Aino is a female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

used in Finland, Estonia, and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. The name Aino, meaning "the only one" in Finnish, was devised by Elias Lönnrot, who compiled, from surviving oral folk sources which he had collected, the '' Kalevala''. In this epic poem, Aino (mythology) is a beautiful girl who seems to wish to drown herself rather than marry the elderly Väinämöinen. She is later on unexpectedly lost in the water while bathing in a strange, unknown lake. In the original poems, she is mentioned as "the only daughter" (''ainoa tyttö'').

National romanticism

During the

national romantic Romantic nationalism (also national romanticism, organic nationalism, identity nationalism) is the form of nationalism in which the state claims its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs. This includes ...

period in Finland at the end of the 19th century the mythological name Aino was adopted as a

Christian name A Christian name, sometimes referred to as a baptismal name, is a religious personal name given on the occasion of a Christian baptism, though now most often assigned by parents at birth. In English-speaking cultures, a person's Christian name ...

by Fennoman activists. Among the first to be named so were

Aino Järnefelt Aino Sibelius (née Järnefelt; 10 August 1871 – 8 June 1969) was the wife of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. They lived most of their 65 years of marriage at their home Ainola near Lake Tuusula, Järvenpää, Finland. They had six daughters: Ev ...

(Aino Sibelius), born 1871 and Aino Krohn (the later Aino Kallas), born 1878. According to the Finnish Population Register Centre, over 60,000 women have been given the name. It was especially popular in the early 20th century, and the most common first name for women in the 1920s. It has returned to favor in the 21st century; it has been a popular name for girls born in Finland in recent years.Helsingin Sanomat, October 16, 200
Aino and Eetu top list of most popular children's names
Retrieved February 10, 2008.

Aina Aina may refer to: * Aina (given name) Places * Aina (Crete), a town of ancient Crete * Aïna River, a river in Cameroon and Gabon * Aina, Iran, a village in Kermanshah Province, Iran Art and entertainment * ''Aina'' (1977 film), a 1977 Pakista ...

is a variant.

Japanese use

Aino is also a feminine name in use in

, with different origins and different meanings depending on the combinations of kanji that are used to spell the name.

Notable people

Aino Aalto Aino Maria Marsio-Aalto (born Aino Maria Mandelin; 25 January 1894 – 13 January 1949) was a Finnish architect and a pioneer of Scandinavian design. She is known as a co-founder of the design company Artek and as a collaborator on its most well ...

(1894–1949), Finnish architect and designer * Aino Ackté (1876–1944), Finnish opera singer *

Aino Autio Aino Autio (4 January 1932 – 17 November 2022) was a Finnish sprinter. She competed in the women's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1952 Summer Olympics The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset 1952; sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1952 ...

(1932–2022), Finnish sprinter *

Aino Bach Aino Bach (1 December 1901 – 6 August 1980) was an Estonian artist known for her engravings and her portrayals of Soviet-era femininity. Biography Aino Bach was born in Koeru, Estonia in 1901. As a child, she lived in Narva, and attended sec ...

(1901–1980), Estonian artist *

Aino Bergö Aino Lillalida Bergö (commonly spelled Aino Bergo in English-language publications) (1915 – July 1944) was a Swedish ballerina, opera singer and film actress. Life Bergö studied ballet in Stockholm. She performed ballet in Berlin and Munich a ...

(1915-1944), Swedish ballerina, opera singer and film actress *

Aino Forsten Aina "Aino" Aleksandra Forsten, née Rainio (2 April 1885 – 27 November 1937), was a Finnish politician and educator. She was a member of the Parliament of Finland for the Social Democratic Party from 1916 to 1918. After the 1918 Finnish Civil ...

(1885-1937), Finnish politician and educator *

Aino Henssen Aino Marjatta Henssen (12 April 1925, Elberfeld – 29 August 2011, Marburg), was a German lichenologist and systematist. Her father, Gottfried Henssen, was a folklorist and her mother was Finns, Finnish. Education and career Henssen began her stu ...

(1925-2011), German-Finnish lichenologist and systematist *

Aino Hivand Aino Hivand (born 3 May 1947) is a Norwegian-Sámi people, Sami Visual arts, visual artist and children's book writer with an Expressionism, expressionist and abstract style. Biography Aino Hivand was born in Bugøyfjord, Sør-Varanger Municipalit ...

(born 1947), Norwegian-Sami visual artist and children's book writer * Aino Jawo (born 1986), member of Swedish pop duo

Icona Pop Icona Pop ( ) is a Swedish electropop duo which formed in 2009, with electro house and indie pop music influences. Its two members, Caroline Hjelt (born 8 November 1987) and Aino Jawo (born 7 July 1986), grew up in Stockholm and create what the ...

* Aino Kalda (1929–2017), Estonian botanist * Aino Kallas (1878–1956), Finnish-Estonian writer *

Aino Kallio-Ericsson Aino Kallio-Ericsson (May 25, 1917, in Mikkeli – May 28, 2018, in Helsinki) was a Finnish architect, most notable for her work on the Lycée franco-finlandais d'Helsinki Lycée franco-finladais d'Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin ranskalais-suomalainen ...

(1917-2018), Finnish architect * Aino Karppinen (born 1997), Finnish ice hockey player * Aino Kinjō, (born 1974), Japanese professional ten-pin bowler * Aino Kishi (born 1988), Japanese actress and AV idol *

Aino Kukk Aino Kukk (née Prits, 10 September 1930 in Raasiku Parish, Estonia – 7 November 2006) was an Estonian chess player, who won the Estonian Women's Chess Championship in 1955. Biography In 1950 graduated from secondary school in Tallinn. After ...

(1930-2006), Estonian chess player * Aino Kuusinen (1886–1970), Finnish communist * Aino Lehtokoski (1886-1949), Finnish politician *

Aino Lepik von Wirén Aino Lepik von Wirén (born 28 October 1961 in Stockholm) is an Estonian diplomat. Early life and education Aino Lepik von Wirén was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1961 to poet Kalju Lepik and Asta Lepik. She studied law at University of Surrey ...

(born 1961), Estonian diplomat *

Aino Lohikoski Aino Lohikoski (1898–1981) was a Finnish actress.Qvist & von Bagh p.287 Selected filmography * ''Substitute Wife'' (1936) * '' Tree Without Fruit'' (1947) * ''Mother or Woman ''Mother or Woman'' (Finnish: ''Sillankorvan emäntä'') is a 1953 ...

(1898-1981), Finnish actress *

Aino-Eevi Lukas Aino-Eevi Lukas (29 July 1930 – 5 December 2019) was an Estonian equestrian, lawyer and politician. She competed for the national team in her youth in horse jumping and was the national champion in the obstacle course in 1947 and 1949. Earning ...

(1930–2019), Estonian equestrian, lawyer and politician *

Aino-Maija Luukkonen Aino-Maija Luukkonen (born 14 October 1958 in Pyhämaa, Uusikaupunki) is the mayor of the Finnish city Pori. She stepped out of the mayor's place in July 2022 and is spending a vacation before retirement in March 2023. She is a member of the So ...

(born 1958), Finnish politician *

Aino Malkamäki Aino Elin Malkamäki (née ''Sommarberg''; 1 April 1894 in Iitti – 17 October 1961) was a Finnish schoolteacher and politician. She was Minister of Social Affairs from 2 September to 29 November 1957 and a member of the Parliament of Finland ...

(1894-1961), Finnish teacher and politician *

Aino Malmberg Aino Emma Wilhelmina Malmberg Perenius (February 24, 1865 – February 3, 1933) was a Finnish writer and politician. Malmberg was born in Hollola to Pastor John Perenius and Edla Olivia Björkstén. She took her matriculation examination in 18 ...

(1865–1933), Finnish writer and politician * Aino Mantsas (1922-1979), Finnish actress *

Aino Nykopp-Koski Aino Nykopp-Koski (born November 1950) is a Finnish serial killer. She worked as a nurse and was found guilty of killing five patients and the attempted murder of five more. No motive was established for the murders.Aino-Kaisa Pekonen Aino-Kaisa Ilona Pekonen (born 24 January 1979 in Riihimäki) is a Finnish politician of the Left Alliance. Pekonen is Finland's incumbent Minister of Social Affairs and Health. She has been a member of the Parliament of Finland since the 2011 ...

(born 1979), Finnish politician *

Aino Pervik Aino Pervik (born 22 April 1932 in Rakvere) is an Estonian children's writer, and translator. She is "considered the bravest children's writer" in contemporary Estonia, as "she takes on difficult themes of immigration, cultural conflict, corrupt ...

(born 1932), Estonian children's writer *

Aino Puronen Aino Andreyevna Puronen, also Pouronen (russian: Айно Андреевна Пуронен, born 20 January 1936) is a former Soviet racing cyclist. She won the silver medal at the 1959 UCI Road World Championships The 1959 UCI Road World Cham ...

(born 1936), former Soviet racing cyclist *

Aino Kann Rasmussen Aino Kann Rasmussen (born 14 December 1937, Hellerup) is a Danish archaeologist, curator and former chair of the Velux Foundation. Education and career Rasmussen studied archaeology under Peter Glob at Aarhus University, where she participat ...

(born 1937), Danish archaeologist *

Aino Runge Aino Runge (17 June 1926 in Tallinn – 3 August 2014) was an Estonian financial specialist, consumer defender and politician. She was a member of VIII Riigikogu. Her daughters are painter and designer Sirje Runge and art historian Marika Valk. Sh ...

(1926–2014), Estonian economist, consumer defender and politician * Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (born 1979), Finnish cross country skier *

Aino Seep Aino Seep (25 February 1925 – 8 July 1982) was an Estonian opera and operetta soprano and stage and film actress. Early life and education Aino Seep was born in Tartu in 1925 to parents Daniel Seep and Linda Seep (''née'' Klaos). She wa ...

(1925–1982), Estonian singer and actress *

Aino Sibelius Aino Sibelius (née Järnefelt; 10 August 1871 – 8 June 1969) was the wife of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. They lived most of their 65 years of marriage at their home Ainola near Lake Tuusula, Järvenpää, Finland. They had six daughters: Ev ...

(1871–1969), wife of composer Jean Sibelius * Aino Talvi (1909-1992), Estonian actress * Aino Tamm (1864–1945), Estonian singer and vocal pedagogue *

Aino Taube Aino Regina Taube (11 July 1912 – 3 June 1990) was a Swedish film and theatre actress. She appeared in 50 films between 1931 and 1988. Selected filmography * ''Skipper's Love'' (1931) * ''Students in Paris'' (1932) * ''A Stolen Waltz'' (1 ...

(1912-1990), Swedish film and theatre actress * Aino-Maija Tikkanen (1927–2014), Finnish film actress

Notes

{{Given name Finnish feminine given names Estonian feminine given names Japanese feminine given names