Aino (given name)


Aino is a female given name used in Finland and Estonia. The name Aino, meaning "the only one" in Finnish, was invented by Elias Lönnrot, who composed the Kalevala. In this epic poem, Aino is a beautiful girl who drowns herself rather than marry the elderly Väinämöinen. In the original poems, she is mentioned as "the only daughter".

National romanticism

During the national romantic period at the end of the 19th century the mythological name Aino was adopted as a Christian name by Fennoman activists. Among the first to be named so were Aino Järnefelt, born 1871 and Aino Krohn, born 1878.
According to the Finnish Population Register Centre, over 60,000 women have been given the name. It was especially popular in the early 20th century, and the most common first name for women in the 1920s. It has returned to favor in the 21st century; it has been the most popular name for girls born in Finland for the past five years.

Notable people