First-name meanings and name days
The meaning, origin and traditional name day of 24 common Estonian, Finnish and Nordic first names — from Jaan and Mari to Kalev and Kärt.
Why name days matter here
In Estonia and Finland a name day (Estonian nimepäev) is a small but real occasion: friends and colleagues might say a quick congratulations, and the day's names are printed on calendars and shown by phones. Many of the dates line up with old saints' days and folk celebrations — Jaanipäev for Jaan at Midsummer, Kadripäev for Kadri in late November, Mardipäev for Märt in the autumn. Below are common names with their meaning, where they come from, and the traditional Estonian name day.
Names A–Z
| Name | F/M | Origin | Name day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andres | M | Estonian form of Andrew, from Greek | November 30 |
| Anne | F | Form of Anna, from Hebrew | July 26 |
| Anu | F | Estonian form of Anna, from Hebrew | July 26 |
| Eerik | M | Estonian form of Eric, from Old Norse | May 18 |
| Hanna | F | Form of Hannah, from Hebrew | August 15 |
| Heidi | F | German short form of Adelheid, from Germanic | October 15 |
| Jaan | M | Estonian form of Johannes (John), from Hebrew | June 24 |
| Kadri | F | Estonian form of Katariina (Catherine), from Greek | November 25 |
| Kaisa | F | Finnish and Estonian short form of Katariina (Catherine) | October 14 |
| Kalev | M | Native Estonian, from the national epic | June 23 |
| Kristiina | F | Estonian and Finnish form of Christina, from Latin and Greek | July 24 |
| Kristjan | M | Estonian form of Christian, from Latin and Greek | November 13 |
| Kärt | F | Estonian short form of Gertrud (Gertrude), from Germanic | March 17 |
| Liis | F | Estonian short form of Eliisabet (Elisabeth), from Hebrew | November 19 |
| Mari | F | Estonian form of Maria, ultimately from Hebrew | March 25 |
| Marta | F | Form of Martha, from Aramaic | July 27 |
| Märt | M | Estonian form of Martin, from Latin | November 10 |
| Peeter | M | Estonian form of Peter, from Greek | June 29 |
| Priit | M | Estonian short form of Friedrich (Frederick), from Germanic | September 5 |
| Raivo | M | Native Estonian | October 25 |
| Sander | M | Short form of Aleksander (Alexander), from Greek | September 11 |
| Tarmo | M | Native Estonian and Finnish | March 6 |
| Tiit | M | Estonian, traditionally linked to the Latin name Titus | September 18 |
| Toomas | M | Estonian form of Thomas, from Aramaic | December 21 |
Source: Traditional Estonian name-day calendar; etymologies are the standard documented origins. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
What is a name day?
A name day links each first name to a date on the calendar, so people with that name are congratulated a bit like a second birthday. The custom is strong in Estonia, Finland and much of Central and Northern Europe, where calendars and even phone apps list the name of the day.
Are name-day dates the same in every country?
No. Estonia, Finland, Sweden and others each keep their own name-day calendar, and the dates are revised over time. The dates here follow the traditional Estonian calendar, so a name may fall on a different day in Finland or Sweden.
Where do the meanings come from?
Most first names here trace back through Estonian and Finnish forms to older Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Germanic or Old Norse roots. A few, like Kalev and Tarmo, are native names from Estonian words and mythology.
How do I find a name's day?
Open its page below. Each one lists the meaning, the origin, and the traditional Estonian name day.
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