What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Finland? Endless winter, frozen lakes, subzero temperature and, pure wilderness! You might be right about these things. But then, there is more to it than just its quirky, eerie, snow smothered image. Agreed, Finnish are skittish by nature and just way too humble to blow their own trumpet. But that does not, in any way, miniscule the importance of the country and its people. In fact, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that behind its snow-covered façade lies a cutting-edge urban space and a gamut of industrious men and women. Yes, the inspirational country of the Finns teems with memorable people whose contribution in the upliftment of the land and the world at large has been colossal. Get to know all about the lives of some famous Finnish people in the biographies below that charter the lives and feats of these men through their timelines, trivia, and interesting facts.
This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
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Birthdate: October 17, 1979
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Birthdate: August 28, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Nastola, Finland
Birthdate: June 27, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wiesbaden, Germany
The son of former Formula One world champion Keke Rosberg, Nico Rosberg followed in his father's footsteps to win the 2016 Formula One world championship. After announcing his retirement as a racing driver, Nico Rosberg became an eco-entrepreneur, helping with the construction of self-autonomous and electric vehicles. Rosberg has also worked with charities like Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli.
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Birthdate: September 28, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
Birthdate: December 8, 1865
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hämeenlinna, Finland
Died: September 20, 1957
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish violinist and composer. Widely regarded as Finland's greatest composer, Sibelius' music is credited with having kindled nationalism in Finland during the country's struggle for independence from Russia. His work has inspired other important composers like Douglas Lilburn. The International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, which is held every five years, is named after him.
Birthdate: December 17, 1905
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rautjärvi, Finland
Died: April 1, 2002
Simo Häyhä was a Finnish sniper who served in the Winter War against the Soviet Union, in 1939–1940. He had killed 500 men in the war and received many awards for his exploits. His face was disfigured by a Red Army bullet, and he later retired to a farm.
Birthdate: June 4, 1867
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Askainen, Finland
Died: January 27, 1951
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was a Finnish statesman and military leader who served as the leader of the White Guard during the Finnish Civil War of 1918. He also played a key role during World War II where he served as the Chief of Defense of Finland's defense forces. Thanks to his achievements, Mannerheim is regarded as Finland's greatest statesman.
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Birthdate: December 28, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Finnish software engineer Linus Torvalds developed the open-source software Linux kernel, the Git system, and the scuba dive planning software Subsurface. Named to Time 100 and inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame, he has also written an autobiography. He is married to Finnish karate champion Tove Torvalds.
Birthdate: November 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
Birthdate: August 20, 1910
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kirkkonummi, Finland
Died: September 1, 1961
Eero Saarinen was a Finnish-American industrial designer and architect best remembered for his impressive designs for monuments and buildings. He is credited with designing important structures, such as the Washington Dulles International Airport, the TWA Flight Center, and the Gateway Arch. He is widely regarded as one of the 20th-century's most prominent American architectures.
Birthdate: March 29, 1990
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kotka
Birthdate: May 22, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
Birthdate: October 3, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Birthdate: February 3, 1898
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kuortane
Died: May 11, 1976
Finnish architect Alvar Aalto initially had his studies interrupted by the Finnish Civil War, which saw him fighting for the White Army. His first architectural design was for his parents’ house. He had experimented with furniture and glassware, too. His works showcase a move from classicism to functionalism.
Birthdate: May 28, 1919
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Viipuri, Finland
Died: October 18, 1965
Lauri Törni was a Finnish-born American soldier who served in the Vietnam War as part of the U.S. Army Special Forces. He died during the war due to a helicopter crash in 1965. In the 1990s, several books were written about Lauri Törni, making him a war hero. He was inducted into the USSOCOM Commando Hall of Honor in 2011.
Birthdate: December 6, 1948
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Solna Municipality
Birthdate: March 10, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Savonlinna, Finland
Tuuka Rask a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He currently plays for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Highly skilled, he won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender during the 2013-14 season. He also played for the national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics. His brother, Joonas Rask, is also a professional ice hockey player.
Birthdate: February 20, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Lahti, Finland
Called The Man of Glass for getting himself injured frequently during his career, Finnish former footballer Jari Litmanen has played for major clubs such as Liverpool and Ajax. The nine-time winner of the Finnish FA player of the year honor is also the only Finnish player to get a statue.
Birthdate: July 3, 1970
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Helsinki
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Tove Jansson(Finnish Penwoman and the Author of the Children’s Book Series 'Moomin')
Birthdate: August 9, 1914
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: June 27, 2001
Finnish author Tove Jansson was the woman behind the phenomenally successful children’s books and comics on the fictional white hippo-like creatures she called Moomins. While the Moomins books have been translated into more than 50 languages, Jansson’s literary works also include several other novels and short stories.
Birthdate: March 28, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hyvinkää
Finnish TV host Sauli Koskinen soared to fame after winning Big Brother 2007. He has also been a reporter and blogger for Ilta-Sanomat and has hosted his own show, Saulin Paras Kaveri. The openly gay entertainer had dated American singer Adam Lambert for almost 3 years before their split.
Birthdate: May 8, 1920
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kaarina
Died: November 7, 1991
Birthdate: May 3, 1917
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland, Russia [now Finland]
Died: February 15, 2016
Birthdate: May 18, 1960
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Helsinki
Birthdate: June 13, 1897
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Turku, Finland
Died: October 2, 1973
Birthdate: August 24, 1948
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Salo
Birthdate: November 22, 1976
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Birthdate: July 17, 1963
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Jyväskylä, Finland
Died: February 4, 2019
Matti Nykänen was a Finnish ski jumper widely considered to be the greatest male ski jumper of all time. Over the course of his career, he won five Winter Olympic medals and nine World Championship medals. He won the International Masters Championship for veteran ski jumpers in 2008. He had a tumultuous personal life and faced several legal issues.
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Sami Hyypiä(Association football player, Association football manager)
Birthdate: October 7, 1973
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Porvoo
Birthdate: November 3, 1982
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kempele
Birthdate: May 2, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Oulunsalo, Finland
Birthdate: December 25, 1976
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
Birthdate: October 19, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Suomussalmi
Birthdate: August 3, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Birthdate: July 15, 1980
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
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Darude(Disc jockey, Record producer)
Birthdate: July 17, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Eura
Birthdate: August 20, 1934
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Muhos, Finland
Birthdate: September 30, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Birthdate: January 2, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Birthdate: May 2, 1994
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Jakobstad, Finland
Sara Maria Forsberg is a Finnish singer, songwriter, and YouTube personality. She trained for a few years in a music academy in Jakobstad and began her career by posting videos on YouTube. In the mid-2010s, she signed to Capitol Records and released her debut single. She currently releases music as an independent artist.
Birthdate: November 24, 1989
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Lukáš Hrádecký is a Finnish football player who plays as a goalkeeper for the Finland national team and Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. Starting from 2016, Hrádecký was adjudged Finnish Footballer of the Year for three years in a row. In 2020, Lukáš Hrádecký helped his national team qualify for the UEFA European Championship for the first time.
Birthdate: June 23, 1937
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia)
Martti Ahtisaari is a Finnish politician who served as the tenth president of Finland; he was in office from 1994 to 2000. In 2008, he was honored with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for playing an important role in resolving long-lasting and serious conflicts, such as the ones in Namibia and Iraq. In 2008, he was also awarded the Delta Prize for Global Understanding.
Birthdate: August 17, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
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Jukka Nevalainen(Metal drummer who is known for his work with the bands Nightwish and Sethian.)
Birthdate: April 21, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
Birthdate: July 22, 1949
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Myrskylä, Finland
Birthdate: June 26, 1964
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Puuppola
Birthdate: September 3, 1900
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pielavesi, Finland
Died: August 31, 1986
Birthdate: July 23, 1996
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kuopio
Birthdate: May 7, 1998
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Älvkarleby, Sweden
Birthdate: September 13, 1994
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Helsinki