Pirkko as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Pirkko

What is the meaning of the name Pirkko ?

The baby name Pirkko is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈpirkːo/.

Pirkko is Finnish in Origin.

Pirkko is a Finnish feminine given name, a lively diminutive formed with the -kko suffix from Piritta and Pirjo, Finnish variants of Birgitta/Bridget. Through Birgitta it traces back to Old Irish Brigit, ultimately from the Proto-Celtic element brig- meaning “high, exalted, noble; strength.” The name therefore carries the sense of “the exalted one.” Cultural associations reach both to Brigid, the revered Irish saint and pre-Christian goddess of poetry and fire, and to Saint Birgitta (Bridget) of Sweden, whose cult helped spread the name across the Nordic world.

In Finland, Pirkko came into steady use in the early 20th century and peaked between the 1930s and 1950s, giving it a vintage, mid-century character today. Related forms include Pirjo and Piritta (Finnish), Birgitta, Britta and Birgit (Scandinavian), Brigitte (French/German), Bridget and Brigid (English), and Bríd/Brídín (Irish). Notable bearers include writer Pirkko Saisio and singer-actress Pirkko Mannola.