Walli. He also have ha ...

(1969–1995) * Juha Watt Vainio *

Ville Valo Ville Hermanni Valo (; born 22 November 1976) is a Finnish singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the gothic rock band HIM. Born and raised in Helsinki to a Hungarian mother and Finnish father, Valo began h ...

– lead singer of HIM *

Edward Vesala Edward Vesala (15 February 1945 – 4 December 1999), born Martti Vesala, was a Finnish avant-garde jazz drummer. Career Born in Mäntyharju, he began playing jazz and rock in the 1960s, in such bands as Blues Section and Apollo. In the 1970s ...

(1945–1999) – jazz musician, composer, drummer * Jussi Heikki Tapio Vuori drummer of

Olavi Virta Olavi Virta (originally to 1926 Oskari Olavi Ilmén) (27 February 1915 in Sysmä, Grand Duchy of Finland – 14 July 1972 in Pispala, Tampere, Finland) was a Finnish singer, acclaimed during his time as the "King" of Finnish tango. Between 1939 a ...

– singer *

Laura Voutilainen Sanna Laura Voutilainen (born 17 May 1975 in Jyväskylä) is a Finnish pop singer. Career Voutilainen's debut single was called "Muuttanut oot maailmain" but her breakthrough came with the 1993 single "Kerran" which reached the Top Ten of the Fi ...

– pop singer *

Maija Vilkkumaa Maija Johanna Vilkkumaa (born 9 November 1973) is a Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter. Beginning her musical hobbies playing piano at an age before school, Vilkkumaa studied in high school where she and her friends set up the band Tarh ...

– pop/rock singer *

Lauri Ylönen Lauri Johannes Ylönen (born 23 April 1979) is a Finnish singer-songwriter, best known as the co-founder and frontman of the Finland, Finnish alternative rock musical ensemble, band The Rasmus. Biography The Rasmus When he and Heinonen started ...

– lead singer of

* A. W. Yrjänä – rock singer, bass guitarist, songwriter, poet

Musical groups

The 69 Eyes The 69 Eyes are a Finnish rock band. It was founded in 1989 in Helsinki by vocalist Jyrki 69 (who also writes the band's lyrics), guitarists Bazie, Timo-Timo and bassist Archzie, joined in 1992 by drummer Jussi 69; the lineup never changed sin ...

Apulanta Apulanta is a Finnish rock band, founded in 1991 when its members were in their mid-teens. In September 2009, Apulanta members established an independent label, Päijät-Hämeen Sorto ja Riisto ("Päijänne Tavastian Oppression and Exploitation ...

Blind Channel Blind Channel is a Finnish nu metal band from Oulu. The band define their musical style as "violent pop". They represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song " Dark Side", finishing in sixth place. Career In February ...

* Bomfunk MC’s *

Children Of Bodom Children of Bodom was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993 as Inearthed, the final line-up of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of Alexi Laiho (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henkka Sep ...

Darude Toni-Ville Henrik Virtanen (; born July 17, 1975), better known by his stage name Darude (), is a Finnish DJ and record producer from Eura, Satakunta. His music is characterised by its progressive/uplifting style. He started making music in 1995 ...

* HIM *

Nylon Beat Nylon Beat was a Finnish girl group consisting of Jonna Kosonen and Erin Koivisto (later known as Erin during her solo career). Their main period of popularity was during the late 1990s and early 2000s. History The band was formed in 1995 as ...

PMMP PMMP was a Finnish pop rock band fronted by singers Paula Vesala and Mira Luoti and backed by musicians Mikko Virta, Juho Vehmanen and Heikki Kytölä. The name of the band is often said to be an abbreviation of the sentence "Paulan ja Mira ...

Stam1na Stam1na (pronounced ) is a Finnish Heavy metal music, heavy metal musical group native of Lemi, South Karelia. Their music is arguably best described as thrash metal with some progressive metal, death metal, death, Alternative metal, alternative ...

Philosophers

* Timo Airaksinen * Lili Alanen *

Anders Chydenius Anders Chydenius (; 26 February 1729 – 1 February 1803) was a Sweden–Finland, Swedish-Finnish Lutheran priest and a member of the Swedish Riksdag of Sweden, Riksdag, and is known as the leading classical liberalism, classical liberal of Nordi ...

* Arto Haapala *

Jaakko Hintikka Kaarlo Jaakko Juhani Hintikka (12 January 1929 – 12 August 2015) was a Finnish philosopher and logician. Life and career Hintikka was born in Helsingin maalaiskunta (now Vantaa). In 1953, he received his doctorate from the University of Helsin ...

Pekka Himanen Pekka Himanen (born 19 October 1973) is a Finnish philosopher. Professional career Pekka Himanen studied philosophy (and computer science as a minor) at the University of Helsinki, under professor Esa Saarinen. In 1994, with his thesis on the ...

* Matti Häyry *

Eino Kaila Eino Sakari Kaila (8 August 1890 – 31 July 1958 In some reference books there is an incorrect death date 1958-08-01.) was a Finnish philosopher, critic and teacher. He worked in numerous fields including psychology (sometimes considered to be the ...

Raili Kauppi Raili Kauppi (1920–1995), professor of philosophy at the University of Tampere. She was an internationally recognized scholar of Leibniz and intensional logic Intensional logic is an approach to predicate logic that extends first-order logic, wh ...

* S. Albert Kivinen *

Pentti Linkola Kaarlo Pentti Linkola (7 December 1932 – 5 April 2020) was a prominent Finnish deep ecologist, ornithologist, polemicist, naturalist, writer, and fisherman. He wrote widely about his ideas and in Finland was a prominent thinker.George C. ...

Eeva-Liisa Manner Eeva-Liisa Manner (5 December 1921 – 7 July 1995) was a Finnish poet, playwright and translator. Biography She was born in Helsinki, 5 December 1921, but spent her youth in Vyborg (Viipuri). Manner started as a poet in 1944 with ''Mustaa ja ...

Ilkka Niiniluoto Ilkka Maunu Olavi Niiniluoto (born March 12, 1946) is a Finnish philosopher and mathematician, serving as a professor of philosophy at the University of Helsinki since 1981. He is currently on leave from his position, having been appointed as re ...

Esa Saarinen Esa Jouni Olavi Saarinen (born 27 July 1953 in Hyvinkää, Finland) is a Finnish philosopher who was a professor of applied philosophy at Aalto University and co-director of the Systems Intelligence Research Group.''Kuka kukin on 2003'', pp. 867 ...

J. V. Snellman Johan Vilhelm Snellman (; 12 May 1806 – 4 July 1881) was an influential Fennoman philosopher and Finns, Finnish wikt:statesman, statesman, ennobled in 1866. He was one of the most important 'awakeners' or promoters of Finnish nationalism, along ...

Eero Tarasti Eero Aarne Pekka Tarasti (born 27 September 1948 in Helsinki), is a Finnish musicologist and semiologist, currently serving as Professor Emeritus of Musicology at the University of Helsinki. He received his Ph.D. degree at the University of Hel ...

Raimo Tuomela Raimo Heikki Tuomela (9 October 1940 in Helsinki, Finland – 22 November 2020 in Helsinki) was a Finnish philosopher. Career Tuomela received his first degree of doctor of philosophy in 1968 from the University of Helsinki and the second one i ...

Thomas Wallgren Thomas Wallgren, Professor (born 28 February 1958) is a Swedish-speaking Finnish philosopher, activist and politician. He studied philosophy at the University of Helsinki and where he is a lecturer and docent. He was active in the Koijärvi Move ...

Edward Westermarck Edvard Alexander Westermarck (Helsinki, 20 November 1862 – Tenala, 3 September 1939) was a Finnish philosopher and sociologist. Among other subjects, he studied exogamy and the incest taboo. Biography Westermarck was born in 1862 in a wel ...

Georg Henrik von Wright Georg Henrik von Wright (; 14 June 1916 – 16 June 2003) was a Finnish philosopher. Biography G. H. von Wright was born in Helsinki on 14 June 1916 to Tor von Wright and his wife Ragni Elisabeth Alfthan. On the retirement of Ludwig Wittgenste ...

Politicians

Esko Aho Esko Tapani Aho (born 20 May 1954) is a Finnish politician who was prime minister of Finland from 1991 to 1995. Early life and career Aho was born in Veteli, Finland. Prior to attending university, he began a career in politics. From 1974 to ...

– prime minister 1991–1995 *

Martti Ahtisaari Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (; born 23 June 1937) is a Finnish politician, the tenth president of Finland (1994–2000), a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a United Nations diplomat and mediator noted for his international peace work. Ahtisa ...

– United Nations diplomat and mediator;

Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Chemi ...

winner; president of Finland 1994–2000 *

Karl-August Fagerholm Karl-August Fagerholm (31 December 1901, in Siuntio – 22 May 1984, in Helsinki) was Speaker of Parliament and three times Prime Minister of Finland (1948–50, 1956–57, and 1958–59). Fagerholm became one of the leading politicia ...

– politician (1901–1984) *

Tarja Halonen Tarja Kaarina Halonen (; born 24 December 1943) is a Finnish politician who served as the 11th president of Finland, and the first woman to hold the position, from 2000 to 2012. She first rose to prominence as a lawyer with the Central Organisati ...

– First female president of Finland, 2000–2012 *

Satu Hassi Satu Maijastiina Hassi (born 3 June 1951) is a Finnish politician, and former Member of the European Parliament for the Green League. She served as the Minister of Environment and Development Co-Operation in Paavo Lipponen's second cabinet betw ...

– MEP *

Heidi Hautala Heidi Anneli Hautala (born 14 November 1955) is a Finnish politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Finland. She is a member of the Green League, part of the European Green Party. She is currently a Member of the European Parl ...

– MEP *

Harri Holkeri Harri Hermanni Holkeri (; 6 January 1937 – 7 August 2011) was a Finnish statesman representing the National Coalition Party of Finland (Kokoomus / Samlingspartiet). He was the Prime Minister of Finland 1987–1991, president of the UN Gene ...

– prime minister and UN diplomat * Ville Itälä – MEP *

Max Jakobson Max Jakobson (September 30, 1923 – March 9, 2013) was a Finnish diplomat and journalist of Finnish-Jewish descent. Jakobson was an instrumental figure in shaping Finland's policy of neutrality during the Cold War. Max Jakobson was born i ...

– UN diplomat *

Anneli Jäätteenmäki Anneli Tuulikki Jäätteenmäki (born 11 February 1955) is a Finnish politician who was the first female Prime Minister of Finland from 17 April 2003 to 24 June 2003. From 2004 until 2019, she served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) ...

– prime minister 2003 *

Kyösti Kallio Kyösti Kallio (; 10 April 1873 – 19 December 1940) was a Finnish politician of the Agrarian League who served as the fourth president of Finland from 1937–1940; his presidency included leading the country through the Winter War. He was t ...

– president of Finland 1937–1940 (1873–1940) *

Urho Kekkonen Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (; 3 September 1900 – 31 August 1986), often referred to by his initials UKK, was a Finnish politician who served as the eighth and longest-serving president of Finland from 1956 to 1982. He also served as Prime Minister ...

– president of Finland 1956–1982 (1900–1986) * Mari Kiviniemi – prime minister 2010–2011 *

Mauno Koivisto Mauno Henrik Koivisto (; 25 November 1923 – 12 May 2017) was a Finnish politician who served as the ninth president of Finland from 1982 to 1994. He also served as the country's prime minister twice, from 1968 to 1970 and again from 1979 to 19 ...

– president of Finland 1982–1994 * Aleksander von Kothen – senator *

Hertta Kuusinen Hertta Elina Kuusinen (14 February 1904 – 18 March 1974) was a Finnish Communist politician. She was a member of the central committee (1944–1971) and the political bureau of the Communist Party of Finland; member of Finland's parliament, t ...

– communist politician (1904–1974) *

Otto Ville Kuusinen Otto Wilhelm "Wille" Kuusinen (; russian: О́тто Вильге́льмович Ку́усинен, Otto Vilgelmovich Kuusinen; 4 October 1881 – 17 May 1964) was a Finnish-born Soviet communist and, later, Soviet politician, literary his ...

– head of the communist

Terijoki Government The Finnish Democratic Republic ( fi, Suomen kansanvaltainen tasavalta or ''Suomen kansantasavalta'', sv, Demokratiska Republiken Finland, Russian: ''Финляндская Демократическая Республика''), also known as ...

, later Soviet politician (1881–1964) * Axel Lille – founder of the

Swedish People's Party The Swedish People's Party of Finland ( sv, Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP); fi, Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP)) is a political party in Finland aiming to represent the interests of the minority Swedish-speaking population of Finlan ...

(1848–1921) *

Paavo Lipponen Paavo Tapio Lipponen (; born 23 April 1941) is a Finnish politician and former reporter. He was Prime Minister of Finland from 1995 to 2003, and Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 1993 to 2005. He also served as Speaker of the ...

– prime minister 1995–2003, the first speaker of the

Finnish Parliament The Parliament of Finland ( ; ) is the unicameral and supreme legislature of Finland, founded on 9 May 1906. In accordance with the Constitution of Finland, sovereignty belongs to the people, and that power is vested in the Parliament. The ...

2003–2007 *

Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (, ; 4 June 1867 – 27 January 1951) was a Finnish military leader and statesman. He served as the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918, as Regent of Finland (1918–1919), as comma ...

– commander-in-chief, regent, president 1944–1946 (1867–1951) *

Martti Miettunen Martti Juhani Miettunen (17 April 1907 – 19 January 2002), was a Finnish politician who served twice as Finland's prime minister, from 1961 to 1962 and again from 1975 to 1977. Miettunen was born in Simo, the son of a smallholder. He studi ...

– prime minister 1961–1962 and 1975–1977 *

Sauli Niinistö Sauli Väinämö Niinistö (; born 24 August 1948) is a Finnish politician who has served as president of Finland since March 2012, the 12th person to hold that office. A lawyer by education, Niinistö was Chairman of the National Coalition Part ...

– president of Finland 2012– *

Juho Kusti Paasikivi Juho Kusti Paasikivi (; 27 November 1870 – 14 December 1956) was the seventh president of Finland (1946–1956). Representing the Finnish Party until its dissolution in 1918 and then the National Coalition Party, he also served as Prime Ministe ...

– president of Finland 1946–1956 (1870–1956) *

Lauri Kristian Relander Lauri Kristian Relander (, ; 31 May 1883 – 9 February 1942) was the second president of Finland (1925–1931). A prominent member of the Centre Party (Finland), Agrarian League, he served as a member of Parliament of Finland, Parliament, and ...

– president of Finland 1925–1931 (1883–1942) *

Elisabeth Rehn Märta Elisabeth Rehn (; born 6 April 1935) is a Finnish former politician and diplomat. She served as the Minister of Defence of Finland during 1990 to 1995 and as an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations during 1998 to 1999. She was al ...

– politician *

Olli Rehn Olli Ilmari Rehn (; born 31 March 1962) is a Finnish economist and public official who has been serving as governor of the Bank of Finland since 2018. A member of the Centre Party, he previously served as the European Commissioner for Enlargem ...

– commissioner and vice-president of the

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...

* Heikki Ritavuori – assassinated minister (1880–1922) *

Risto Ryti Risto Heikki Ryti (; 3 February 1889 – 25 October 1956) served as the fifth president of Finland from 1940 to 1944. Ryti started his career as a politician in the field of economics and as a political background figure during the interwar perio ...

– president of Finland 1940–1944 (1889–1956) *

Miina Sillanpää Miina Sillanpää (originally Vilhelmiina Riktig, born 4 June 1866 – died 3 April 1952) was a Finnish politician. She served as Deputy Minister of Social Affairs in 1926-1927. She was Finland's first female minister and a key figure in the wor ...

– minister *

Taisto Sinisalo Taisto Jalo Sinisalo (29 June 1926 – 26 March 2002) was a Finnish communist politician, MP of the SKDL (1962–1978), leader of the Communist Party of Finland’s hardline pro-Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet S ...

– communist politician *

Helvi Sipilä Helvi Linnea Aleksandra Sipilä (née Maukola; 5 May 1915 – 15 May 2009) was a Finnish diplomat, lawyer and politician. She was known as a promoter of women's rights, and was the first-ever female Assistant-Secretary-General of the United N ...

– UN diplomat *

Johan Vilhelm Snellman Johan Vilhelm Snellman (; 12 May 1806 – 4 July 1881) was an influential Fennoman philosopher and Finnish statesman, ennobled in 1866. He was one of the most important 'awakeners' or promoters of Finnish nationalism, alongside Elias Lönnrot an ...

– writer and senator (1806–1881) *

Osmo Soininvaara Osmo Heikki Kristian Soininvaara (born 2 September 1951 in Helsinki) is a Finnish politician and writer. He served as Minister of Social Services in Paavo Lipponen's second cabinet between 14 April 2000 and 19 April 2002. He was the leader of the ...

– minister *

Kalevi Sorsa Taisto Kalevi Sorsa (21 December 1930 – 16 January 2004) was a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland three times: 1972–1975, 1977–1979 and 1982–1987. At the time of his death he still held the record for most day ...

– prime minister (1930–2004) *

Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (, ; 28 January 1865 – 22 September 1952) was a Finnish jurist and academic, which was one of the most important pioneers of republicanism in the country. He was the first president of Finland (1919–1925) and a libera ...

– president of Finland 1919–1925 (1865–1952) *

Ulf Sundqvist Ulf Ludvig Sundqvist (22 February 1945 – 22 April 2023) was a Finnish politician who served as chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, a minister in four cabinets in the 1970s and a banker in the 1980s. Political career Sundqvis ...

Pehr Evind Svinhufvud Pehr Evind Svinhufvud af Qvalstad (; 15 December 1861 – 29 February 1944) was the third president of Finland from 1931 to 1937. Serving as a lawyer, judge, and politician in the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, he played a major role in the ...

– regent and president of Finland 1931–1937 (1861–1944) *

Väinö Tanner Väinö Alfred Tanner (; 12 March 1881 – 19 April 1966; surname until 1895 ''Thomasson'') was a leading figure in the Social Democratic Party of Finland, and a pioneer and leader of the cooperative movement in Finland. He was Prime Minister ...

– prime minister 1926–1927 (1881–1966) *

Oskari Tokoi Antti Oskari Tokoi (15 April 1873 – 4 April 1963) was a Finnish people, Finnish socialist who served as a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Finland. In 1917 Tokoi acted as a Chairman of the Senate of Finland and thus he was the world’s ...

– prime minister 1917 (1873–1963) * Erkki Tuomioja – foreign minister (2000–2007) * Martti Turunen –

Japanese Diet The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...

member of Finnish origin 2001– *

Matti Vanhanen Matti Taneli Vanhanen (; born 4 November 1955) is a Finnish politician who served as Prime Minister of Finland from 2003 to 2010. He was also Chairman of the Centre Party and President of the European Council in 2006. In his earlier career, h ...

– prime minister 2003–2010 *

Johannes Virolainen Johannes Virolainen (; 31 January 1914 – 11 December 2000) was a Finnish politician and who served as 30th Prime Minister of Finland. Virolainen was born near Viipuri. After the Continuation War Virolainen moved to Lohja, but he remained one ...

– prime minister in 1964–1966 (1914–2000) *

Hella Wuolijoki Hella Wuolijoki (née Ella Marie Murrik; 22 July 1886 – 2 February 1954), also known by the pen name Juhani Tervapää, was an Estonian-born Finnish writer known for her ''Niskavuori'' series.Wuolijoki, Hella. Eesti Entsüklopeedia 10. Estonian ...

– parliamentarian, writer (1886–1954)

Scientists

* Lars Valerian Ahlfors – mathematician,

Fields Medal The Fields Medal is a prize awarded to two, three, or four mathematicians under 40 years of age at the International Congress of the International Mathematical Union (IMU), a meeting that takes place every four years. The name of the award ho ...

ist 1936 (1907–1996) *

Väinö Auer Väinö Auer (; January 7, 1895, Helsinki – March 20, 1981, Helsinki), the son of senator , was a Finnish geologist and geographer, chiefly remembered as an explorer of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia. He is also noted for his pioneering studies o ...

– explorer, geologist, geographer (1895–1981) *

Matthias Castren Matthias is a name derived from the Greek Ματθαίος, in origin similar to Matthew. People Notable people named Matthias include the following: In religion: * Saint Matthias, chosen as an apostle in Acts 1:21–26 to replace Judas Iscariot ...

– ethnologist (1813–1852) *

– classical liberal (1729–1803) *

Kari Enqvist Kari-Pekka Enqvist (born February 16, 1954 in Lahti, Finland) is a professor of cosmology in the Department of Physical Sciences at the University of Helsinki. Enqvist was awarded his PhD in theoretical physics in 1983. Enqvist is the chairman o ...

– cosmologist *

Teppo Felin Teppo Felin (born 1970s) is the Douglas D. Anderson Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship at the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. He is also the Founding Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Study. From 2013 to 2 ...

– professor at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

Johan Gadolin Johan Gadolin (5 June 176015 August 1852) was a Finnish chemist, physicist and mineralogist. Gadolin discovered a " new earth" containing the first rare-earth compound yttrium, which was later determined to be a chemical element. He is also con ...

– chemist (1760–1852) *

Ragnar Granit Ragnar Arthur Granit (30 October 1900 – 12 March 1991) was a Finnish-Swedish scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1967 along with Haldan Keffer Hartline and George Wald "for their discoveries concerning the ...

– medicine, Nobelist (1900–1991) *

Hilma Granqvist Hilma Natalia Granqvist (17 July 1890 Sipoo – 25 February 1972 Helsinki) was a Swedish-speaking Finnish anthropologist who conducted long field studies of Palestinians. She was a student of Edvard Westermarck. Studies In the 1920s Granqvist ...

– anthropologist (1890–1972) *

Ilkka Hanski Ilkka Aulis Hanski (14 February 1953 – 10 May 2016) was a Finnish ecologist at the University of Helsinki, Finland. The Metapopulation Research Center led by Hanski, until his death, has been nominated as a Center of Excellence by the Academy ...

–

Crafoord Prize The Crafoord Prize is an annual science prize established in 1980 by Holger Crafoord, a Swedish industrialist, and his wife Anna-Greta Crafoord. The Prize is awarded in partnership between the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Crafoord Foun ...

winning ecologist (1953–2016) *

Bengt Holmström Bengt Robert Holmström (born 18 April 1949) is a Finnish economist who is currently Paul A. Samuelson Professor of Economics (Emeritus) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Together with Oliver Hart, he received the Central Bank of S ...

– economist, Nobelist (1949–) * Kimmo Innanen – astronomer (1937-2011) *

Pehr Kalm Pehr Kalm (6 March 1716 – 16 November 1779), also known as Peter Kalm, was a Swedish explorer, botanist, naturalist, and agricultural economist. He was one of the most important apostles of Carl Linnaeus. In 1747, he was commissioned by the ...

– botanist (1716–1779) *

Teuvo Kohonen Teuvo Kalevi Kohonen (11 July 1934 – 13 December 2021) was a prominent Finnish academic ( Dr. Eng.) and researcher. He was professor emeritus of the Academy of Finland.Anders Johan Lexell Anders Johan Lexell (24 December 1740 – ) was a Finnish-Swedish astronomer, mathematician, and physicist who spent most of his life in Imperial Russia, where he was known as Andrei Ivanovich Leksel (Андрей Иванович Лексе ...

– mathematician, astronomer (1740–1784) *

Ernst Lindelöf Ernst is both a surname and a given name, the German, Dutch, and Scandinavian form of Ernest. Notable people with the name include: Surname * Adolf Ernst (1832–1899) German botanist known by the author abbreviation "Ernst" * Anton Ernst (1975- ...

– mathematician, researcher of function theory and topology (1870–1946) *

Olli Lounasmaa Olli Viktor Lounasmaa (20 August 1930, Turku – 27 December 2002, Goa, India) was a Finnish academician, experimental physicist and neuroscientist. He was known for his research in low temperature physics, especially for experimental proof of th ...

– physicist, researcher of low-temperature physics (1930–2002) *

Hjalmar Mellin Robert Hjalmar Mellin (19 June 1854 – 5 April 1933) was a Finnish mathematician and function theorist. Biography Mellin studied at the University of Helsinki and later in Berlin under Karl Weierstrass. He is chiefly remembered as the develope ...

– mathematician (1854–1933) * Risto Näätänen – psychologist and neuroscientist (born 1939) *

Rolf Nevanlinna Rolf Herman Nevanlinna (né Neovius; 22 October 1895 – 28 May 1980) was a Finnish mathematician who made significant contributions to complex analysis. Background Nevanlinna was born Rolf Herman Neovius, becoming Nevanlinna in 1906 when his fat ...

– mathematician (1895–1980) *

Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld (October 12, 1792 – February 2, 1866) was a Finnish mineralogist and traveller. He was the father of mineralogist and polar explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld. Life Nordenskiöld was born on October 12, 1792, in M ...

– mineralogist (1792–1866) *

Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (18 November 183212 August 1901) was a Finland-Swedish aristocrat, geologist, mineralogist and Arctic explorer. He was a member of the Fenno-Swedish Nordenskiöld family of scientists and held the title of a friher ...

– polar explorer, political refugee in Sweden (1832–1901) *

Gunnar Nordström Gunnar Nordström (12 March 1881 – 24 December 1923) was a Finnish theoretical physicist best remembered for his theory of gravitation, which was an early competitor of general relativity. Nordström is often designated by modern writers as '' ...

– theoretical physicist (1881–1923) * Aili Nurminen – meteorologist (1896–1972) *

Liisi Oterma Liisi Oterma (; 6 January 1915 – 4 April 2001) was a Finnish astronomer, the first woman to get a Ph.D. degree in astronomy in Finland. She studied mathematics and astronomy at the University of Turku, and soon became Yrjö Väisälä's as ...

– astronomer (1915–2001) * Leena Palotie – gene scientist (1952–2010) *

Simo Parpola Simo Kaarlo Antero Parpola (born 4 July 1943) is a Finnish Assyriologist specializing in the Neo-Assyrian Empire and Professor emeritus of Assyriology at the University of Helsinki (retired fall 2009). Career Simo Parpola studied Assyriology, C ...

– orientalist, assyriologist * Tuija I. Pulkkinen – space scientist (born 1962) * Helena Ranta – pathologist, forensic dentist *

Eric Tigerstedt Eric Magnus Campbell Tigerstedt (August 14, 1887 – April 20, 1925) was one of the most significant inventors in Finland at the beginning of the 20th century and has been called the "Thomas Edison of Finland". He was a pioneer of sound-on- ...

– inventor, Thomas Edison of Finland (1887–1925) * Kari S. Tikka – justice and finance professor (1944–2006) * Esko Valtaoja – astronomer *

Tatu Vanhanen Tatu Vanhanen (17 April 1929 – 22 August 2015) was a Finnish political scientist, sociologist, and writer. He was a professor of political science at the University of Tampere in Tampere, Finland. Vanhanen was a coauthor with Richard Lynn of ''I ...

– political scientist (1929–2015) *

Artturi Ilmari Virtanen Artturi Ilmari Virtanen (; 15 January 1895 – 11 November 1973) was a Finnish chemist and recipient of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his research and inventions in agricultural and nutrition chemistry, especially for his fodder preserv ...

– chemist, Nobelist (1895–1973) * Vilho Väisälä – mathematician, inventor of meteorological instruments (1889–1969) *

Yrjö Väisälä Yrjö Väisälä (; 6 September 1891 – 21 July 1971) was a Finnish astronomer and physicist. His main contributions were in the field of optics. He was also active in geodetics, astronomy and optical metrology. He had an affectionate ni ...

– astronomer, meteorologist (1891–1971) *

Edvard Westermarck Edvard Alexander Westermarck (Helsinki, 20 November 1862 – Tenala, 3 September 1939) was a Finnish philosopher and sociologist. Among other subjects, he studied exogamy and the incest taboo. Biography Westermarck was born in 1862 in a ...

– philosopher, sociologist (1862–1939) * Joy Wolfram – nanoscientist (1989–) *

Arvo Ylppö Arvo Henrik Ylppö (27 October 1887 – 28 January 1992) was a Finnish physician and professor of pediatrics who significantly decreased Finnish infant mortality during the 20th century. He is credited as the father of Finland's public mat ...

– pediatrician (1887–1992)

Soldiers

Aksel Airo Aksel Fredrik Airo (14 February 1898 – 9 May 1985) was a Finnish lieutenant general and main strategic planner during the Winter War and the Continuation War. He was the virtual second-in-command of the Finnish army under Field Marshal C.G.E. ...

– general (1898–1985) *

Adolf Ehrnrooth Adolf Erik Ehrnrooth (9 February 1905 – 26 February 2004) was a Finnish general who served during the Winter and Continuation wars. He also competed in two equestrian events at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Early life Born in Helsinki, Ehrnrooth ...

– general (1905–2004) *

Axel Heinrichs Axel Erik Heinrichs (21 July 1890 – 16 November 1965) was a Finnish military general. He was Finland's Chief of the General Staff during the Interim Peace and Continuation War (1940–1941 and 1942–1944) and commander-in-chief for a short t ...

– general (1890–1965) *

Simo Häyhä Simo Häyhä (; 17December 1905 1April 2002), often referred to by his nickname, The White Death ( fi, Valkoinen kuolema; russian: Белая смерть, Belaya smert’), was a Finnish military sniper in World War II during the 1939–1940 Wi ...

– first lieutenant, sharpshooter 505 confirmed sniper kills (1905–2002) * Eino Ilmari Juutilainen – pilot, twice knight of Mannerheim cross *

Jorma Karhunen Jorma "Joppe" Karhunen (17 March 1913 – 18 January 2002) was a Finnish Air Force ace and an author. Karhunen scored 31.5 kills in World War II; 25.5 of his air victories were achieved while flying the Brewster F2A Buffalo, an American fighter ...

– pilot, aviation writer * Jussi Kekkonen – major, younger brother of president Urho Kekkonen (1910–1962) *

Ruben Lagus Ernst Ruben Lagus (12 October 1896 – 15 July 1959), better known as Ruben Lagus, was a Finnish major general, a member of the Jäger Movement and the recipient of the first Mannerheim Cross. He participated in the Eastern Front of World War I a ...

– major general (1896–1956) *

– marshal of Finland (1867–1951) * Vilho Petter Nenonen – general (1883–1960) *

Karl Lennart Oesch Karl Lennart Oesch (8 August 1892 – 28 March 1978) was one of Finland's leading generals during World War II. He held a string of high staff assignments and front commands, and at the end of the Continuation War commanded three Finnish army cor ...

– lieutenant general (1892–1978) *

Mika Peltonen Lieutenant General Mika Peltonen was the Chief of Operations in the Finnish Defense Forces. General Peltonen was born on 23 January 1956 in Tampere, Finland. He was a foreign exchange student taking part in the Youth For Understanding exchange p ...

– brigadier general (from 2005) *

Jorma Sarvanto Jorma Kalevi Sarvanto (22 August 1912 – 16 October 1963) was a Finnish Air Force pilot and the foremost Finnish fighter ace of the Winter War. Early life Sarvanto was born and raised in Turku, Finland. He attended high school in Turku and g ...

– fighter pilot, World War II ace *

Ensio Siilasvuo Pehr Hjalmar Ensio Siilasvuo ( Strömberg; 1 January 1922 – 10 January 2003) was a Finnish general. His father was Lieutenant General Hjalmar Siilasvuo of Winter War fame. Ensio Siilasvuo enlisted in the Finnish Army in 1940 and served as a ch ...

– general (1922–2001) *

Hjalmar Siilasvuo Hjalmar Fridolf Siilasvuo (born Hjalmar Fridolf Strömberg, 18 March 1892 – 11 January 1947) was a Finnish lieutenant general ( fi, kenraaliluutnantti, link=no), a knight of the Mannerheim Cross and a member of the Jäger Movement. He participa ...

– general (1892–1947) *

Georg Magnus Sprengtporten Count Georg Magnus Sprengtporten (russian: Егор Максимович Шпренгпортен, translit=Egor Maksimovič Šprengporten, ; sv, Göran Magnus Sprengtporten; fi, Yrjö Maunu Sprengtporten, ; 16 December 1740 – 13 October 1819) ...

– general (1740–1819) *

Torsten Stålhandske Torsten Stålhandske (Porvoo, Finland, 1 September 1593 – Haderslev, 21 April 1644) – Swedish for "Torsten Steelglove", sometimes written "Stålhansch" in the Swedish of the time and referred to in German literature as ''Torsten Staalhansch' ...

– commander of Hakkapelites (1594–1644) * Paavo Susitaival – lieutenant colonel (1896–1993) *

Lauri Sutela General Lauri Johannes Sutela (11 October 1918, Äänekoski – 8 November 2011; surname until 1929 ''Schroderus'') was a Finnish military officer. He served as an officer in the engineer corps during World War II. Sutela worked his way up the F ...

– general *

Paavo Talvela Paavo Juho Talvela (born Paavo Juho Thorén 19 February 1897, died 30 September 1973) was a Finnish general of the infantry, Knight of the Mannerheim Cross and a member of the Jäger movement. He participated in the Eastern Front of World War ...

– general (1897–1973) *

Lauri Törni Lauri Allan Törni (28 May 1919 – 18 October 1965), later known as Larry Alan Thorne, was a Finnish-born soldier who fought under three flags: as a Finnish Army officer in the Winter War and the Continuation War ultimately gaining a rank of cap ...

(a.k.a. Larry Thorne) – captain (1919–1965) *

– general (1878–1946) *

Kurt Martti Wallenius Kurt Martti Wallenius (25 July 1893 in Kuopio – 3 May 1984 in Helsinki) was a Finnish Major General. Jäger Movement Wallenius was a member of the Finnish Jäger troops trained in Germany prior to Finnish independence. In 1915, Wallenius trave ...

– major general (1893–1984) *

Hans Wind Hans Henrik "Hasse" Wind (30 July 1919, Ekenäs – 24 July 1995, Tampere) was a Finnish fighter pilot and flying ace in World War II, with 75 confirmed air combat victories. He is one of the four double recipients of the Mannerheim Cross 2nd ...

– pilot, twice knight of Mannerheim cross *

Harald Öhquist Harald Öhquist (1 March 1891, Helsinki – 10 February 1971, Helsinki) was a Finnish Jäger and Lieutenant General during World War II. Biography Öhquist joined the Jaeger Movement in 1915 and trained and fought in the Royal Prussian 27th J ...

– lieutenant general (1891–1971) *

Hugo Österman Hugo Viktor Österman (5 September 1892, Helsinki – 17 February 1975) was a Finnish lieutenant-general during World War II. He was commander of the Finnish Army 1933–1939. When the Winter War started Österman was made commander of the Army ...

– lieutenant general (1892–1975) *

Karl Fredrik Wilkama Karl Fredrik Wilkama (27 March 1876 – 15 July 1947), born Wilkman, was a Finnish General of the Infantry. He was the supreme commander of the Finnish Defence Forces. Wilkama became an officer in the Imperial Russian Army in 1899. According ...

– general of the infantry (1876–1947) *

Aimo Koivunen Aimo Allan Koivunen (), (17 October 1917 – 12 August 1989) was a Finnish soldier in the Continuation War and the first documented case of a soldier overdosing on methamphetamine during combat. Early life Aimo Allan Koivunen was born in Alas ...

– corporal (1939–1944)

Sportspeople

Athletics

Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto (born August 27, 1970) is a Finnish ultramarathon runner who began running as a hobby at age 25. He currently works as a courier. Aalto is a member of The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. In 2006, Tarja Halonen, the President ...

– ultramarathoner and extreme endurance athlete *

Arto Bryggare Arto Kalervo Bryggare (born 26 May 1958 in Kouvola) is a Finnish former hurdling athlete. He was a member of the Parliament of Finland, representing the Social Democratic Party of Finland from 1995 to 1999 and 2003 to 2007. His p ...

– hurdling athlete *

Sari Essayah Sari Miriam Essayah (born 21 February 1967 in Haukivuori) is a Finland, Finnish retired race walking, racewalker and a politician, former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Member of Parliament since 2015. She is the president of the Finn ...

– race walker, world champion * Tommi Evilä – long jumper * Arsi Harju – shot putter, Olympic champion *

Eduard Hämäläinen Eduard Hämäläinen (born 21 January 1969 in Karaganda, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union) is a retired decathlete from Finland and Belarus. He originally competed for the Soviet Union and then Belarus after the Soviet dissolution, but changed nationali ...

– decathlete *

Arto Härkönen Arto Kalevi Härkönen (born 31 January 1959, in Helsinki) is a retired Finnish javelin thrower. He won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angel ...

– javelin thrower, Olympic champion *

Gunnar Höckert Gunnar Mikael Höckert (12 February 1910 – 11 February 1940) was a Finnish runner, winner of the 5000 m race at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Biography Born in Helsinki to a wealthy family, Gunnar Höckert had only one great season, in 1936. ...

– runner, Olympic champion (1910–1940) *

Volmari Iso-Hollo Volmari "Vomma" Fritijof Iso-Hollo (5 January 1907 – 23 June 1969) was a Finnish runner. He competed at the 1932 and 1936 Olympics in the 3000 m steeplechase and 10000 m and won two gold, one silver and one bronze medals. Iso-Hollo was one of ...

– runner, two Olympic gold medals (1907–1969) * Akilles Järvinen – decathlete (1905–1943) *

Matti Järvinen Matti Henrikki Järvinen (18 February 1909 – 22 July 1985) was a Finnish javelin thrower. He won the Olympic gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics ahead of two other Finns, Matti Sippala and Eino Penttilä, with a throw of 72.71 metres. F ...

– javelin thrower, Olympic champion (1909–1985) *

Verner Järvinen Venne "Verner" Järvinen (3 April 1870 – 31 January 1941) was a Finnish track and field athlete, who competed mostly in throwing events. He won the gold medal in the Greek-style discus in the 1906 Intercalated Games, and the bronze in the 1908 ...

– discus thrower, Olympic champion (1870–1941) *

Kaarlo Kangasniemi Kaarlo Olavi Kangasniemi (born 4 February 1941) is a retired Finnish weightlifter. Between 1968 and 1972 he won one Olympic, two world and two European titles in the 90 kg division, becoming the only Finnish weightlifter to win either an Ol ...

– weightlifter, Olympic champion 1968 Mexico *

Olli-Pekka Karjalainen Olli-Pekka Karjalainen (born 7 March 1980 in Töysä) is a Finnish former hammer thrower. The 1998 World Junior Champion, Karjalainen is the world junior record holder with 78.33 metres (7.26 kg). His personal best throw is 83.30, achieved ...

– hammer thrower *

Veikko Karvonen Veikko Leo Karvonen (5 January 1926 – 1 August 2007) was a Finnish long-distance runner who mainly competed in the marathon. He won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1956 Summer Olympics. At the 1954 European Championships he won the go ...

– marathon runner (Boston Marathon winner 1954) *

Elias Katz Elias Katz (June 22, 1901 – December 26, 1947) was a Finnish track and field athlete, who competed mainly in the 3000 metres steeplechase. Katz was born in Turku to a Jewish family. He frequented local nightclubs, participated in dance ma ...

– runner, Olympic champion (3,000m team steeplechase) and silver (3,000m steeplechase) (1901–1947) *

Jukka Keskisalo Jukka Pekka Sakari Keskisalo (born 27 March 1981) is a Finnish athlete competing in 3000 m steeplechase and 1500 m. He won the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2006 European Championships in Athletics in Gothenburg and was also an Olympian in 2012. Bi ...

– runner *

Kimmo Kinnunen Kimmo Paavali Kinnunen (born 31 March 1968) is a Finnish former javelin thrower. He won gold at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo and silver at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart. His other achievements include a 4th-place finish a ...

– javelin thrower, world champion *

Hannes Kolehmainen Juho Pietari "Hannes" Kolehmainen (; 9 December 1889 – 11 January 1966) was a Finnish four-time Olympic Gold medalist and a world record holder in middle- and long-distance running. He was the first in a generation of great Finnish long-dista ...

– runner, four Olympic gold medals (1889–1966) * Valentin Kononen – race walker, world champion *

Tapio Korjus Tapio Korjus (born 10 February 1961, in Vehkalahti) is a Finnish former javelin thrower. Born in Vehkalahti, he was one of the leading representatives of javelin throwing in his home country in the 1980s, but did not attain international success ...

– javelin thrower, Olympic champion *

Teodor Koskenniemi Fredrik Teodor Koskenniemi (5 November 1887, Vihti – 15 March 1965) was a Finnish athlete who competed mainly in the cross country team event during his career. He competed for Finland at the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium wher ...

– runner, Olympic champion (1887–1965) * Paavo Kotila – marathon runner (Boston Marathon winner 1960) * Harri Larva – runner, Olympic champion (1906–1980) *

Lauri Lehtinen Lauri Aleksanteri Lehtinen (10 August 1908 – 4 December 1973) was a Finnish long-distance runner, winner of a controversial 5000 m race at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Lehtinen ran a new world record in 5000 m (14:17.0) just ...

– runner, Olympic champion (1908–1973) *

Eero Lehtonen Eero Reino Lehtonen (21 April 1898 – 9 November 1959) was a Finland, Finnish athlete. He competed at the 1920 Olympics in the pentathlon, long jump and decathlon and at the 1924 Olympics in the pentathlon and 4 × 400 m relay. He won the penta ...

– pentathlete, two Olympic gold medals (1898–1959) * Heikki Liimatainen – runner, two Olympic gold medals (1894–1980) * Tiina Lillak – javelin thrower, world champion *

Toivo Loukola Toivo Aarne Loukola (2 October 1902 – 10 January 1984) was a Finnish male runner, winner of the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Loukola set an unofficial world record in the steeplechase just a month before the Olympic ...

– runner, Olympic champion (1902–1984) *

Taisto Mäki Taisto Armas Mäki (2 December 1910 – 1 May 1979) was a Finnish long-distance runner – one of the so-called "Flying Finns". Like his coach and close friend, Paavo Nurmi, Mäki broke world records over two miles, 5000 metres and 10,000 metre ...

– long-distance runner, multiple world record holder (1910–1979) *

Jonni Myyrä Joonas "Jonni" Myyrä (13 July 1892 – 22 January 1955) was a Finnish athlete who competed at the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Olympics. In 1912, he finished eighth in the javelin throw. At the 1920 Olympics his left arm was fractured in a warm-up accid ...

– javelin thrower, two Olympic gold medals (1892–1955) *

Pauli Nevala Pauli Lauri Nevala (born 30 November 1940) is a Finnish former javelin thrower.Elmer Niklander Elmer Konstantin Niklander (19 January 1890 – 12 November 1942) was a Finnish athlete who competed in throwing events, winning the gold medal in the 1920 discus throw and three other Olympic medals and 44 Finnish championships. Athletics N ...

– discus thrower and shot putter, Olympic champion (1890–1942) *

Paavo Nurmi Paavo Johannes Nurmi (; 13 June 1897 – 2 October 1973) was a Finnish middle-distance and long-distance runner. He was called the "Flying Finn" or the "Phantom Finn", as he dominated distance running in the 1920s. Nurmi set 22 official world r ...

– runner, nine Olympic gold medals (1897–1973) *

Eino Oksanen Eino Ilmari Oksanen (7 May 1931 – 10 August 2022) was a Finnish marathon runner who won the Boston Marathon three times (1959, 1961 and 1962). Oksanen also won the 1957 Turku Marathon in Finland and the 1959 Athens Peace Marathon. See also * ...

– marathon runner (Boston Marathon winner 1959, 1961,1962) *

Aki Parviainen Aki Uolevi Parviainen (born 26 October 1974) is a retired Finnish track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. He won the gold medal at the 1999 World Championships and the silver medal at the 2001 World Championships. His best th ...

– javelin thrower, world champion *

Tero Pitkämäki Tero Kristian Pitkämäki (born 19 December 1982) is a Finnish retired track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. He is a World Champion, having won gold in 2007. His personal best throw of 91.53 m, set in 2005, ranks him elev ...

– javelin thrower, world champion * Ville Pörhölä – shot putter, Olympic champion (1897–1964) * Heli Rantanen – javelin thrower, Olympic champion *

– javelin thrower, Olympic champion (1915–1979) *

Ville Ritola Vilho "Ville" Eino Ritola (18 January 1896 – 24 April 1982) was a Finnish long-distance runner. Known as one of the "Flying Finns", he won five Olympic gold medals and three Olympic silver medals in the 1920s. He holds the record of winning ...

– runner, five Olympic gold medals (1896–1982) *

Seppo Räty Seppo Henrik Räty (born 27 April 1962) is a retired Finnish track and field athlete who competed in the javelin throw. He was a World Champion, having won gold in 1987. He was also an Olympic medalist (silver in 1992, bronze in 1988 and 1996). ...

– javelin thrower, three Olympic medals, world champion *

Julius Saaristo Juho Julius Saaristo (21 July 1891 – 12 October 1969) was a Finnish track and field athlete. He won two medals at the 1912 Olympics: a silver in conventional javelin throw and a gold in the two-handed javelin throw, a one-time Olympic event i ...

– javelin thrower, Olympic champion (1891–1969) *

Ilmari Salminen Ilmari R. Salminen (21 September 1902 – 5 January 1986) was a Finnish long-distance runner, winner of the 10,000 metres at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Salminen became one of the best long-distance runners in the 1930s when he began his internati ...

– runner, Olympic champion (1902–1986) *

Albin Stenroos Oskar Albinus "Albin" Stenroos (24 February 1889 – 30 April 1971) was a Finnish runner, who won the marathon at the 1924 Olympics. Stenroos ran his first marathon in 1909, placing third at the national championships, but then moved to shorte ...

– marathon runner, Olympic champion (1889–1971) *

Olavi Suomalainen Heikki Olavi Suomalainen (born 27 March 1947 in Sääminki) is a Finnish former marathon runner. He won the Boston Marathon in 1972 by an 18-second margin over Víctor Mora. In 1973 he finished third at the same race. During his career, Olavi Su ...

– marathon runner (Boston Marathon winner 1972) *

Armas Taipale Armas Rudolf Taipale (27 July 1890 – 9 November 1976) was a Finnish athlete. He competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics and won gold medals in two discus throw events, conventional and two-handed, where the total was counted as a sum of best t ...

– discus thrower, Olympic champion (1890–1976) *

Juha Tiainen Juha Tiainen (December 5, 1955 in Uukuniemi – April 27, 2003 in Lappeenranta) was a hammer thrower from Finland who won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also ...

– hammer thrower, Olympic champion * Abraham Tokazier – sprinter *

Vilho Tuulos Vilho "Ville" Immanuel Tuulos (26 March 1895 – 2 September 1967) was a Finland, Finnish triple jumper and long jumper. He won a gold medal in the Athletics at the 1920 Summer Olympics – Men's triple jump, triple jump at the 1920 Summer Olym ...

– triple jumper, Olympic champion (1895–1967) *

Pekka Vasala Pekka Antero Vasala (born 17 April 1948) is a retired Finnish middle-distance athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City he failed to advance from the first round of he ...

– runner, Olympic champion *

Lasse Virén Lasse Artturi Virén (born 22 July 1949) is a Finnish former long-distance runner, winner of four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. Virén recaptured the image of the "Flying Finns" promoted by runners like Hannes Kolehmainen, Paa ...

– runner, four Olympic gold medals *

Paavo Yrjölä Paavo Ilmari Yrjölä (18 June 1902 in Hämeenkyrö – 11 February 1980 in Vilppula), also known as the ''Bear of Hämeenkyrö'' (''Hämeenkyrön karhu''), was a Finnish track and field athlete who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the ...

– decathlete, Olympic champion

Basketball

Petteri Koponen Petteri Johannes Koponen (born 13 April 1988) is a Finnish former professional basketball player. Standing at , he plays both point guard and shooting guard positions. He was drafted as the 30th pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2007 NBA draf ...

– basketball player, first Finnish first round pick in NBA draft *

Lauri Markkanen Lauri Elias Markkanen (born 22 May 1997) is a Finnish professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the 2017 NBA draft, he was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the seventh overall pick b ...

– basketball player, currently with the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference, Northwest Division (NBA), ...

Hanno Möttölä Hanno Aleksanteri Möttölä (born 9 September 1976) is a Finnish former professional basketball player. Möttölä played for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA), at the power forward position, where he became the first ...

– basketball player, first Finnish

player * Miron Ruina (born 1998) – Finnish-Israeli basketball player

Football

Alexei Eremenko Alexei Eremenko (born Aleksei Alekseyevich Yeryomenko; russian: Алексей Алексеевич Ерёменко; born 24 March 1983) is a former professional footballer. He is from a footballing family, with his father, Alexei Eremenko Sr. ...

Jr. *

Roman Eremenko Roman Alekseyevich Eremenko (russian: Роман Алексеевич Ерёменко; born 19 March 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder who plays for HIFK in the Veikkausliiga. Eremenko is best known for hi ...

Mikael Forssell Mikael Kaj Forssell (born 15 March 1981) is a Finnish former football striker. Forssell began his professional career in 1997 for HJK, having progressed through the team's youth teams, but he only remained at the club for a single season, mak ...

* Lukáš Hrádecký *

Sami Hyypiä Sami Tuomas Hyypiä (; born 7 October 1973) is a Finnish football manager and former defender. Hyypiä began his playing career with Ykkönen side Kumu and soon moved to Veikkausliiga outfit MyPa. He spent four years at the club, helping t ...

* Jonatan Johansson *

Jussi Jääskeläinen Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen (; born 19 April 1975) is a Finnish football coach and retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. During his career, Jääskeläinen most notably represented Bolton Wanderers from 1997 until 2012, making 530 app ...

Joonas Kolkka Joonas Einari Kolkka (born 28 September 1974) is a Finnish retired professional footballer who played as a left winger most of his career, but could also play on the right wing. Having started his career in his native Finland, he went on to play ...

Shefki Kuqi Shefki Kuqi (pronounced ; born 10 November 1976) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played predominantly as a striker. He spent most of his career in the English football league system, for clubs including Newcastle United, Shef ...

Jari Litmanen Jari Olavi Litmanen (; born 20 February 1971) is a Finnish former footballer. He was the first-choice captain of the Finland national team between 1996 and 2008 in an international career that ran from 1989 to 2010. Litmanen is widely consider ...

* Antti Niemi *

Mixu Paatelainen Mika-Matti Petteri Paatelainen (born 3 February 1967) is a Finnish former professional football player and the head coach of Veikkausliiga club HIFK. He scored 18 goals in 70 appearances for the Finnish national team, which makes him Finland's ...

Petri Pasanen Petri Pasanen (born 24 September 1980) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a defender. He was most comfortable as centre-back, but also played right-back and left-back as well. Pasanen began his senior career in his native ...

Juhani Peltonen Juhani Peltonen (born 16 June 1936) is a retired Finland, Finnish association football player. Peltonen was the first Finnish player to play in the Germany, German Bundesliga. The Forward (association football), forward made 38 appearances for H ...

Roni Porokara Roni Porokara (born 12 December 1983) is a Finnish former international footballer. Club career FC Hämeenlinna On 15 May 2003, at age 19, Roni Porokara made his league debut in a match between FC Hämeenlinna and KuPS. During his two-ye ...

Aki Riihilahti Aki Pasinpoika Riihilahti (born 9 September 1976, in Helsinki) is a retired Finnish footballer. He is known as a hard working, defensive midfielder. He is now working as the CEO of HJK Helsinki. He was voted by leading European clubs to be the v ...

Aulis Rytkönen Taavi Aulis Rytkönen (5 January 1929 – 16 April 2014) was a Finnish footballer. He became the country's first professional player when he signed for France's Toulouse FC in 1952. In total Rytkönen spent eight seasons (1952–1960) in Fr ...

Teemu Tainio Teemu Mikael Tainio (born 27 November 1979) is a Finnish football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of FC Haka. Tainio began his career with his local club, TP-47, before moving to FC Haka in 1996. A year later, he moved to ...

* Niilo Tammisalo *

Hannu Tihinen Hannu Tihinen (born 1 July 1976) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He has worked since January 2014 as a sports director at the Football Association of Finland. He has played for clubs in Finland, Norway, E ...

* Mika Väyrynen *

Mika Ääritalo Mika Ääritalo (born 25 July 1985) is a Finnish retired international footballer who played as a striker. Career Club career After beginning his senior career in 2002 with hometown club TPS Turku, English Premiership side Aston Villa beat ...

Teemu Pukki Teemu Eino Antero Pukki (born 29 March 1990) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL Championship club Norwich City and the Finland national team. Pukki began his career with KTP and made his debut on senior leve ...

Anssi Jaakkola Anssi Valtteri Jaakkola (born 13 March 1987) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers and the Finland national team. Jaakkola was born in Kemi. He began his senior club career playing ...

Markku Kanerva Markku Tapio Kanerva (born 24 May 1964) is a Finnish football manager, former player and elementary school teacher. He is the current manager of the Finnish national team. Playing career Kanerva, who is known by the nickname ''"Rive"'', was bo ...

* Joel Pohjanpalo *

Glen Kamara Glen Adjei Kamara (born 28 October 1995) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Rangers and the Finland national team. He began his senior career at Arsenal, where he made one substitute appearance in the F ...

Ice hockey

A–K

Antti Aalto Antti Sami Aalto (born March 4, 1975) is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the National Hockey League. Playing career Aalto was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1993 N ...

Sebastian Aho Sebastian Antero Aho (born 26 July 1997) is a Finns, Finnish professional ice hockey player and Captain (ice hockey)#Alternate captains, alternate captain for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Aho formerly played with ...

Sami Aittokallio Sami Aittokallio (born 6 August 1992) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for HK Nitra of the Slovak Extraliga (Slovak). He has formerly played with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL) Play ...

* Aleksander Barkov *

Aki Berg Aki-Petteri Arvid Berg (; born July 28, 1977) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted third overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He played both for the Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs ov ...

Sean Bergenheim Sean Bergenheim (born February 8, 1984) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild. Playing career Be ...

Timo Blomqvist Timo Pauli Blomqvist (born January 23, 1961) is a Finnish former ice hockey player. As a youth, he played in the 1973 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Espoo. Drafted in 1980 by the Washington Capit ...

Niklas Bäckström Niklas Oskar Bäckström (; born 13 February 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played ten seasons for the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames in the Nation ...

* Mikko Eloranta *

Valtteri Filppula Valtteri Filppula (born 20 March 1984) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), forward for Genève-Servette HC of the National League (ice hockey), National League (NL). Filppula won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings ...

Mikael Granlund Mikael Antero Granlund (born 26 February 1992) is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played professionally in Finland with Oulun Kärpät ...

* Tuomas Grönman *

Anne Haanpää Anne-Kristiina Haanpää (born 25 May 1959) is a retired Finland, Finnish ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward and Referee (ice hockey), referee. Haanpää represented Finland women's national ice hockey team, Finland at four IIHF World Wome ...

Matti Hagman Matti Risto Tapio "Hakki" Hagman (21 September 1955 – 11 October 2016) was a Finnish professional ice hockey player. Hagman was the first Finnish-born and Finnish-trained player to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the first to play ...

Niklas Hagman Niklas Hagman (born December 5, 1979) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He was a third round pick of the Florida Panthers, 70th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with Florida i ...

Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa Maija Johanna Hassinen-Sullanmaa (born 2 January 1984) is a Finnish retired ice hockey goaltender and the current goaltending coach and team manager of HPK Kiekkonaiset in the Naisten Liiga. As a member of the Finnish national team, she partic ...

Riku Hahl Riku Markus Hahl (born November 1, 1980) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey centre, who played most notably for HPK in the Finnish Liiga and the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Hahl was drafted 183r ...

Sanni Hakala Sanni Hakala (born 31 October 1997) is a Finnish retired ice hockey player and former member of the Finnish national team. She played more than seven seasons with HV71 in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) after beginning her career in the ...

Teemu Hartikainen Teemu Hartikainen (born 3 May 1990) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). Playing career In nine games with the KalPa U18 squad in 2006–07, the winger tallie ...

Ilkka Heikkinen Ilkka Heikkinen (born November 13, 1984 in Rauma, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for Växjö Lakers Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Playing career Heikkinen developed within his ho ...

Miro Heiskanen Miro Heiskanen (born 18 July 1999) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ranked in the top ten eligible European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ...

Riku Helenius Riku Helenius (born March 1, 1988) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Dresdner Eislöwen in the DEL2. Playing career Helenius was selected 15th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, pa ...

* Anne Helin *

Raimo Helminen Raimo Ilmari Helminen (born 11 March 1964 in Tampere, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He is often called "Raipe" or "Maestro" by his fans. He is the world record holder for most international games played by a hockey p ...

Jukka Hentunen Jukka Mika Petteri Hentunen (born May 3, 1974) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward, who last played with KalPa of the SM-liiga in the 2012–13 season. Playing career Hentunen played with HPK of the SM-liiga when he was drafted ...

Jenni Hiirikoski Jenni Hiirikoski (born 30 March 1987) is a Finnish ice hockey player and captain of Luleå HF/MSSK in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (; SDHL) and the Finnish national team. She is widely considered one of the best active ice hockey defence ...

* Roope Hintz *

Kim Hirschovits Kim Michael Hirschovits-Gerz (born 9 May 1982) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward and sports manager of Kiekko-Espoo in the Mestis. During his playing career, he skated in the Finnish Liiga (called SM-liiga until 2013) with HI ...

Elisa Holopainen Elisa Holopainen (born 27 December 2001) is a Finnish ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), winger and member of the Finland women's national ice hockey team, Finnish national team, currently playing in the Finnish Naisten Liiga (ice hockey), Naisten L ...

Venla Hovi Venla Hovi (; born 28 October 1987) is a Finnish former ice hockey forward and the current head coach of the Metropolitan Riveters in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). She played with the Finnish national team and won bronze medals at the 20 ...

Jani Hurme Jani Petteri Hurme (born January 7, 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 76 games in the National Hockey League with the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers between 2000 and 2003. He also played several seasons ...

Erik Hämäläinen Erik Vesa Hämäläinen (born April 20, 1965 in Rauma, Finland) is a left-handed retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Hämäläinen currently is an Ice hockey coach, employed by SM-liiga team Lukko Playing career Early career Erik Hämäläinen ...

Kirsi Hänninen Kirsi Maaria Hänninen (born 3 October 1976 in Joensuu, Finland) is a Finnish retired ice hockey Defenceman (ice hockey), defenceman and pesäpallo player. She played 116 games with the Finland women's national ice hockey team, Finnish national ...

Marianne Ihalainen Marianne Ihalainen (born 22 February 1967) is a retired Finnish ice hockey forward. She won a bronze medal as captain of the Finnish national team at the 1998 Winter Olympics and also won six IIHF World Women's Championship bronze medals, fou ...

Jarkko Immonen Jarkko Immonen (born April 19, 1982) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Mikkelin Jukurit of the Liiga. Playing career Immonen made his debut in Finland's second-tier league Mestis with TuTo Hockey during the 20 ...

* Mira Jalosuo *

Jesse Joensuu Jesse Joensuu (born October 5, 1987) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for Ässät in the Liiga. Joensuu is the captain of Ässät for the 2022–23 season. Playing career Joensuu was selected 60th overall in the ...

Jussi Jokinen Jussi Petteri Jokinen (born April 1, 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. After playing in his native Finland with Oulun Kärpät of the Liiga he was drafted by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Dallas Stars in 2001 in t ...

Olli Jokinen Olli Veli Pekka Jokinen (born December 5, 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings third overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, with whom he made his NHL debut. He has also played for the Ne ...

Timo Jutila Timo Juhani "Juti" Jutila (born 24 December 1963 in Tampere, Finland) is a retired Finnish ice hockey defenceman. Jutila was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres (4th round, 68th overall) in 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career Jutila's ice hockey ca ...

Hannu Järvenpää Hannu Rainer Järvenpää (born May 19, 1963 in Ii, Finland) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a retired professional ice hockey player. He is the current Head Coach of HC Gherdëina, an Italian team playing in the Alps Hockey League. Järvenp ...

* Iiro Järvi *

Tomi Kallio Tomi Kristian Kallio (born 27 January 1977) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey right winger who last played for HC TPS in the Finnish Liiga. After retiring from TPS in 2018, Kallio remained with the team and assumed the role of directo ...

Niko Kapanen Niko Klaus Petteri Kapanen (born 29 April 1978) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey centre, who last played for HPK of the Finnish Liiga. Playing career Kapanen was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 6th round as the 173rd overall pick i ...

Sami Kapanen Sami Hannu Antero Kapanen (born 14 June 1973) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey coach and former player. He played 12 NHL seasons for the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. He is the majority owne ...

Kasperi Kapanen Samu Kasperi Kapanen (born 23 July 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He made his Liiga debut playing with KalPa during the 2012–13 SM-liiga season. Kapanen was ...

Jere Karalahti Jere Juhani Karalahti (born 25 March 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings as their sixth-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft and played a total of 166 games in the NHL. Karalahti ...

Michelle Karvinen Michelle Karvinen (born 27 March 1990) is a Danish-Finnish ice hockey player and member of the Finnish national team, currently signed with Frölunda HC Dam of the Damettan. Karvinen has been described as "the world's best technical player" an ...

Anni Keisala Anni Keisala (born 5 April 1997) is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender and member of the Finland women's national ice hockey team, Finnish national team, currently signed with HV71 Dam of the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) for the 2022–23 SD ...

Esa Keskinen Esa Juhani Keskinen (born 3 February 1965 in Ylöjärvi, Finland) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. Playing career Keskinen was drafted by the Calgary Flames as their fifth-round pick, 101st overall, in the 1985 NHL E ...

* Markus Ketterer * Satu Kiipeli *

Anna Kilponen Anna Kilponen (born 16 May 1995) is a Finnish ice hockey defenceman, signed with the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) for the 2022–23 season. She played four seasons of college ice hockey in the NCAA Division I, tw ...

* Marko Kiprusoff *

Miikka Kiprusoff Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff (; born October 26, 1976), nicknamed "Kipper", is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames during his National Hockey League (NHL) career. He was selected in ...

Mikko Koivu Mikko-Sakari Koivu (born 12 March 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Koivu was drafted sixth overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild. After four seasons with HC TPS, TPS in the Liiga, SM-liiga, Koivu joine ...

Saku Koivu Saku Antero Koivu (; born November 23, 1974) is a Finns, Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1995–96 NHL season, 1995–96 after th ...

– current

IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...

member *

Leo Komarov Leonid Aleksandrovich Komarov (russian: Леонид Александрович Комаров, fi, Leonid "Leo" Aleksandrovitš Komarov; born 23 January 1987) is a professional ice hockey centre for Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL ...

Petri Kontiola Petri Kontiola (born October 4, 1984) is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Ilves of the Liiga. Kontiola has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, the organization that draft ...

Lauri Korpikoski Lauri Korpikoski (born 28 July 1986) is a Finnish professional ice hockey left winger who is currently playing for HC TPS of the Liiga. Korpikoski has previously played in the NHL for the Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Columbus ...

Sari Krooks Sari Kristiina Krooks (born 2 February 1968 in Vaasa) is a Finland, Finnish retired ice hockey player. She played on the women's ice hockey team for Finland at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and won a bronze medal. References External links

* ...

Mira Kuisma Mira Kuisma (born 6 May 1987) is a Finnish retired ice hockey goaltender and current head coach of the Finland women's national under-18 ice hockey team, Finnish women's national under-18 ice hockey team and Team Kuortane of the Naisten Liiga (i ...

Lasse Kukkonen Lasse Juhani Kukkonen (born 18 September 1981) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played for Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga. Earlier in his career, he had a four-year stint in the National Hockey League (NHL) w ...

Jari Kurri Jari Pekka Kurri (; born May 18, 1960) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. In 2001, he became the first Finnish player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017 Kurri was named one ...

L–Q

* Teemu Laakso *

Antti Laaksonen Antti Akseli Laaksonen (born October 3, 1973) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey left winger who last played for the Lukko of the SM-Liiga. Antti had a seven-year NHL career, mostly as a third line wing and penalty killer for the Boston ...

* Erkki Laine *

Patrik Laine Patrik Laine (; born 19 April 1998) is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Laine formerly played in his native Finland with Tappara in the Finnish Liiga befor ...

Nelli Laitinen Nelli Laitinen (born 29 April 2002) is a Finnish ice hockey player and member of the Finnish national team, currently playing in the NCAA Division I with the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey program. Playing career Laitinen began h ...

* Janne Laukkanen * Esa Lehikoinen *

Tero Lehterä Tero Juhani Lehterä (born 21 April 1972) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who played the majority of his career in the SM-liiga. He played for Tappara, Jokerit, HPK, and Espoo Blues. He also had stints in Elitserien, the IHL ...

Jere Lehtinen Jere Kalervo Lehtinen (born June 24, 1973) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. A right winger, he was drafted in the third round, 88th overall, in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota North Stars. Lehtinen played his entire 1 ...

* Erkki Lehtonen *

Kari Lehtonen Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983) is a Finland, Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Dallas Stars. He was selected second overall in the 200 ...

* Mikko Lehtonen (born 1978) * Mikko Lehtonen (born 1987) *

Ville Leino Ville Leino (born 6 October 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres. Playing career Finland At age 17, Lei ...

Juha Lind Juha Petteri Lind (born 2 January 1974 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. Lind started his career with Jokerit his hometown team. He was drafted 178th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1992 NHL E ...

* Esa Lindell * Perttu Lindgren * Rosa Lindstedt *

Jyrki Lumme Jyrki Olavi Lumme (born July 16, 1966) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and SM-liiga. After beginning his career in Finland, playing with Ilves Tampere for three season ...

Mikko Luoma Mikko Luoma (born ) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman, who played 3 games in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers. He most notably played in the Liiga and Elitserien. Playing career Luoma started his playing c ...

Toni Lydman Toni Petteri Lydman (born 25 September 1977) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He first played competitively in his native Finland with Tappara, and HIFK of the SM-liiga before enjoying a lengthy career in the National Hocke ...

Pentti Lund Pentti Alexander Lund (December 6, 1925 – April 16, 2013) was a Finnish Canadian professional ice hockey Winger (ice hockey), right winger who played for the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League. Lund was often credit ...

Lauri Marjamäki Lauri Marjamäki (born May 29, 1977) is a Finnish ice hockey Coach (ice hockey), coach who currently serves as head coach of Oulun Kärpät of the Liiga, a position he has held since 2022. He previously served as head coach of the Finland men's n ...

* Sari Marjamäki (née Fisk) *

Jussi Markkanen Jussi Markkanen (born May 8, 1975) is a Finnish professional ice hockey executive and former goaltender. He is currently serving as general manager of SaiPa. Markkanen played extensively in various European professional leagues as well as the Nati ...

* Terhi Mertanen *

Antti Miettinen Antti Markus Miettinen (born July 3, 1980) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and former professional forward, who last played professionally with HPK of the Liiga. He had previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Dallas Sta ...

Reijo Mikkolainen Reijo Kalevi Mikkolainen (born May 14, 1964 in Pirkkala, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He won a silver medal with the Finland team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. He played for Tappara, Ilves, and TP ...

Jarmo Myllys Jarmo Pentti Kalevi Myllys (born 29 May 1965) is a Finnish people, Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars as their ninth-round pick, #172 overall, in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He is currently ...

Olli Määttä Olli Määttä (born 22 August 1994) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, 22nd overall, in the 2012 NHL Entr ...

Mikko Mäkelä Mikko Matti Mäkelä (born February 28, 1965) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey left wing. Known as the "Flying Finn", he was drafted in the fourth round, 65th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Mäkelä ma ...

Niina Mäkinen Niina Mäkinen (born 18 April 1992) is a Finnish ice hockey forward, most recently of Oulun Kärpät Naiset during the 2019–20 Naisten Liiga season. She competed with the Finnish national team and participated in the IIHF World Women's Champ ...

* Antti Niemi * Antti-Jussi Niemi *

Saara Niemi Saara Elisa Niemi, (born 1 January 1986) is a Finnish retired ice hockey player and current general manager and head coach of HIFK Naiset of the Naisten Liiga (NSML). At the 2006 Torino Olympics, Tuominen competed for . scoring one goal and fo ...

(née Tuominen) *

Mika Nieminen Mika Sakari Nieminen (born 1 January 1966, in Tampere, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Ilves, Jokerit and HIFK. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. During th ...

Petra Nieminen Petra Nieminen (born 4 May 1999) is a Finnish ice hockey player and alternate captain of the Finnish national team, currently playing in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL) with Luleå HF/MSSK. She is considered one of the top young talent ...

Ville Nieminen Ville Juhani Nieminen (born April 6, 1977) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward who played over 400 games in the National Hockey League. Playing career Nieminen started his professional hockey career with Tappara in the Finnish S ...

Janne Niinimaa Janne Henrik Niinimaa (born May 22, 1975) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Dallas Stars, and Montreal C ...

Antero Niittymäki Antero Pertti Elias Niittymäki (; born June 18, 1980) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender who last played for TPS of the SM-liiga (Finnish elite league). He additionally played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the P ...

Janne Niskala Janne Juhani Niskala (born 22 September 1981) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played for Lukko of the Finnish Liiga. Playing career Niskala was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft in 5t ...

Tanja Niskanen Tanja Niskanen (born 11 September 1992) is a Finnish ice hockey player and former member of the Finnish national team, currently playing in the Naisten Liiga with KalPa Naiset. Following her second Olympic bronze medal win in February 2022, she ...

Petteri Nokelainen Petteri Antti Nokelainen (born January 16, 1986) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward who played over 200 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He concluded his professional career in returning to his original club, SaiPa of ...

Mika Noronen Mika Noronen (born 17 June 1979) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 71 games n the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks between 2000 and 2006. The rest of his career, which laste ...

Fredrik Norrena Fredrik Jan Elis Norrena (born November 29, 1973) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 100 games in the National Hockey League with the Columbus Blue Jackets between 2006 and 2008. The rest of his career, which lasted ...

Petteri Nummelin Timo Petteri Nummelin (born November 25, 1972) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue ...

Teppo Numminen Teppo Kalevi Numminen (born July 3, 1968) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for Tappara and TuTo of the SM-liiga and the Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Sta ...

* Pasi Nurminen * Emma Nuutinen *

Janne Ojanen Janne Juhani Ojanen (born April 9, 1968) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player who is the all-time leading scorer in Finland's SM-liiga with 799 points. He spent the majority of his career playing for SM-liiga team Tappara. Playing ...

* Suvi Ollikainen * Joni Ortio * Kai Ortio *

Oskar Osala Oskar Osala (born 26 December 1987) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player. He played in three National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes and represented Finland in Olympic Winter Games 20 ...

Marko Palo Marko Mikael "Adder" Palo (born 26 September 1967 in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for Ässät, Espoo Blues, and HPK, and won the 1995 Swedish championship with HV 71. He w ...

* Oona Parviainen * Mari Pehkonen *

Ville Peltonen Ville Sakari Peltonen (born 24 May 1973) is a Finnish ice hockey coach and a former professional ice hockey forward. Peltonen was drafted by the San Jose Sharks as their third round pick, 58th overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. During his pr ...

* Heidi Pelttari *

Harri Pesonen Harri Pesonen (born August 6, 1988) is a Finnish professional ice hockey left winger for the SCL Tigers of the National League (NL). He previously played in the NL with Lausanne HC and in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with Metallurg Magnit ...

Janne Pesonen Janne Tapani Pesonen (born 11 May 1982) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey winger who played for Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga. Playing career Pesonen began his career with Hokki in 1998, playing in the second-highest division ...

Tuomas Pihlman Tuomas Pihlman (born November 13, 1982) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey Left Wing who played in the Finnish Liiga with JYP Jyväskylä. He also played in 15 games for the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League The Nat ...

* Antti Pihlström *

Joni Pitkänen Joni Pitkänen (born 19 September 1983) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Carolina Hurricanes. Playing career Pitkänen starte ...

* Mariia Posa *

Jesse Puljujärvi Jesse Puljujärvi (; born 7 May 1998) is a Swedish-born Finnish professional ice hockey player for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Rated as a top prospect, Puljujärvi was drafted fourth overall by the Oilers in the 2016 ...

Tuula Puputti Tuula Katriina Puputti (born 5 November 1977) is a Finnish retired ice hockey goaltender and current general manager of the Finnish women's national ice hockey team and women's national under-18 ice hockey team, and Developer of Girls' Hockey ...

Mika Pyörälä Mika Pyörälä (born 13 July 1981) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL), Timrå IK and Frölunda HC of the Swedish Elitserien, and Amur Khabarovsk of ...

* Marja-Helena Pälvilä *

Timo Pärssinen Timo Pärssinen (born January 19, 1977 in Lohja, Finland) is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. Playing career Timo Pärssinen began his pro career with TuTo Turku in 1994 and then moved to Kokkolan Hermes in 1997. He would mo ...

R–Z

Isa Rahunen Isa Rahunen (born 16 April 1993) is a Finnish retired ice hockey player, currently serving as a linesman in the Naisten Liiga. She represented Finland with the national ice hockey team in numerous international competitions and won a silver med ...

Annina Rajahuhta Annina Rajahuhta (born 8 March 1989) is a Finnish retired ice hockey forward, currently serving as co-head coach of the Kiekko-Espoo girl's under-16 and under-18 teams. She played ten seasons with the Finnish national team, winning bronze medal ...

Tiina Ranne Tiina Ranne (born 6 December 1994) is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender, currently playing with KalPa Kuopio of the Naisten Liiga and the Finnish national team. She previously played for Team Oriflame Kuortane, JYP Jyväskylä Naiset, and HPK Ki ...

Karoliina Rantamäki Karoliina Stina Margaretha "Karo" Rantamäki (born 23 February 1978) is a Finnish ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward and Captain (ice hockey), captain of Stadin Gimmat (HIFK Naiset) of the Naisten Liiga (ice hockey), Naisten Liiga (NSML), t ...

Mikko Rantanen Mikko Rantanen (born 29 October 1996) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 10th overall, by the Avalanche in the 2 ...

Joonas Rask Joonas Rask (born 24 March 1990) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing with Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He played 2 games in the National Hockey League with the Nashville Predators during the 20 ...

Tuukka Rask Tuukka Mikael Rask (born 10 March 1987) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey goaltender. Rask was drafted 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Boston Bruins in 2006, where he played ...

Katja Riipi Katja Hannele Riipi (born 26 October 1975) is a Finnish retired ice hockey player and former member of the Finnish national ice hockey team. She won an Olympic bronze medal representing Finland in the women's ice hockey tournament at the 1998 ...

Pekka Rinne Pekka Rinne (; born 3 November 1982) is a Finnish former professional hockey goaltender. Drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Rinne became their starting goaltender during the 2008–09 season and quickly established h ...

*Kimmo Rintanen *Jani Rita *Arto Ruotanen *Reijo Ruotsalainen *Christian Ruuttu *Jarkko Ruutu *Tuomo Ruutu *Jussi Rynnäs *Noora Räty *Meeri Räisänen *Karri Rämö *Noora Räty *Saila Saari *Mari Saarinen *Simo Saarinen *Maria Saarni *Riikka Sallinen (née Nieminen, previously Välilä) *Anssi Salmela *Tony Salmelainen *Sami Salo *Tommi Santala *Eve Savander *Ronja Savolainen *Teemu Selänne *Essi Sievers *Hanne Sikiö *Jenna Silvonen *Ilkka Sinisalo *Ville Sirén *Petri Skriko *Liisa-Maria Sneck *Mika Strömberg *Kai Suikkanen *Ari Sulander *Raimo Summanen *Eveliina Suonpää *Timo Susi *Keijo Säilynoja *Sara Säkkinen *Nora Tallus *Jukka Tammi *Vilma Tanskanen *Susanna Tapani *Saija Tarkki *Emma Terho (née Laaksonen) – current

member *Teuvo Teräväinen *Esa Tikkanen *Nina Tikkinen *Kimmo Timonen *Jari Torkki *Vesa Toskala *Noora Tulus *Minttu Tuominen *Satu Tuominen *Pekka Tuomisto *Antti Törmänen *Petra Vaarakallio *Vilma Vaattovaara *Viivi Vainikka *Anna Vanhatalo *Petri Varis *Sami Vatanen *Ella Viitasuo *Hannu Virta *Päivi Virta (previously Halonen) *Jukka Virtanen (ice hockey), Jukka Virtanen *Marjo Voutilainen *Linda Välimäki *Ossi Väänänen *Petteri Wirtanen *Juha Ylönen

Motorsports

*Mika Ahola – enduro rider (1974–2012) *Pentti Airikkala – rally driver *Markku Alén – rally driver *Samuli Aro – enduro rider *Valtteri Bottas – Formula One driver *Toni Gardemeister – rally driver *Marcus Grönholm – rally driver. 2 time World Champion *Mikko Hirvonen – rally driver *Mika Häkkinen – Formula One driver 2 time World Champion *Mika Kallio – motorcycle racer *Juha Kankkunen – rally driver. 4 time World Champion *Leo Kinnunen – Formula One driver *Heikki Kovalainen – Formula One driver *Teuvo Länsivuori – motorcycle racer *Jari-Matti Latvala – rally driver *JJ Lehto – Formula One driver *Hannu Mikkola – rally driver *Heikki Mikkola – motocross racer *Timo Mäkinen – rally driver *Tommi Mäkinen – rally driver. 4 time World Champion *Kauko Nieminen – speedway racer *Taru Rinne – motorcycle racer *Keke Rosberg – Formula One driver, World Champion 1982 *Harri Rovanperä – rally driver *Kimi Räikkönen – Formula One driver, World Champion in 2007; rally driver; NASCAR driver *Jarno Saarinen – motorcycle racer (1945–1973) *Juha Salminen – enduro rider *Mika Salo – Formula One driver *Timo Salonen – rally driver *Kari Tiainen – enduro rider *Henri Toivonen – rally driver (1956–1986) *Ari Vatanen – rally driver

Rowing

*Yrjö Hietanen – rower, two Olympic gold medals *Pertti Karppinen – rower, three Olympic gold medals *Kurt Wires – rower, two Olympic gold medals (1919–1991)

Winter sports

*Janne Ahonen – ski jumper *Antti Autti – snowboarder *Eero Ettala – snowboarder, 2006 World Champion *Veikko Hakulinen – cross-country skier, three Olympic gold medals *Janne Happonen – ski jumper *Heikki Hasu – Nordic combined, two Olympic gold medals *Matti Hautamäki – ski jumper *Antti Hyvärinen – ski jumper *Kalevi Hämäläinen – cross-country skier *Risto Jussilainen – ski jumper *Marjatta Kajosmaa – cross-country skier *Veikko Kankkonen – ski jumper *Jouko Karjalainen – Nordic combined *Klaes Karppinen – cross-country skier *Kalle Keituri – ski jumper *Harri Kirvesniemi – cross-country skier *Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi – cross-country skier, three Olympic gold medals *Anssi Koivuranta – Nordic combined *Kiira Korpi – figure skater *Markku Koski – snowboarder and Olympic bronze medalist (Men's Snowboarding Halfpipe) *Kai Kovaljeff – ski jumper *Hilkka Kuntola – cross-country skier *Risto Laakkonen – ski jumper *Janne Lahtela – freestyle skier *Mika Laitinen – ski jumper *Samppa Lajunen – Olympic gold medalist (Nordic combined) and (sprint) *Ville Larinto – ski jumper *Hannu Manninen – Nordic combined *Marjo Matikainen-Kallström – cross-country skier *Juha Mieto – cross-country skier *Olli Muotka – ski jumper *Kaija Mustonen – speed skater *Mika Myllylä – cross-country skier *Eero Mäntyranta – cross-country skier, three Olympic gold medals *Toni Nieminen – ski jumper, two Olympic gold medals *Ari-Pekka Nikkola – ski jumper, two Olympic gold medals *Matti Nykänen – ski jumper, four Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal *Harri Olli– ski jumper *Kalle Palander – skier *Peetu Piiroinen – snowboarder, one Olympic silver medal (halfpipe) *Tanja Poutiainen – skier *Jari Puikkonen – ski jumper *Siiri Rantanen – cross-country skier *Marjut Rolig (née Lukkarinen) – cross-country skier, one olympic gold- and silver medal *Mikko Ronkainen – freestyle skier *Janne Ryynänen – Nordic combined *Veli Saarinen – cross-country skier *Julius Skutnabb – speed skater *Jani Soininen – ski jumper *Helena Takalo – cross-country skier *Jaakko Tallus – Nordic combined *Clas Thunberg – speed skater, five Olympic gold medals *Jouko Törmänen – ski jumper *Tuomo Ylipulli – ski jumper *Kaisa Mäkäräinen – biathlete, one-time World Champion, 6 total medals at World Championships

Other

*Paavo Aaltonen – gymnast, three Olympic gold medals (1919–1962) *

– World's strongest man champion twice *Patrik Antonius – High-stakes poker player *Kalle Anttila – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals (1887–1975) *Kike Elomaa – IFBB professional bodybuilder *Veikka Gustafsson – mountain climber *Veikko Huhtanen – gymnast, three Olympic gold medals (1919–1976) *Robin Hull – snooker player *Mikko Ilonen – golfer *Mika Immonen – pool player *Antti Kasvio – swimmer *Minna Kauppi – orienteer, nine-time World Champion *Marko Kemppainen – skeet shooter *Mika Koivuniemi – ten-pin bowler *Väinö Kokkinen – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals (1899–1967) *Pentti Linnosvuo – sport shooter, two Olympic gold medals *Matti Mattsson – swimmer, one World Championship bronze medal *Jarkko Nieminen – tennis player *Lauri Pihkala, Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala – inventor of Baseball (Finnish), Finnish baseball (1888–1981) *Kustaa Pihlajamäki – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals (1902–1944) *Jarno Pihlava – swimmer *Arto Saari – pro skateboarder *Ale Saarvala – gymnast, two Olympic gold medals *Kasperi Salo – badminton player *Heikki Savolainen (gymnast), Heikki Savolainen – gymnast, two Olympic gold medals (1907–1998) *Hanna-Maria Seppälä – swimmer, World champion *Jani Sievinen – swimmer, one Olympic silver and many other international medals, mostly gold medals. Most decorated Finnish swimmer *Markku Uusipaavalniemi – curler *Anu Viheriäranta – ballet dancer *Antti Viitikko – badminton player *Janne Virtanen – world's strongest man champion *Emil Väre – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals (1885–1974) *Verner Weckman – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals (1882–1968)

Theologians, clergymen

*Mikael Agricola *Bishop Henry *Lauri Ingman *Markku Koivisto *Lars Levi Læstadius *Leo (Makkonen) of Finland, Leo *Kari Mäkinen *Jukka Paarma *Antti Rantamaa *Paavo Ruotsalainen *John Vikström

Writers

*Juhani Aho – first professional writer *Helena Anhava – prolific poet, writer, translator (1925-2018) *Jean M. Auel – American writer of Finnish descent, born as Jean Marie Untinen *Minna Canth – author (1844–1897) *Bo Carpelan *

*Jörn Donner – author and politician *Anna Edelheim – journalist *Elsa Enäjärvi-Haavio (1901–1951), folklorist and cultural critic *Seikko Eskola – historian *Pentti Haanpää *Aarne Haapakoski – pulp writer with pseudonym ''Outsider'' *Paavo Haavikko *Saima Harmaja – poet (1913–1937) *Laila Hietamies *Veikko Huovinen *Antti Hyry *

*Risto Isomäki – science fiction writer *

– children's author of ''

'' fame (1914–2001) *Maria Jotuni (1880–1943) *Markus Kajo – comedy writer (born 1957) *Taito Kantonen *Volter Kilpi *Marko Kitti *Aleksis Kivi – first significant author in Finnish (1834–1872) *Leena Krohn *Torsti Lehtinen – writer and philosopher *Joel Lehtonen *Eino Leino (1878–1926) *Rosa Liksom *Väinö Linna – author of The Unknown Soldier (novel), The Unknown Soldier (1920–1992) *Johannes Linnankoski *Elias Lönnrot – compiled the Kalevala (1802–1884) *Veijo Meri *Barbara Catharina Mjödh *Knud Möller *Jukka Nevakivi *Pertti Nieminen *Carita Nyström (1940–2019), Swedish-speaking writer *Sofi Oksanen *Arto Paasilinna *Erno Paasilinna *Olavi Paavolainen *Onni Palaste – war novelist (1917–2009) *Antti Puhakka – national romantic poet and politician (1816–1893) *Kalle Päätalo (1919–2000) *Johan Ludvig Runeberg – national poet (1804–1877) *Pentti Saarikoski *Frans Emil Sillanpää – Nobelist (1888–1964) *Johanna Sinisalo *Tommy Tabermann – also known from TV series ''Have I Got News For You'' a.k.a. ''Uutisvuoto'' *Martti Löfberg, Marton Taiga – pseudonym of Martti Löfberg *Jari Tervo – also known from TV series ''Have I Got News For You'' a.k.a. ''Uutisvuoto'' *Märta Tikkanen *Zacharias Topelius – author and historian (1818–1898) *Jouko Turkka *Antti Tuuri *Kaari Utrio *

*Mika Waltari (1908–1979) *Lauri Viita – poet and novelist known for extreme rhyme skill *Kjell Westö

Other notables

* Simo Aalto – stage magician * Kaarlo Bergbom – theatre director, founder of the Finnish National Theatre * Ior Bock – eccentric * Donner family * Karl Fazer – confectionery manufacturer * Janina Frostell – model, sex symbol and singer * Tony Halme – show wrestler (stage name Ludwig Borga), politician * Pirkko Hämäläinen (diplomat), Pirkko Hämäläinen, Ambassador to Austria * Seppo Hentilä – historian * Jukka Hilden – member of The Dudesons * Toni Jerrman – science fiction critic * Pepe Jürgens – sports commentator * Vesa Kanniainen – economist and academic * Liisa Kauppinen (born 1939) – human rights activist * Helena Kekkonen (1926–2014), peace activist * Kuikka-Koponen – trickster and conjurer * Armi Kuusela – Miss Universe 1952 * Jarno Laasala – member of The Dudesons * Aarne Lakomaa – aircraft designer (1914–2001) * Jarppi Leppälä, Jarno "Jarppi"/"Jarno2" Leppälä – member of The Dudesons * Arvi Lind – newscaster * Fanni Luukkonen – leader of Lotta Svärd (1882–1947) * Venla Luukkonen – Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion * Sophie Mannerheim – nurse (1863–1928) * Tuomas Milonoff, Tuomas "Tunna" Milonoff – starring in the Finnish television program ''Madventures (Finnish TV program), Madventures'' * Väinö Myllyrinne – the tallest Finn, 248 cm (1909–1963) * Larin Paraske – poem singer * Hannu-Pekka Parviainen, Hannu-Pekka "HP" Parviainen – member of The Dudesons * Arndt Pekurinen – pacifism, pacifist (1905–1941) * Anne Marie Pohtamo – Miss Universe 1975 * Riku Rantala – starring in the Finnish television program ''Madventures (Finnish TV program), Madventures'' * Krisse Salminen – comedian and talk show hostess * Joulupukki, Santa Claus * Eugen Schauman – assassin who killed Nikolai Ivanovich Bobrikov (1875–1904) * Tabe Slioor – socialite, reporter, photographer; founded the first gossip magazine in Finland * Nils Torvalds – journalist * Ole Torvalds – journalist (1916–1995) * Teppo Turkki – futurologist * Nils-Aslak Valkeapää – Sami activist (1943–2001) * Folke West – traveller

References

{{clear Lists of Finnish people, *