Finnish

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.
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 1 
Kimi Räikkönen
(Finnish Racing Driver Nicknamed ‘The Iceman’ and Winner of the 2007 Formula One World Championship)
Kimi Räikkönen
45
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 17, 1979
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
 2 
Valtteri Bottas
(Finnish Racing Driver Who Competes in Formula One)
Valtteri Bottas
23
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 28, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Nastola, Finland
 3 
Mika Häkkinen
(Former Racing Driver and One of the 3 Finnish F-1 Drivers to Win a World Championship)
Mika Häkkinen
14
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 28, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
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 4 
Jean Sibelius
(Finnish Composer Known for His 'Seven Symphonies' and His Tone Poem 'Tapiola')
Jean Sibelius
19
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 8, 1865
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hämeenlinna, Finland
Died: September 20, 1957
 5 
Keke Rosberg
(Former Finnish Racing Driver Who Won the 1982 'F1 World Championship')
Keke Rosberg
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 6, 1948
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Solna Municipality Solna, Sweden
 6 
Simo Häyhä
(Finnish Military Sniper in World War II)
Simo Häyhä
35
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 17, 1905
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Rautjärvi, Finland
Died: April 1, 2002
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 7 
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
(6th President of Finland (1944 - 1946))
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
9
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: June 4, 1867
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Askainen, Finland
Died: January 27, 1951
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 8 
Sanna Marin
(The 46th Prime Minister of Finland)
Sanna Marin
21
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
 9 
Linus Torvalds
(Finnish Software Engineer Who is the Main Developer of the 'Linux' Operating System)
Linus Torvalds
16
Birthdate: December 28, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 10 
Eero Saarinen
(Architect)
Eero Saarinen
9
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: August 20, 1910
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kirkkonummi, Finland
Died: September 1, 1961
 11 
Tarja Turunen
(Finnish Heavy Metal Singer-Songwriter & Co-Founder of the Symphonic Metal Band 'Nightwish')
Tarja Turunen
17
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 17, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
 12 
Teemu Selänne
(Former Finnish Ice Hockey Player Who Played as a Winger)
Teemu Selänne
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 3, 1970
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Helsinki
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 13 
Teemu Pukki
(Finnish Footballer Who Plays as a Striker)
Teemu Pukki
20
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 29, 1990
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kotka
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 14 
Lauri Markkanen
(Finnish Professional Basketball Player Who Plays in the 'Forward' Position)
Lauri Markkanen
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 22, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
Height: 7'0" (213 cm)
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 15 
Joonas Suotamo
(Finnish Actor Best Known for Playing 'Chewbacca' in 'Star Wars' Film Series)
Joonas Suotamo
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 3, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Height: 6'11" (211 cm)
 16 
Alvar Aalto
(Architect)
Alvar Aalto
6
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: February 3, 1898
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kuortane
Died: May 11, 1976
 17 
Lauri Törni
(Finnish Army Officer Who Fought Under Three Flags in the Winter War and the Continuation War)
Lauri Törni
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 28, 1919
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Viipuri, Finland
Died: October 18, 1965
 18 
Matti Nykänen
(Finnish Ski jumper and Four-Time Olympic Gold Medallist)
Matti Nykänen
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 17, 1963
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Jyväskylä, Finland
Died: February 4, 2019
 19 
Ville Valo
(Finnish Musician & Co-Founder of the Gothic Rock Band 'HIM')
Ville Valo
5
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 22, 1976
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 20 
Jari Litmanen
(Finland's Greatest Football Player of All Time)
Jari Litmanen
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 20, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Lahti, Finland
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 21 
Tuukka Rask
(One of the Best Finnish Goaltenders of All Time)
Tuukka Rask
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 10, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Savonlinna, Finland
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 22 
Tove Jansson
(Finnish Penwoman and the Author of the Children’s Book Series 'Moomin')
Tove Jansson
6
Birthdate: August 9, 1914
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Died: June 27, 2001
 23 
Heikki Kovalainen
(Finnish Racing Driver, Who Competed in the Formula 1 Between 2007 and 2013)
Heikki Kovalainen
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 19, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Suomussalmi, Finland
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 24 
Alexi Laiho
(Lead Guitarist and Lead Vocalist of the Melodic Death Metal Band 'Children of Bodom')
Alexi Laiho
8
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 8, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Espoo, Finland
Died: December 29, 2020
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 25 
Paavo Nurmi
(Finnish Middle-Distance and Long-Distance Runner Who Dominated Distance Running in the Early 20th Century)
Paavo Nurmi
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 13, 1897
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Turku, Finland
Died: October 2, 1973
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 26 
Sauli Niinistö
(12th President of Finland)
Sauli Niinistö
6
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 24, 1948
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Salo
 27 
Tom of Finland
(Finnish Painter, Best Known for His Depiction of Gay Sexuality through His Works)
Tom of Finland
5
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 8, 1920
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kaarina
Died: November 7, 1991
 28 
Robert Helenius
(Finnish Professional Boxer)
Robert Helenius
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 2, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)
 29 
Jari Kurri
(Former Finnish Olympic Bronze Medal Winning Ice Hockey Player Who Played as a 'Winger')
Jari Kurri
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 18, 1960
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 30 
Pihla Viitala
(Actress)
Pihla Viitala
0
Birthdate: September 30, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 31 
Pekka Rinne
(Former Finnish Hockey Goaltender and a World Champion Silver Medalist)
Pekka Rinne
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 3, 1982
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kempele, Finland
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 32 
Saara Aalto
(Finnish Voice Actress, Singer, and Songwriter)
Saara Aalto
8
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 2, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Oulunsalo, Finland
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 33 
Tuomas Holopainen
(Finnish Symphonic Metal Musician, Songwriter, and Founder of the Band 'Nightwish')
Tuomas Holopainen
5
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 25, 1976
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 34 
Darude
(Finnish Record Producer and DJ Whose Music is Characterised By Its Uplifting Style)
Darude
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: July 17, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Eura
 35 
Jasper Paakkonen
(Actor)
Jasper Paakkonen
2
Birthdate: July 15, 1980
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 36 
Henri Toivonen
(Finnish Rally Driver Who Became the Youngest Driver Ever to Become the World Rally Champion)
Henri Toivonen
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 25, 1956
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Jyväskylä, Finland
Died: May 2, 1986
 37 
Armi Kuusela
(Model)
Armi Kuusela
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 20, 1934
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Muhos, Finland
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 38 
Jukka Hilden
(Stunt performer)
Jukka Hilden
1
Birthdate: August 3, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 39 
Sauli Koskinen
(Television Host)
Sauli Koskinen
6
Birthdate: March 28, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hyvinkää
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 40 
Sami Hyypiä
(Former Finnish Footballer who Played as a Defender)
Sami Hyypiä
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 7, 1973
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Porvoo, Finland
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 41 
Lukáš Hrádecký
(Finnish Footballer Who Plays as a Goalkeeper)
Lukáš Hrádecký
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 24, 1989
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 42 
Sara Maria Forsberg
(Finnish Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Debut Hit Single ‘Ur Cool’)
Sara Maria Forsberg
4
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: May 2, 1994
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Jakobstad, Finland
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 43 
Lasse Virén
(Finnish Retired Athlete who Specialized in Long-distance Running)
Lasse Virén
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 22, 1949
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Myrskylä, Finland
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 44 
Mika Salo
(Retired Finnish Formula One Racer, Who Is Now a Commentator and TV Host)
Mika Salo
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 30, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
 45 
Jukka Nevalainen
(Finnish Musician and Former Drummer of the Symphonic Metal Band 'Nightwish')
Jukka Nevalainen
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 21, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
 46 
Martti Ahtisaari
(Former President of Finland)
Martti Ahtisaari
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: June 23, 1937
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Viipuri, Finland (now Vyborg, Russia)
 47 
Tarja Halonen
(The First Woman to be Finland's President)
Tarja Halonen
4
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 24, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 48 
Urho Kekkonen
(8th President of Finland (1956 - 1952), Prime Minister of Finland (1950 - 1953, 1954 - 1956))
Urho Kekkonen
5
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 3, 1900
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pielavesi, Finland
Died: August 31, 1986
 49 
Tommi Mäkinen
(One of the Most Successful World Rally Championship Drivers of All Time)
Tommi Mäkinen
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 26, 1964
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Puuppola, Finland
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 50 
Kasperi Kapanen
(Finnish Professional Ice Hockey Player Who Plays in the 'Forward' Position)
Kasperi Kapanen
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 23, 1996
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kuopio, Finland
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)