List of Finns

Actors and actresses

• Ida Aalberg
• Jouko Ahola
• Joalin Loukamaa
• Olavi Ahonen
• Irina Björklund
• Anna Easteden
• Samuli Edelmann
• Peter Franzén
• George Gaynes
• Gina Goldberg
• Beat-Sofi Granqvist
• Ville Haapasalo
• Anna-Leena Härkönen
• Ansa Ikonen
• Anni-Kristiina Juuso
• Kata Kärkkäinen
• Krista Kosonen
• Marta Kristen
• Mikko Leppilampi
• Vesa-Matti Loiri
• Masa Niemi
• Maila "Vampira" Nurmi
• Kati Outinen
• Jasper Pääkkönen
• Turo Pajala
• Tauno Palo
• Pertti "Spede" Pasanen
• Matti Pellonpää
• Lasse Pöysti
• Oiva Sala
• Pentti Siimes
• Maria Silfvan – possibly Finland's first actress
• Markku Toikka

Architects

• Aino Aalto
• Alvar Aalto
• Marco Casagrande
• Herman Gesellius
• Elna Kiljander
• Juha Leiviskä
• Yrjö Lindegren
• Armas Lindgren
• Wivi Lönn
• Juhani Pallasmaa
• Reima Pietilä
• Viljo Revell
• Aarno Ruusuvuori
• Kerttu Rytkönen
• Eero Saarinen
• Eliel Saarinen
• J. S. Sirén
• Lars Sonck
• Josef Stenbäck
• Uno Ullberg
• Martti Välikangas

Visual artists

• Wäinö Aaltonen – sculptor
• Eija-Liisa Ahtila – photographer, video artist
• Helena Arnell – painter
• Margareta Capsia – painter
• Emil Cedercreutz – sculptor
• Albert Edelfelt – painter
• Magnus Enckell – painter
• Gunnar Finne – sculptor
• Hilda Flodin – sculptor
• Alina Forsman – sculptor
• Akseli Gallen-Kallela – painter
• Jorma Gallen-Kallela – painter
• Eemil Halonen – sculptor
• Pekka Halonen – painter
• Edith Hammar – illustrator and cartoonist
• Edvin Hevonkoski – sculptor
• Eila Hiltunen – sculptor
• Kari Huhtamo – sculptor
• Tuuli Hypén – cartoonist
• Tove Jansson – painter, illustrator, and cartoonist of Moomin
• Viktor Jansson – sculptor
• Antti Jokinen – video director in Hollywood
• Eero Järnefelt – painter
• Ville Juurikkala – photographer
• Rudolf Koivu – illustrator
• Mauri Kunnas
• Touko Laaksonen (Tom of Finland) – fetish artist
• Kari T. Leppänen – cartoonist
• Sven Lokka – painter and writer
• Otto Maja – graffiti artist
• Totte Mannes – painter
• Arno Rafael Minkkinen – photographer
• Helvi Mustonen – painter
• Kalervo Palsa – painter
• Tuulikki Pietilä – graphic artist
• Walter Runeberg – sculptor
• Sampsa – painter and street artist
• Helene Schjerfbeck – painter
• Hugo Simberg – painter
• Venny Soldan-Brofeldt – painter
• Kaj Stenvall – painter
• Kari Suomalainen – painter and cartoonist
• Reidar Särestöniemi – painter
• Kain Tapper – sculptor
• Ellen Thesleff – painter
• Salla Tykkä
• Ville Vallgren – sculptor
• Marja Vallila – sculptor

Businesspeople

• Sari Baldauf – former Nokia executive
• Wilhelm Schauman – industrialist
• – CEO of Metso
• Aatos Erkko – minister, billionaire and major owner of Sanoma
• Maija-Liisa Friman – board member of several companies
• Harry Harkimo – businessman in ice hockey business
• Antti Herlin – chairman of the board of KONE, the richest man in Finland with assets worth over 1 billion euros in KONE stock owned through his holding companies
• Sara Hildén – businesswoman and art collector
• Fredrik Idestam – industrialist and founder of Nokia
• Kari Kairamo – former CEO of Nokia
• Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo – former CEO of Nokia
• Jorma Ollila – former CEO of Nokia, Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell
• Kirsti Paakkanen – former CEO of Marimekko
• Kaj-Erik Relander – businessman and investor, former CEO of Sonera
• Jaana Tuominen – CEO of Paulig
• Björn Wahlroos – Chairman of Sampo
• Rudolf Walden – founder of United Paper Mills
• Poju Zabludowicz – billionaire, philanthropist, and owner of Tamares Group

Computer pioneers

• Johan Helsingius – creator and operator of The Penet remailer
• Aapo Kyrölä – creator of Sulake
• Jarkko Oikarinen – creator of Internet Relay Chat
• Linus Torvalds – initial creator of Linux kernel
• Michael Widenius – creator of MySQL
• Tatu Ylönen – creator of SSH

Designers

• Eero Rislakki
• Eero Aarnio
• Erik Bruun
• Kaj Franck
• Maija Isola
• Valto Kokko
• Stefan Lindfors
• Vuokko Nurmesniemi
• Katja Pettersson
• Timo Sarpaneva
• Esteri Tomula
• Tapio Wirkkala

Filmmakers

• Zaida Bergroth
• Jörn Donner
• Anna Eriksson
• Renny Harlin
• Klaus Härö
• Jalmari Helander
• Erkki Karu
• Dome Karukoski
• Aki Kaurismäki
• Mika Kaurismäki
• Ere Kokkonen
• Juho Kuosmanen
• Edvin Laine
• Glory Leppänen
• Aku Louhimies
• Auli Mantila
• Taru Mäkelä
• Mikko Niskanen
• Risto Orko
• Spede Pasanen
• Diana Ringo
• Pamela Tola
• Teuvo Tulio
• Valentin Vaala
• Johanna Vuoksenmaa
• Timo Vuorensola

Musicians

Classical

• Kalevi Aho – composer
• Paavo Berglund – conductor
• Linda Brava – violinist
• Mikko Franck – conductor
• Ralf Gothóni – pianist
• Ilkka Kuusisto – composer
• Pekka Kuusisto – conductor, violinist, composer
• Jaakko Kuusisto – conductor, violinist, composer
• Risto Lauriala – pianist
• Hannu Lintu – conductor
• Klaus Mäkelä – conductor, cellist
• Janne Mertanen – pianist
• Olli Mustonen – pianist, composer
• Sakari Oramo – conductor
• Selim Palmgren – composer, pianist, conductor
• Jorma Panula – conductor and conducting educator pioneer
• Einojuhani Rautavaara – composer
• Herman Rechberger – composer
• Santtu-Matias Rouvali – conductor, percussionist
• Kaija Saariaho – composer
• Esa-Pekka Salonen – conductor, composer
• Jukka-Pekka Saraste – conductor
• Jean Sibelius – composer
• Dalia Stasevska – conductor
• John Storgårds – conductor
• Elina Vähälä – violinist
• Osmo Vänskä – conductor, composer, clarinetist
• Sauli Zinovjev – composer
• Diana Ringo – composer

Electronic

• Aku Raski a.k.a. Huoratron - musician, DJ and producer
• Miika Eloranta & Janne Mansnerus – musicians, producers
• Paavo Siljamäki – DJ and producer; part of a Trance music group Above & Beyond
• Jori Hulkkonen – DJ, musician, producer
• Petri Kuljuntausta – composer, musician
• Erkki Kurenniemi – musician, inventor
• Lassi Lehto a.k.a. Jimi Tenor – acid jazz musician
• Lassi Nikko a.k.a. Brothomstates a.k.a. Dune – musician
• Sasu Ripatti a.k.a. Vladislav Delay – musician, DJ
• Esa Juhani Ruoho a.k.a. Lackluster – musician
• Jaakko Salovaara a.k.a. JS16 – musician, producer
• Mika Vainio – musician, member of Pan Sonic
• Ville Virtanen a.k.a. Darude
• Ilpo Väisänen – musician, member of Pan Sonic
• Heidi Kilpeläinen – multimedia artist, singer and recording artist, known by the stage name HK119
• Diana Ringo – composer

Folk

• Islaja – acid folk singer
• Konsta Jylhä – folk musician
• Maria Kalaniemi – folk music accordion player
• Sanna Kurki-Suonio – folk music singer
• Lau Nau – acid folk singer
• Gösta Sundqvist – folk music singer, Leevi and the Leavings' singer
• Jenny Wilhelms – folk music singer

Metal

• Marko Hietala – bassist and backing vocalist of Nightwish, main vocalist and co-founding member of Tarot
• Zachary Hietala – guitarist and co-founding member of Tarot
• Sami Hinkka – bassist and lyricist of Ensiferum
• Esa Holopainen – Main songwriter, current lead guitarist, and founding member of the Finnish metal band Amorphis
• Tuomas Holopainen – composer, songwriter, keyboardplayer and founding member of Nightwish
• Jan Jämsen – ex-vocalist and current lyricist of folk metal band Finntroll
• Tomi Joutsen – lead singer of Amorphis
• Tony Kakko – vocalist, composer and songwriter of Sonata Arctica
• Jari Kainulainen – ex-bassist of Stratovarius
• Antti Boman – guitarist and vocalist of death metal band Demilich
• Perttu Kivilaakso – cellist of cello-metal band Apocalyptica
• Timo Kotipelto – lead singer of Stratovarius
• Ville Laihiala – frontman of Sentenced and Poisonblack
• Alexi Laiho – frontman and lead guitarist of Children of Bodom
• Roope Latvala – guitarist of Children of Bodom
• Jani Liimatainen – former guitarist for Sonata Arctica
• Petri Lindroos – guitarist and main vocalist of Ensiferum and formerly Norther
• Jari Mäenpää – composer, singer and guitarist of Ensiferum and Wintersun
• Jukka Nevalainen – drummer of Nightwish
• Anne Nurmi – vocalist and keyboard player of Lacrimosa
• Janne Parviainen – drummer of Ensiferum, Sinergy and Barathrum
• Tomi Putaansuu – frontman and singer of Lordi
• Jaska Raatikainen – drummer for Children of Bodom
• Sami Raatikainen – guitarist for Necrophagist
• Henkka Seppälä – bassist for Children of Bodom
• Emmi Silvennoinen – keyboardist of Ensiferum
• Jani Stefanovic – guitarist, drummer, keyboardist, and bassist for Miseration and Solution.45, formerly of Crimson Moonlight and Renascent
• Markus Toivonen – founder, guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist of Ensiferum
• Timo Tolkki – guitarist and ex-singer of Stratovarius
• Eicca Toppinen – cellist of cello-metal band Apocalyptica
• Emppu Vuorinen – guitarist of Nightwish
• Janne Wirman – keyboard player of Children of Bodom

Opera

• Emmy Achté – mezzo-soprano
• Aino Ackté – soprano
• Ida Basilier-Magelssen – soprano
• Kim Borg – bass
• Monica Groop – mezzo-soprano
• Alma Fohström – soprano
• Elin Fohström – soprano
• Jorma Hynninen – baritone
• Soile Isokoski – soprano
• Tom Krause – bass-baritone
• Karita Mattila – soprano
• Matti Salminen – bass
• Martti Talvela – bass
• Tarja Turunen – soprano

Other

A–M

• Jonne Aaron – frontman of Negative
• Ismo Alanko – rock musician
• Jukka Ammondt – literature professor and musician who has recorded songs of Elvis Presley in Latin and Sumerian.
• Nikke Ankara – rap musician
• Mikko Aspa – lead singer of Deathspell Omega and owner of Northern Heritage label
• Kirill Babitzin
• Maximilian Theodor Buch – historic academic and nationalist
• Carola – jazz and pop singer
• Elastinen – rap musician, half of the rap duo Fintelligens
• Cheek – rap musician, broke many Spotify records in Finland
• Irwin Goodman a.k.a. Antti Hammarberg – protest singer
• Sara Forsberg a.k.a. SAARA – Swedish-Finnish American
• Samu Haber – singer and guitarist from Sunrise Avenue, solo singer-songwriter and tv music competition judge
• Aki Hakala – drummer of The Rasmus
• Hector
• Lasse Heikkilä – composer, songwriter, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist
• Eero Heinonen – bassist of The Rasmus
• Reino Helismaa
• Janita – soul, pop, and alternative singer-songwriter
• Tomi Joutsen – lead singer of Amorphis
• Markus Kaarlonen – "Captain" keyboardist and producer of rock band Poets of the Fall
• Maria Kalaniemi
• Mika Karppinen – drummer from the band HIM
• Viktor Klimenko
• Samuli Kosminen
• Sakari Kukko
• Mikko Kuustonen – singer-songwriter
• Hildá Länsman – Sámi pop singer
• Juice Leskinen – rock musician
• Mikko Lindström – guitarist from the band HIM
• Jyrki Linnankivi – lead singer of the 69 Eyes
• Jaska Makinen – rhythm guitarist of rock band Poets of the Fall
• Tommy Mansikka-Aho
• Jarkko Martikainen
• Andy McCoy – former guitarist of Hanoi Rocks, rock musician
• Michael Monroe – former singer of Hanoi Rocks, rock musician
• Käärijä a.k.a. Jere Mikael Pöyhönen – rap musician and Finland's representative in Eurovision Song Contest 2023

N–Z

• Sara Nunes – singer
• Sandhja
• Tuomari Nurmio
• Harri Nuutinen
• Mikko Paananen – bass player for the rock band HIM
• Olga Oinola – President of the Finnish Women Association
• Hanna Pakarinen – pop singer
• Paleface – rap musician
• Maukka Perusjätkä – punk rocker
• Mika Pohjola – jazz pianist and composer
• Pekka Pohjola
• Kimmo Pohjonen
• Lauri Porra
• Janne Puurtinen – keyboard player from the band HIM
• Iiro Rantala
• Riku Rajamaa – lead guitarist and background singer from Sunrise Avenue, also active as a singer-songwriter
• Pauli Rantasalmi – guitarist of The Rasmus
• Tapio Rautavaara
• Marko Saaresto – lyricist, lead singer of rock band Poets of the Fall
• Jari Salminen – drummer of rock band Poets of the Fall
• Jari Sillanpää – Finnish "tango king", singer
• Sir Christus – former guitarist for the band Negative
• Aki Sirkesalo – singer
• Jani "Hellboy" Snellman – bass guitarist of rock band Poets of the Fall
• Kyllikki Solanterä – popular singer, vocal teacher and lyricist
• Topi Sorsakoski – schlager and rock'n'roll singer
• Gösta Sundqvist
• Jonna Tervomaa – pop singer
• Jukka Tolonen
• Antti Tuisku – pop musician,
• Olli Tukiainen – lead guitarist of rock band Poets of the Fall
• Tellu Turkka
• Tarja Turunen – former lead singer of the symphonic metal band Nightwish
• Petri Walli
• Juha Watt Vainio
• Ville Valo – lead singer of HIM
• Edward Vesala – jazz musician, composer, drummer
• Jussi Heikki Tapio Vuori drummer of the 69 Eyes
• Olavi Virta – singer
• Laura Voutilainen – pop singer
• Maija Vilkkumaa – pop/rock singer
• Lauri Ylönen – lead singer of The Rasmus
• A. W. Yrjänä – rock singer, bass guitarist, songwriter, poet

Musical groups

• The 69 Eyes
• Amorphis
• Apocalyptica
• Apulanta
• Blind Channel
• Bomfunk MC’s
• Children Of Bodom
• Darude
• HIM
• Lordi
• Nightwish
• Nylon Beat
• PMMP
• Poets of the Fall
• The Rasmus
• Sonata Arctica
• Stam1na
• Stratovarius

Philosophers

• Timo Airaksinen
• Lili Alanen
• Anders Chydenius
• Arto Haapala
• Jaakko Hintikka
• Pekka Himanen
• Matti Häyry
• Eino Kaila
• Raili Kauppi
• S. Albert Kivinen
• Pentti Linkola
• Eeva-Liisa Manner
• Ilkka Niiniluoto
• Esa Saarinen
• J. V. Snellman
• Eero Tarasti
• Raimo Tuomela
• Thomas Wallgren
• Edward Westermarck
• Georg Henrik von Wright

Politicians

• Esko Aho – prime minister 1991–1995
• Martti Ahtisaari – United Nations diplomat and mediator; Nobel Peace Prize winner; president of Finland 1994–2000
• Karl-August Fagerholm – politician
• Tarja Halonen – First female president of Finland, 2000–2012
• Satu Hassi – MEP
• Heidi Hautala – MEP
• Harri Holkeri – prime minister and UN diplomat
• Ville Itälä – MEP
• Max Jakobson – UN diplomat
• Anneli Jäätteenmäki – prime minister 2003
• Kyösti Kallio – president of Finland 1937–1940
• Urho Kekkonen – president of Finland 1956–1982
• Mari Kiviniemi – prime minister 2010–2011
• Mauno Koivisto – president of Finland 1982–1994
• Aleksander von Kothen – senator
• Hertta Kuusinen – communist politician
• Otto Ville Kuusinen – head of the communist Terijoki Government, later Soviet politician
• Axel Lille – founder of the Swedish People's Party
• Paavo Lipponen – prime minister 1995–2003, the first speaker of the Finnish Parliament 2003–2007
• Maria Lohela – speaker of the Finnish Parliament 2015–2018
• Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim – commander-in-chief, regent, president 1944–1946
• Sanna Marin – prime minister 2019–2023
• Martti Miettunen – prime minister 1961–1962 and 1975–1977
• Sauli Niinistö – president of Finland 2012–
• Juho Kusti Paasikivi – president of Finland 1946–1956
• Lauri Kristian Relander – president of Finland 1925–1931
• Elisabeth Rehn – politician
• Olli Rehn – commissioner and vice-president of the European Commission
• Heikki Ritavuori – assassinated minister
• Risto Ryti – president of Finland 1940–1944
• Miina Sillanpää – minister
• Taisto Sinisalo – communist politician
• Helvi Sipilä – UN diplomat
• Juha Sipilä – prime minister 2015–2019
• Johan Vilhelm Snellman – writer and senator
• Osmo Soininvaara – minister
• Kalevi Sorsa – prime minister
• Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg – president of Finland 1919–1925
• Ulf Sundqvist
• Pehr Evind Svinhufvud – regent and president of Finland 1931–1937
• Väinö Tanner – prime minister 1926–1927
• Oskari Tokoi – prime minister 1917
• Erkki Tuomioja – foreign minister
• Martti Turunen – Japanese Diet member of Finnish origin 2001–
• Matti Vanhanen – prime minister 2003–2010
• Johannes Virolainen – prime minister in 1964–1966
• Hella Wuolijoki – parliamentarian, writer

Scientists

• Lars Valerian Ahlfors – mathematician, Fields Medalist 1936
• Väinö Auer – explorer, geologist, geographer
• Matthias Castren – ethnologist
• Anders Chydenius – classical liberal
• Kari Enqvist – cosmologist
• Teppo Felin – professor at the University of Oxford
• Johan Gadolin – chemist
• Ragnar Granit – medicine, Nobelist
• Hilma Granqvist – anthropologist
• Ilkka Hanski – Crafoord Prize winning ecologist
• Bengt Holmström – economist, Nobelist
• Kimmo Innanen – astronomer
• Pehr Kalm – botanist
• Teuvo Kohonen – neurocomputing pioneer
• Anders Johan Lexell – mathematician, astronomer
• Ernst Lindelöf – mathematician, researcher of function theory and topology
• Olli Lounasmaa – physicist, researcher of low-temperature physics
• Hjalmar Mellin – mathematician
• Risto Näätänen – psychologist and neuroscientist
• Rolf Nevanlinna – mathematician
• Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld – mineralogist
• Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld – polar explorer, political refugee in Sweden
• Gunnar Nordström – theoretical physicist
• Aili Nurminen – meteorologist
• Liisi Oterma – astronomer
• Leena Palotie – gene scientist
• Simo Parpola – orientalist, assyriologist
• Tuija I. Pulkkinen – space scientist
• Helena Ranta – pathologist, forensic dentist
• Eric Tigerstedt – inventor, Thomas Edison of Finland
• Kari S. Tikka – justice and finance professor
• Esko Valtaoja – astronomer
• Tatu Vanhanen – political scientist
• Artturi Ilmari Virtanen – chemist, Nobelist
• Vilho Väisälä – mathematician, inventor of meteorological instruments
• Yrjö Väisälä – astronomer, meteorologist
• Edvard Westermarck – philosopher, sociologist
• Joy Wolfram – nanoscientist
• Arvo Ylppö – pediatrician

Soldiers

• Aksel Airo – general
• Adolf Ehrnrooth – general
• Axel Heinrichs – general
• Simo Häyhä – first lieutenant, sharpshooter 505 confirmed sniper kills
• Aarne Juutilainen – captain
• Eino Ilmari Juutilainen – pilot, twice knight of Mannerheim cross
• Jorma Karhunen – pilot, aviation writer
• Jussi Kekkonen – major, younger brother of president Urho Kekkonen
• Aimo Koivunen – corporal
• Ruben Lagus – major general
• Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim – marshal of Finland
• Vilho Petter Nenonen – general
• Karl Lennart Oesch – lieutenant general
• Mika Peltonen – brigadier general
• Jorma Sarvanto – fighter pilot, World War II ace
• Waldemar Schauman – lieutenant general, politician
• Ensio Siilasvuo – general
• Hjalmar Siilasvuo – general
• Georg Magnus Sprengtporten – general
• Torsten Stålhandske – commander of Hakkapelites
• Paavo Susitaival – lieutenant colonel
• Lauri Sutela – general
• Paavo Talvela – general
• Lauri Törni – captain
• Rudolf Walden – general
• Kurt Martti Wallenius – major general
• Hans Wind – pilot, twice knight of Mannerheim cross
• Harald Öhquist – lieutenant general
• Hugo Österman – lieutenant general
• Karl Fredrik Wilkama – general of the infantry

Sportspeople

Athletics

• Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto – ultramarathoner and extreme endurance athlete
• Arto Bryggare – hurdling athlete
• Sari Essayah – race walker, world champion
• Tommi Evilä – long jumper
• Arsi Harju – shot putter, Olympic champion
• Eduard Hämäläinen – decathlete
• Arto Härkönen – javelin thrower, Olympic champion
• Gunnar Höckert – runner, Olympic champion
• Volmari Iso-Hollo – runner, two Olympic gold medals
• Akilles Järvinen – decathlete
• Matti Järvinen – javelin thrower, Olympic champion
• Verner Järvinen – discus thrower, Olympic champion
• Kaarlo Kangasniemi – weightlifter, Olympic champion 1968 Mexico
• Olli-Pekka Karjalainen – hammer thrower
• Veikko Karvonen – marathon runner
• Elias Katz – runner, Olympic champion and silver
• Jukka Keskisalo – runner
• Kimmo Kinnunen – javelin thrower, world champion
• Hannes Kolehmainen – runner, four Olympic gold medals
• Valentin Kononen – race walker, world champion
• Tapio Korjus – javelin thrower, Olympic champion
• Teodor Koskenniemi – runner, Olympic champion
• Paavo Kotila – marathon runner
• Harri Larva – runner, Olympic champion
• Lauri Lehtinen – runner, Olympic champion
• Eero Lehtonen – pentathlete, two Olympic gold medals
• Heikki Liimatainen – runner, two Olympic gold medals
• Tiina Lillak – javelin thrower, world champion
• Toivo Loukola – runner, Olympic champion
• Taisto Mäki – long-distance runner, multiple world record holder
• Jonni Myyrä – javelin thrower, two Olympic gold medals
• Pauli Nevala – javelin thrower, Olympic champion
• Elmer Niklander – discus thrower and shot putter, Olympic champion
• Paavo Nurmi – runner, nine Olympic gold medals
• Eino Oksanen – marathon runner
• Aki Parviainen – javelin thrower, world champion
• Tero Pitkämäki – javelin thrower, world champion
• Ville Pörhölä – shot putter, Olympic champion
• Heli Rantanen – javelin thrower, Olympic champion
• Tapio Rautavaara – javelin thrower, Olympic champion
• Ville Ritola – runner, five Olympic gold medals
• Seppo Räty – javelin thrower, three Olympic medals, world champion
• Julius Saaristo – javelin thrower, Olympic champion
• Ilmari Salminen – runner, Olympic champion
• Albin Stenroos – marathon runner, Olympic champion
• Olavi Suomalainen – marathon runner
• Armas Taipale – discus thrower, Olympic champion
• Juha Tiainen – hammer thrower, Olympic champion
• Abraham Tokazier – sprinter
• Vilho Tuulos – triple jumper, Olympic champion
• Pekka Vasala – runner, Olympic champion
• Lasse Virén – runner, four Olympic gold medals
• Paavo Yrjölä – decathlete, Olympic champion

Basketball

• Petteri Koponen – basketball player, first Finnish first round pick in NBA draft
• Lauri Markkanen – basketball player, currently with the NBA's Utah Jazz
• Hanno Möttölä – basketball player, first Finnish NBA player
• Miron Ruina – Finnish-Israeli basketball player

Football

• Abiola Bamijoko
• Alexei Eremenko Jr.
• Roman Eremenko
• Mikael Forssell
• Kasper Hämäläinen
• Markus Heikkinen
• Lukáš Hrádecký
• Sami Hyypiä
• Jonatan Johansson
• Jussi Jääskeläinen
• Joonas Kolkka
• Shefki Kuqi
• Jari Litmanen
• Niklas Moisander
• Antti Niemi
• Mixu Paatelainen
• Petri Pasanen
• Juhani Peltonen
• Roni Porokara
• Aki Riihilahti
• Aulis Rytkönen
• Rasmus Schüller
• Mikko Siivikko
• Teemu Tainio
• Niilo Tammisalo
• Hannu Tihinen
• Mika Väyrynen
• Mika Ääritalo
• Teemu Pukki
• Anssi Jaakkola
• Markku Kanerva
• Joel Pohjanpalo
• Glen Kamara

Ice hockey

A–K

• Antti Aalto
• Sebastian Aho
• Sami Aittokallio
• Aleksander Barkov
• Aki Berg
• Sean Bergenheim
• Timo Blomqvist
• Niklas Bäckström
• Toni Eskelinen
• Mikko Eloranta
• Valtteri Filppula
• Mikael Granlund
• Tuomas Grönman
• Anne Haanpää
• Matti Hagman
• Niklas Hagman
• Maija Hassinen-Sullanmaa
• Riku Hahl
• Sanni Hakala
• Teemu Hartikainen
• Ilkka Heikkinen
• Miro Heiskanen
• Riku Helenius
• Anne Helin
• Raimo Helminen
• Jukka Hentunen
• Jenni Hiirikoski
• Roope Hintz
• Kim Hirschovits
• Elisa Holopainen
• Venla Hovi
• Jani Hurme
• Erik Hämäläinen
• Kirsi Hänninen
• Marianne Ihalainen
• Jarkko Immonen
• Mira Jalosuo
• Jesse Joensuu
• Jussi Jokinen
• Olli Jokinen
• Timo Jutila
• Hannu Järvenpää
• Iiro Järvi
• Valtteri Järviluoma
• Kaapo Kakko
• Tomi Kallio
• Niko Kapanen
• Sami Kapanen
• Kasperi Kapanen
• Jere Karalahti
• Michelle Karvinen
• Anni Keisala
• Esa Keskinen
• Markus Ketterer
• Satu Kiipeli
• Anna Kilponen
• Marko Kiprusoff
• Miikka Kiprusoff
• Mikko Koivu
• Saku Koivu – current IOC member
• Leo Komarov
• Petri Kontiola
• Lauri Korpikoski
• Sari Krooks
• Mira Kuisma
• Lasse Kukkonen
• Jari Kurri

L–Q

• Teemu Laakso
• Antti Laaksonen
• Erkki Laine
• Mikko Laine
• Patrik Laine
• Nelli Laitinen
• Janne Laukkanen
• Esa Lehikoinen
• Tero Lehterä
• Jere Lehtinen
• Erkki Lehtonen
• Kari Lehtonen
• Mikko Lehtonen
• Mikko Lehtonen
• Ville Leino
• Juha Lind
• Esa Lindell
• Perttu Lindgren
• Rosa Lindstedt
• Jyrki Lumme
• Mikko Luoma
• Toni Lydman
• Pentti Lund
• Lauri Marjamäki
• Sari Marjamäki
• Jussi Markkanen
• Terhi Mertanen
• Antti Miettinen
• Reijo Mikkolainen
• Jarmo Myllys
• Olli Määttä
• Mikko Mäkelä
• Niina Mäkinen
• Antti Niemi
• Antti-Jussi Niemi
• Saara Niemi
• Mika Nieminen
• Petra Nieminen
• Ville Nieminen
• Janne Niinimaa
• Antero Niittymäki
• Janne Niskala
• Tanja Niskanen
• Petteri Nokelainen
• Mika Noronen
• Fredrik Norrena
• Petteri Nummelin
• Teppo Numminen
• Pasi Nurminen
• Emma Nuutinen
• Janne Öfverström
• Janne Ojanen
• Suvi Ollikainen
• Joni Ortio
• Kai Ortio
• Oskar Osala
• Marko Palo
• Oona Parviainen
• Mari Pehkonen
• Ville Peltonen
• Heidi Pelttari
• Harri Pesonen
• Janne Pesonen
• Tuomas Pihlman
• Antti Pihlström
• Joni Pitkänen
• Mariia Posa
• Jesse Puljujärvi
• Tuula Puputti
• Mika Pyörälä
• Marja-Helena Pälvilä
• Timo Pärssinen

R–Z

• Isa Rahunen
• Annina Rajahuhta
• Tiina Ranne
• Karoliina Rantamäki
• Mikko Rantanen
• Joonas Rask
• Tuukka Rask
• Katja Riipi
• Pekka Rinne
• Kimmo Rintanen
• Jani Rita
• Arto Ruotanen
• Reijo Ruotsalainen
• Christian Ruuttu
• Jarkko Ruutu
• Tuomo Ruutu
• Jussi Rynnäs
• Noora Räty
• Meeri Räisänen
• Juuso Rämö
• Karri Rämö
• Noora Räty
• Saila Saari
• Mari Saarinen
• Simo Saarinen
• Maria Saarni
• Riikka Sallinen
• Anssi Salmela
• Tony Salmelainen
• Sami Salo
• Tommi Santala
• Eve Savander
• Ronja Savolainen
• Teemu Selänne
• Essi Sievers
• Hanne Sikiö
• Jenna Silvonen
• Ilkka Sinisalo
• Ville Sirén
• Petri Skriko
• Liisa-Maria Sneck
• Mika Strömberg
• Kai Suikkanen
• Ari Sulander
• Raimo Summanen
• Eveliina Suonpää
• Timo Susi
• Keijo Säilynoja
• Sara Säkkinen
• Nora Tallus
• Jukka Tammi
• Vilma Tanskanen
• Susanna Tapani
• Saija Tarkki
• Emma Terho – current IOC member
• Teuvo Teräväinen
• Esa Tikkanen
• Nina Tikkinen
• Kimmo Timonen
• Jari Torkki
• Vesa Toskala
• Noora Tulus
• Minttu Tuominen
• Satu Tuominen
• Pekka Tuomisto
• Antti Törmänen
• Petra Vaarakallio
• Vilma Vaattovaara
• Viivi Vainikka
• Anna Vanhatalo
• Petri Varis
• Sami Vatanen
• Ella Viitasuo
• Hannu Virta
• Päivi Virta
• Jukka Virtanen
• Marjo Voutilainen
• Linda Välimäki
• Ossi Väänänen
• Petteri Wirtanen
• Juha Ylönen

Motorsports

• Mika Ahola – enduro rider
• Pentti Airikkala – rally driver
• Markku Alén – rally driver
• Samuli Aro – enduro rider
• Valtteri Bottas – Formula One driver
• Toni Gardemeister – rally driver
• Marcus Grönholm – rally driver. 2 time World Champion
• Mikko Hirvonen – rally driver
• Mika Häkkinen – Formula One driver 2 time World Champion
• Mika Kallio – motorcycle racer
• Juha Kankkunen – rally driver. 4 time World Champion
• Leo Kinnunen – Formula One driver
• Heikki Kovalainen – Formula One driver
• Teuvo Länsivuori – motorcycle racer
• Jari-Matti Latvala – rally driver
• JJ Lehto – Formula One driver
• Hannu Mikkola – rally driver
• Heikki Mikkola – motocross racer
• Timo Mäkinen – rally driver
• Tommi Mäkinen – rally driver. 4 time World Champion
• Kauko Nieminen – speedway racer
• Taru Rinne – motorcycle racer
• Keke Rosberg – Formula One driver, World Champion 1982
• Harri Rovanperä – rally driver
• Kalle Rovanperä - rally driver
• Kimi Räikkönen – Formula One driver, World Champion in 2007; rally driver; NASCAR driver
• Jarno Saarinen – motorcycle racer
• Juha Salminen – enduro rider
• Mika Salo – Formula One driver
• Timo Salonen – rally driver
• Kari Tiainen – enduro rider
• Henri Toivonen – rally driver
• Ari Vatanen – rally driver

Rowing

• Yrjö Hietanen – rower, two Olympic gold medals
• Pertti Karppinen – rower, three Olympic gold medals
• Kurt Wires – rower, two Olympic gold medals

Winter sports

• Janne Ahonen – ski jumper
• Antti Autti – snowboarder
• Eero Ettala – snowboarder, 2006 World Champion
• Veikko Hakulinen – cross-country skier, three Olympic gold medals
• Janne Happonen – ski jumper
• Heikki Hasu – Nordic combined, two Olympic gold medals
• Matti Hautamäki – ski jumper
• Antti Hyvärinen – ski jumper
• Kalevi Hämäläinen – cross-country skier
• Risto Jussilainen – ski jumper
• Marjatta Kajosmaa – cross-country skier
• Veikko Kankkonen – ski jumper
• Jouko Karjalainen – Nordic combined
• Klaes Karppinen – cross-country skier
• Kalle Keituri – ski jumper
• Harri Kirvesniemi – cross-country skier
• Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi – cross-country skier, three Olympic gold medals
• Anssi Koivuranta – Nordic combined
• Kiira Korpi – figure skater
• Markku Koski – snowboarder and Olympic bronze medalist
• Kai Kovaljeff – ski jumper
• Hilkka Kuntola – cross-country skier
• Risto Laakkonen – ski jumper
• Janne Lahtela – freestyle skier
• Mika Laitinen – ski jumper
• Samppa Lajunen – Olympic gold medalist and
• Ville Larinto – ski jumper
• Janne Leskinen – alpine skier
• Hannu Manninen – Nordic combined
• Marjo Matikainen-Kallström – cross-country skier
• Juha Mieto – cross-country skier
• Olli Muotka – ski jumper
• Kaija Mustonen – speed skater
• Mika Myllylä – cross-country skier
• Eero Mäntyranta – cross-country skier, three Olympic gold medals
• Toni Nieminen – ski jumper, two Olympic gold medals
• Ari-Pekka Nikkola – ski jumper, two Olympic gold medals
• Matti Nykänen – ski jumper, four Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal
• Harri Olli– ski jumper
• Kalle Palander – skier
• Peetu Piiroinen – snowboarder, one Olympic silver medal
• Tanja Poutiainen – skier
• Jari Puikkonen – ski jumper
• Siiri Rantanen – cross-country skier
• Marjut Rolig – cross-country skier, one olympic gold- and silver medal
• Mikko Ronkainen – freestyle skier
• Janne Ryynänen – Nordic combined
• Veli Saarinen – cross-country skier
• Julius Skutnabb – speed skater
• Jani Soininen – ski jumper
• Helena Takalo – cross-country skier
• Jaakko Tallus – Nordic combined
• Clas Thunberg – speed skater, five Olympic gold medals
• Jouko Törmänen – ski jumper
• Tuomo Ylipulli – ski jumper
• Kaisa Mäkäräinen – biathlete, one-time World Champion, 6 total medals at World Championships

Other

• Paavo Aaltonen – gymnast, three Olympic gold medals
• Jouko Ahola – World's strongest man champion twice
• Patrik Antonius – High-stakes poker player
• Kalle Anttila – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals
• Kike Elomaa – IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Veikka Gustafsson – mountain climber
• Veikko Huhtanen – gymnast, three Olympic gold medals
• Nalle Hukkataival - professional rock climber, first person to ascend a 9A grade boulder
• Robin Hull – snooker player
• Mikko Ilonen – golfer
• Mika Immonen – pool player
• Antti Kasvio – swimmer
• Minna Kauppi – orienteer, nine-time World Champion
• Marko Kemppainen – skeet shooter
• Mika Koivuniemi – ten-pin bowler
• Väinö Kokkinen – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals
• Pentti Linnosvuo – sport shooter, two Olympic gold medals
• Matti Mattsson – swimmer, one World Championship bronze medal
• Jarkko Nieminen – tennis player
• Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala – inventor of Finnish baseball
• Kustaa Pihlajamäki – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals
• Jarno Pihlava – swimmer
• Arto Saari – pro skateboarder
• Ale Saarvala – gymnast, two Olympic gold medals
• Kasperi Salo – badminton player
• Heikki Savolainen – gymnast, two Olympic gold medals
• Hanna-Maria Seppälä – swimmer, World champion
• Jani Sievinen – swimmer, one Olympic silver and many other international medals, mostly gold medals. Most decorated Finnish swimmer
• Markku Uusipaavalniemi – curler
• Anu Viheriäranta – ballet dancer
• Antti Viitikko – badminton player
• Janne Virtanen – world's strongest man champion
• Emil Väre – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals
• Verner Weckman – wrestler, two Olympic gold medals

Theologians, clergymen

• Mikael Agricola
• Bishop Henry
• Lauri Ingman
• Markku Koivisto
• Lars Levi Læstadius
• Leo
• Kari Mäkinen
• Jukka Paarma
• Antti Rantamaa
• Paavo Ruotsalainen
• Frans Ludvig Schauman
• John Vikström

Writers

• Juhani Aho – first professional writer
• Helena Anhava – prolific poet, writer, translator
• Jean M. Auel – American writer of Finnish descent, born as Jean Marie Untinen
• Minna Canth – author
• Bo Carpelan
• Marco Casagrande
• Jörn Donner – author and politician
• Anna Edelheim – journalist
• Elsa Enäjärvi-Haavio – folklorist and cultural critic
• Seikko Eskola – historian
• Pentti Haanpää
• Aarne Haapakoski – pulp writer with pseudonym Outsider
• Paavo Haavikko
• Saima Harmaja – poet
• Laila Hietamies
• Veikko Huovinen
• Antti Hyry
• Anna-Leena Härkönen
• Risto Isomäki – science fiction writer
• Tove Jansson – children's author of Moomin fame
• Maria Jotuni
• Markus Kajo – comedy writer
• Taito Kantonen
• Volter Kilpi
• Marko Kitti
• Aleksis Kivi – first significant author in Finnish
• Leena Krohn
• Torsti Lehtinen – writer and philosopher
• Joel Lehtonen
• Eino Leino
• Rosa Liksom
• Väinö Linna – author of The Unknown Soldier
• Johannes Linnankoski
• Elias Lönnrot – compiled the Kalevala
• Veijo Meri
• Barbara Catharina Mjödh
• Knud Möller
• Jukka Nevakivi
• Pertti Nieminen
• Carita Nyström – Swedish-speaking writer
• Sofi Oksanen
• Arto Paasilinna
• Erno Paasilinna
• Olavi Paavolainen
• Onni Palaste – war novelist
• Antti Puhakka – national romantic poet and politician
• Kalle Päätalo
• Susanne Ringell
• Johan Ludvig Runeberg – national poet
• Pentti Saarikoski
• Frans Emil Sillanpää – Nobelist
• Johanna Sinisalo
• Tommy Tabermann – also known from TV series Have I Got News For You a.k.a. Uutisvuoto
• Marton Taiga – pseudonym of Martti Löfberg
• Jari Tervo – also known from TV series Have I Got News For You a.k.a. Uutisvuoto
• Märta Tikkanen
• Zacharias Topelius – author and historian
• Jouko Turkka
• Antti Tuuri
• Kaari Utrio
• Hella Wuolijoki
• Mika Waltari
• Lauri Viita – poet and novelist known for extreme rhyme skill
• Kjell Westö

Other notables

• Simo Aalto – stage magician
• Kaarlo Bergbom – theatre director, founder of the Finnish National Theatre
• Ior Bock – eccentric
• Donner family
• Karl Fazer – confectionery manufacturer
• Janina Frostell – model, sex symbol and singer
• Tony Halme – show wrestler, politician
• Pirkko Hämäläinen, Ambassador to Austria
• Seppo Hentilä – historian
• Jukka Hilden – member of The Dudesons
• Toni Jerrman – science fiction critic
• Pepe Jürgens – sports commentator
• Vesa Kanniainen – economist and academic
• Liisa Kauppinen – human rights activist
• Helena Kekkonen – peace activist
• Kuikka-Koponen – trickster and conjurer
• Armi Kuusela – Miss Universe 1952
• Jarno Laasala – member of The Dudesons
• Aarne Lakomaa – aircraft designer
• Jarno "Jarppi"/"Jarno2" Leppälä – member of The Dudesons
• Arvi Lind – newscaster
• Fanni Luukkonen – leader of Lotta Svärd
• Venla Luukkonen – Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion
• Sophie Mannerheim – nurse
• Tuomas "Tunna" Milonoff – starring in the Finnish television program Madventures
• Väinö Myllyrinne – the tallest Finn, 248 cm
• Larin Paraske – poem singer
• Hannu-Pekka "HP" Parviainen – member of The Dudesons
• Arndt Pekurinen – pacifist
• Anne Marie Pohtamo – Miss Universe 1975
• Riku Rantala – starring in the Finnish television program Madventures
• Krisse Salminen – comedian and talk show hostess
• Santa Claus
• Eugen Schauman – assassin who killed Nikolai Ivanovich Bobrikov
• Ossian Schauman – founder of Folkhälsan
• August Schauman – publicist, politician, and founder of Hufvudstadsbladet
• Schauman family
• Tabe Slioor – socialite, reporter, photographer; founded the first gossip magazine in Finland
• Nils Torvalds – journalist
• Ole Torvalds – journalist
• Teppo Turkki – futurologist
• Nils-Aslak Valkeapää – Sami activist
• Folke West – traveller