Vaaranimien

Vaaranimien is a term used in Finnish-language folklore studies and in contemporary fantasy writing to describe names that are believed to carry dangerous or forbidden power. In this concept, uttering the vaaranim is thought to invite harm, misfortune, or the attention of malevolent forces. Conversely, certain ritual practices or contexts may shield a speaker or place by handling or masking the name. The term is a compound of vaar- 'danger' and nimi 'name,' and its plural form in Finnish is vaaranimien.

The concept appears in ethnographic notes as part of broader naming-taboo traditions found in many cultures; in Finnish folklore, the idea resembles name-taboo practices where sacred or dangerous names are avoided or spoken only under strict control.

In modern usage, vaaranimien are frequently used in fantasy fiction and role-playing games as plot devices; authors invent vaaranim names to symbolize cursed lineage, to protect secrets, or to mark powerful ancestral connections.

Related topics include name taboo, apotropaic naming, onomastics, and Finnish folklore.