Naming your child

11.06.2021, 15:43

Choosing a name for your child is a very exciting process. It often starts already at an early stage of pregnancy. It is good to take your time and consider several options. In some traditions, children are named after the grandparents. In other cultures, children may be given many names by the parents, grandparents, godparents, and other relatives. The parents must then decide which names to register.

Up to four forenames

The Names Act of 2019 sets certain standards and boundaries to the official names that you can give your child. Up to four given names (first names, forenames, Christian names) are now permitted. You cannot give names or combinations of names that can be considered offensive, harmful, or inappropriate. If you doubt whether the names you want to give your child are acceptable, you can enquire from your parish office, from the Central Registry of the Helsinki Parish Union, or directly from the Digital and population data services agency (DVV).

In addition to Finnish names, it is also possible to follow common practice from other cultures if the child has an official connection to that culture. In general, children’s forenames must correspond to their gender, but gender-neutral names can be given to boys and girls. The forename should not be one that is a typical surname. The first given name cannot be the same as that of a living sibling or stepsibling. Possible exceptions to the rules are laid out in the Names Act.

Several options for surnames

If the parents have the sane surname at the time when the child is born, the child will automatically inherit that name. If the parents have different surnames, they can decide which of the names to give or to give both names or a compound name. Children of the same parents must have the same surname.