Estonian given names reflect a Finnic language with distinctive phonology. The alphabet includes ä, ö, ü, and the Estonian-only õ, which also appear in names (Ülo, Ülle, Õie). Long vowels and consonants are written with double letters, seen in forms like Jaan and Külli. Common structural patterns include masculine endings in -o (Tarmo, Raivo) and -ar/-er (Kaspar, Peeter), and feminine endings in -i, -e, or -a (Mari, Kadri, Ene). Native vocabulary can surface directly as names, and short, two-syllable forms are frequent.
Historical layers are mixed. Christian names arrived via German and later Russian influence, producing Estonianized forms such as Jaan (John), Peeter (Peter), and Toomas (Thomas). Folklore and epic tradition supplied indigenous names like Kalev and Linda. Modern usage blends international choices with revived Estonian-origin and nature-based names (for example Kaja, meaning “echo”), while maintaining local spelling with diacritics. Estonia does not use patronymics; fixed surnames and one or two given names are standard.
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laine | In Finnish/Estonian 'wave'; in English a form of Lane (a lane or path) | Estonian, Finnish | Girl | 1,638 #1 | |
| Mari | Variant of Mary/Maria - linked to Hebrew Miryam; often interpreted as 'bitter', 'beloved' or 'wished-for child'; in Japanese meaning varies by kanji (e.g., 'truth', 'jasmine'). | Basque, Estonian, Finnish, Georgian, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin | Girl | 1,190 #2 | |
| Maila | Multiple origins: in Hawaiian related to the maile vine ('fragrant vine'); in Finnish the word means 'bat' or 'racket' and is used as a feminine name; also treated as a variant of names like Maija/Maja. | Estonian, Finnish, Hawaiian, Scandinavian | Girl | 530 #3 | |
| Meela | Meanings vary by origin: in Estonian related to 'meel' (mind, feeling, mood); in Hindi/Sanskrit associated with 'mela' (gathering, fair); as a variant of Slavic Mila it conveys 'gracious' or 'dear'. | Estonian, Hindi, Sanskrit | Girl | 267 #4 | |
| Eri | Varies by origin: in Japanese the meaning depends on the kanji (common nuances include 'blessing', 'picture', 'favor', 'reason'); in Hebrew it can relate to Ari ('lion') or to a root meaning 'watchful'; in Estonian it echoes the word 'eri' meaning 'special' or 'distinct'. | Albanian, English, Estonian, Hebrew, Japanese | Unisex | 235 #5 | |
| Timo | Honoring God | Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, German, Greek | Boy | 229 #6 | |
| Tilda | Mighty in battle | Estonian, Germanic, Old High German, Spanish | Girl | 202 #7 | |
| Airi | Japanese: meaning varies by kanji (commonly 'love' + 'jasmine' or 'love' + 'village' - e.g. 愛莉). Finnish/Estonian: used as a feminine name; etymology is less certain. | Estonian, Finnish, Japanese | Girl | 194 #8 | |
| Eero | Derived from Old Norse Eiríkr, meaning "ever-ruler" or "eternal ruler" | Estonian, Finnish | Boy | 186 #9 | |
| Kaija | Diminutive of Katherine; from Greek katharos meaning "pure" | Estonian, Finnish | Girl | 185 #10 | |
| Ave | From Latin 'ave' meaning 'hail' (greeting); used as a feminine given name in Estonia. | Estonian, Latin | Girl | 160 #11 | |
| Nelli | Derived from Helen: 'light' or 'bright, shining one'; also used as 'little Nell' as a pet form | Estonian, Finnish, Russian | Girl | 157 #12 | |
| Kaisa | Pure (derived from Katherine) | Estonian, Finnish | Girl | 150 #13 | |
| Juri | Estonian/Slavic: a form of George, broadly 'farmer, earth-worker'. Japanese: meaning varies by kanji (common elements include characters for 'tree', 'village', 'good/beauty', etc.). | Estonian, Japanese, Slavic | Unisex | 142 #14 | |
| Taavi | Beloved | Estonian, Finnish, Hebrew | Boy | 137 #15 | |
| Reet | From Margaret meaning 'pearl' (Estonian); in Punjabi/Hindi, 'tradition' or 'custom'. | Estonian | Girl | 132 #16 | |
| Anu | Varies by origin: 'atom/small/following' (Sanskrit), 'grace' via Anna (Finnish), or 'sky/heaven' (Sumerian deity) | Akkadian, Estonian, Finnish, Hindi, Sanskrit, Sumerian | Girl | 129 #17 | |
| Kalev | Name of a mythic Estonian ancestor/king, traditionally associated with strength and stature in folklore | Estonian | Boy | 115 #18 | |
| Maija | Related to Maia ('mother' or 'nurse') and to Maria (variously 'bitter', 'beloved'); also associated with the month of May | Estonian, Finnish, Latvian | Girl | 108 #19 | |
| Ilma | Air; breeze; weather (also sometimes associated with 'inspiration' via Arabic Ilham) | Estonian, Finnish | Girl | 103 #20 | |
| Kadi | Estonian: diminutive of Kadri/Katherine, meaning 'pure'; Arabic/Turkish: from qadi, meaning 'judge'. | Arabic, Estonian, Turkish | Girl | 98 #21 | |
| Meri | In Finnish/Estonian 'sea'. Also used as a form or diminutive of Mary in various languages. | Albanian, English, Estonian, Finnish, Japanese | Girl | 94 #22 | |
| Merik | In Estonian, 'of the sea' or 'sea'; when treated as a Merrick variant, linked to Welsh/Latin roots with different etymology | Estonian | Boy | 87 #23 | |
| Kasi | Associated with Kashi (Varanasi) meaning 'luminous' or 'shining'; also used as a diminutive of Katarzyna/Catherine in Slavic contexts. | English, Estonian, Finnish, Indian, Irish, Polish, Sanskrit, Slavic | Unisex | 79 #24 | |
| Kaido | No single established meaning. In Estonian it is a modern masculine given name. In Japanese the meaning varies by kanji (e.g. 海道 'sea route'). | Estonian, Japanese | Boy | 77 #25 | |
| Alo | Often a diminutive of Alois/Aloysius, deriving from Germanic elements meaning 'fame' + 'war' ('famous in battle'); in Hawaiian it can mean 'front/presence/face'. | Estonian | Boy | 76 #26 | |
| Aire | “air” - breeze, atmosphere; poetic/elemental association with wind and freedom | English, Estonian, Spanish | Girl | 68 #27 | |
| Jaan | Estonian: 'God is gracious' (via John). Persian/Urdu: 'life, soul, beloved' (term of endearment). | Estonian, Persian, Urdu | Boy | 43 #28 | |
| Aia | Meaning varies by origin - a Basque place-name; in Japanese often associated with 'ai' (love) or poetic name constructions; in Hawaiian 'there is' / 'exists'. | Basque, Estonian, Hawaiian, Japanese, Latvian | Girl | 35 #29 | |
| Kadri | Estonian: diminutive of Katherine, 'pure'. Arabic/Turkish/Albanian: from Arabic q-d-r meaning 'power', 'capability' or 'destiny/fate'. | Albanian, Arabic, Estonian, Turkish | Unisex | 32 #30 | |
| Elvi | Diminutive related to Elvira/Elvis; commonly associated with 'elf' or 'all-wise' depending on the root | Estonian, Finnish, Scandinavian | Girl | 24 #31 | |
| Mare | Variant of Mary/Maria - commonly interpreted as 'bitter' or 'beloved'; in English also evokes 'female horse'. | Estonian | Girl | 8 #32 | |
| Avo | Originally an Armenian diminutive of Avetik/Avetis, meaning "good news" or "bearer of good news"; also used as a masculine given name in Estonia. | Armenian, Estonian | Boy | 5 #33 | |
| Ele | Often a short form of Eleanor/Elena, generally associated with 'light' or 'bright' | English, Estonian, Greek | Girl | 5 #34 | |
| Riho | Japanese: meaning varies by kanji (e.g., 里穂 'village + ear (of grain)', 梨歩 'pear + step', 理穂 'logic + ear'); Estonian: diminutive of Rihard/Richard, meaning 'powerful/brave ruler'. | Estonian, Japanese | Girl | 5 #35 | |
| Liina | Variant/diminutive of Lina - associated with meanings like “tender” (Arabic Lina) or “light/torch” (via Helena) | Estonian, Finnish | Girl | 4 #36 | |
| Helmi | Pearl (Finnish/Estonian); from Arabic Hilmi meaning "gentle, patient" when used as a masculine name | Arabic, Estonian, Finnish | Girl | 3 #37 | |
| Aivar | Derived from elements meaning 'yew' (bow) + 'warrior' - often interpreted as 'archer' or 'bow warrior'. | Estonian | Boy | — | |
| Alar | Likely 'noble ruler' (derived from Germanic elements); used as a traditional Estonian male name | Estonian | Boy | — | |
| Anti | Manly, masculine (from Andreas/Andrew: 'man, warrior') | Estonian | Boy | — | |
| Eiki | Estonian: a form/variant of Erik, meaning 'eternal/ever ruler'. Japanese: meaning varies by kanji (examples include 'prosperity + tree', 'excellent + radiance', 'glory + brightness'). | Estonian, Japanese | Boy | — | |
| Eikki | Ever-ruler, eternal ruler | Estonian, Finnish | Boy | — | |
| Elari | Possibly “God’s lion” (El + ari) or interpreted in Estonian contexts as a modern name associated with life/living | Estonian | Boy | — | |
| Ene | Etymology uncertain; commonly treated as a short/diminutive form rather than a name with a single agreed literal meaning | Estonian | Girl | — | |
| Erk | Turkish: "power, authority, right"; Finnic: a short form of Erkki/Erik, meaning "ruler". | Estonian, Finnish, Turkish | Boy | — | |
| Erki | Eternal ruler | Estonian | Boy | — | |
| Estline | Uncertain; possibly 'star' if linked to Estelle/Estella, or indicating Estonian origin | Estonian | Girl | — | |
| Eveli | Related to Eve/Eva: "life" or "living" (sometimes interpreted as "desired") | Estonian | Girl | — | |
| Getter | One who obtains | English, Estonian | Girl | — | |
| Grete | Pearl | Danish, Estonian, German, Norwegian | Girl | — |
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Estonian-origin name in our dataset.
