Sukunimi

Sukunimi is the Finnish term for a family name, the surname used to identify a person as part of a family. In Finland, the surname is typically used together with the given name (etunimi) and is usually inherited from one generation to the next. In modern practice, individuals may change or adopt a surname through official procedures, for example upon marriage or by applying for a name change.

Historically, Finnish naming practices included patronymics, where a child’s surname was formed from the father’s name, as well as toponymic or descriptive names. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, fixed hereditary surnames became common, particularly in Finnish-speaking areas, as part of wider administrative and cultural standardization. Today, most Finns have hereditary surnames, and many common Finnish surnames are toponymic or descriptive in origin. A recognizable feature of Finnish surnames is the frequent use of the suffix -nen (for example Korhonen, Virtanen), though many other endings exist, including -la/-lä, -mäki, -joki, and -laakso.

Usage and legal framework: In Finland, the recording and possible changing of surnames are governed by naming laws and official registers. The surname is used in official documents, education records, and everyday life, and it is normally shared within a family regardless of gender. Finnish surnames are increasingly diverse due to migration and cultural exchange, and some individuals or communities maintain or adopt surnames from other languages or traditions.