Compound names gain popularity in Estonia

Text Susanna Poikela
Photo Jan Ledermann / Unsplash

The popularity of compound names has risen significantly in Estonia since the country regained independence. In recent decades, nearly one-sixth of boys and almost one-fifth of girls have been given at least two first names, according to Kristjan Erik Loik, a leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, who has studied the trend using data from the Population Register.

In Estonia, an average of 12 people share the same name. As of early 2025, the most common names are Aleksandr (11,786 bearers) and Olga (10,220). However, the Population Register also contains nearly 100,000 names with only one bearer. Many of these are unique combinations, particularly those with three names.

In statistical analyses, each name is treated as distinct, even when a person has multiple first names. For instance, Karl Martin is recorded separately from Karl or Martin. The inclusion of a hyphen further differentiates names: Karl-Martin is considered distinct from Karl Martin. With over 200 nationalities represented in Estonia, the variety of unique names is substantial.

Although compound names are increasing, single names remain prevalent, with 91.9 per cent of the population having just one first name. These account for 34,120 distinct names, half of which have only one bearer. Individuals with two first names make up 7.6 per cent of the population, with nearly 83,000 combinations, 90 per cent of which are unique. Those with three names comprise 0.5 per cent, and 99.6 per cent of their combinations are unique. A mere 0.03 per cent of the population has four or more names.

Compound names are more common among women. The most popular is Mari-Liis (1,158 bearers), followed by Anna-Liisa (412), Anne-Ly (315), Anna-Maria (291), and Pille-Riin (286). All the top five include hyphens. Many popular compound names incorporate “Liis” or its derivatives.

For men, the most popular compound name is Karl-Erik, ranked eighth overall, with 199 bearers. Other common male compound names include Karl Erik (150), Karl Martin (126), and Karl-Martin (125). “Karl” is the most frequent component in compound male names, with hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions enjoying nearly equal popularity.

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