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Finnish exonyms

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Below is a list of Finnish language exonyms for places in non-Finnish-speaking areas:

Note that the Finnish language inflects place names where English use prepositions like in and to. These variants can affect any place name and are inflections, not exonyms. For example Mene Birminghamiin means Go to Birmingham.

General

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Foreign place names containing a direction such as South or Upper are often translated, e.g.:

North Carolina → Pohjois-Carolina; Upper Volta → Ylä-Volta

Belgium

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 Belgium Belgia
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Brussels Bryssel Brussel Dutch
Bruxelles French

China

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 China Kiina
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Beijing Peking
Guangzhou Kanton
Nanjing Nanking

Cuba

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 Cuba Kuuba
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Havana Havanna La Habana Spanish

Cyprus

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 Cyprus Kypros
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Nicosia Nikosia Lefkoşa Turkish
Levkosía Greek

Denmark

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 Denmark Tanska
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Copenhagen Kööpenhamina København Danish
Jutland Jyllanti, Juutinmaa Jylland Danish

Egypt

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 Egypt Egypti
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Alexandria Aleksandria Al-Iskandariyya Standard Arabic
Aswan Assuan Aswān Standard Arabic
Cairo Kairo Al-Qahirah Standard Arabic
Nile River Niili an-Nīl Standard Arabic

Estonia

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Estonian and Finnish are quite closely related and share many words that differ only slightly, such as saar (Estonian) and saari (Finnish) for island. Many Estonian toponyms and even people's names are simply translated into Finnish as if they were Finnish words, creating an unlimited number of potentially existing exonyms. Below are only some frequently encountered examples of these, as well as those where the difference is significant.

 Estonia Viro
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Emajõgi River Emajoki Emajõgi Estonian
Hiiumaa Hiidenmaa Hiiumaa Estonian
Lake Lämmi Kuumajärvi Lämmijärv Estonian
Lake Peipus Peipsijärvi Peipsi järv Estonian
Lake Pihkva Pihkovanjärvi Pihkva järv Estonian
Lake Ülemiste Ülemistejärvi Ülemiste järv Estonian
Naissaar Naissaari Naissaar Estonian
Narva River Narvanjoki Narva jõgi Estonian
Revala Rääveli Rävala Estonian Archaic
Saaremaa Saarenmaa Saaremaa Estonian
Suur Munamägi Iso Munamäki Suur Munamägi Estonian
Tallinn Tallinna Tallinn Estonian
Tartu Tartto Tartu Estonian
Võrtsjärv Võrtsjärvi Võrtsjärv Estonian

Finland

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 Finland Suomi
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Åland Ahvenanmaa Åland Swedish
Bergö Susiluoto Bergö Swedish
Brandö Präntiö Brandö Swedish
Delet Teili Delet Swedish
Hammarland Hammarlanti Hammarland Swedish
Karlby Kaarlenkylä Karlby Swedish
Kökar Köökari[1] Kökar Swedish
Korsnäs Korsnääsi, Ristitaipale[2] Korsnäs Swedish
Korsö Koskenpää Korsö Swedish
Kumlinge Kumlinki Kumlinge Swedish
Lappvesi Lappvesi Swedish
Lemland Lemlanti[3] Lemland Swedish
Liljendal Liljentaali Liljendal Swedish
Lumparland Lumparlanti[4] Lumparland Swedish
Mariehamn Maarianhamina[5] Mariehamn Swedish
Lumparn Lumpari Lumparn Swedish
Sålis Suolaksi Sålis Swedish

The Swedish names for the above are commonly (if not exclusively) used in modern-day Finnish.[6] Korsnäs in Ostrobothnia should not be confused with other locations in Finland with the same name (see Korsnäs (disambiguation)).

Areas with both Finnish-, and Swedish-speaking inhabitants have endonymic place names in both languages. Due to changing demographics, some monolingually Swedish areas have historical Finnish names inherited from earlier Finnish-speaking inhabitants. For example, Molpe, a village of Korsnäs is Moikipää in Finnish.

France

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 France Ranska
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Corsica Korsika Corse French
Nice Nizza Nice French
Paris Pariisi Paris French

Germany

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 Germany Saksa
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Bavaria Baijeri Bayern German
Berlin Berliini
Danube River Tonava Donau
Hamburg Hampuri
Lübeck Lyypekki
Prussia Preussi Preußen German historic state
Rhine River Rein Rhein
Rheinland Reininmaa
Saxony Saksi Sachsen German

Greece

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Ancient transcriptions that do not reflect modern pronunciation are used in some cases, e.g. Herakleion ("Iraklion").

 Greece Kreikka
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Athens Ateena Athína Greek
Corfu Korfu Kerkýra Greek
Crete Kreeta Kríti Greek
Piraeus Pireus Piraiás Greek

Iran

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 Iran
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Tehrān Teheran Tehrān Persian

Israel

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 Israel
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Dead Sea Kuollutmeri Al-Bahr al-Mayyit Arabic
Yam ha-Melah Hebrew
Jerusalem Jerusalem Al-Quds Arabic
Yerushalayim Hebrew

Italy

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 Italy Italia
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Pompeii Pompeiji Pompeii Latin ancient city
Pompei Italian
Rome Rooma Roma Italian
Sicily Sisilia Sicilia Italian
Venice Venetsia Venezia Italian

Latvia

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 Latvia
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Daugava River Väinäjoki Daugava Latvian
Daugavpils Väinänlinna Daugavpils Latvian
Riga Riika Rīga Latvian
Salacgrīva Salatsi Salacgrīva Latvian
Valka Valga Valka Latvian

Lebanon

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 Lebanon Libanon
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Beqaa Valley Bekaanlaakso Wādī l-Biqā' Arabic
Mount Hermon Hermonvuori Har Hermon Hebrew
Jabal al-Shaykh, Jabal Haramun Arabic
Mount Lebanon Libanonvuoret Ṭūr Levnon Syriac
Jabal Lubnān Arabic
Tripoli Tripoli, Tripolis Ṭarābulus Arabic
Tyre Tyros, Tyyros Ṣūr Arabic, Phoenician

Lithuania

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 Lithuania Liettua
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Vilnius Vilna Vilnius Lithuanian

Norway

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 Norway Norja
Norwegian name Finnish name Other endonyms Notes
Name Language
Albert I Land Albert I:n maa
Alta Alattio Áltá North Sami Finnish Alattio or Alta
Altaelva Alattionjoki or
Altajoki 		Álttáeatnu
Álaheajeatnu 		North Sami
North Sami
Altafjorden Alattionvuono or
Altavuono 		Álttávuonna
Álaheajvuonna 		North Sami
North Sami
Bjørnøya Karhusaari
Boknafjorden Boknavuono
Bouvetøya Bouvet'nsaari
Bugøynes Pykeija Pykeijä
Buođggák 		Kven
North Sami
Bünsow Land Bünsowinmaa
Børselv Pyssyjoki Bissojohka North Sami
Danskøya Tanskansaari
Dicksonfjorden Dicksoninvuono
Dickson Land Dicksoninmaa
Drammenselva Drammeninjoki
Drammensfjorden Drammeninvuono
Dronning Maud Land Kuningatar Maudin maa
Finnmarksvidda Ruijan ylänkö
Geirangerfjorden Geirangerinvuono
Gustav Adolf Land Gustav Adolfin maa
Gustav V Land Gustav V:n maa
Hardangerfjorden Hardangerinvuono
Heer Land Heerinmaa
Hinlopenstretet Hinlopeninsalmi
Haakon VII Land Haakon VII:n maa
Jakobselva (Grense J.) Vuoremijoki Vuorjám(johka) North Sami
Jakobselva (Vestre Jakobselv) Annijoki Ánnejohka North Sami
Kapp Norvegia Norvegianniemi
Karasjok Kaarasjoki Kárášjohka North Sami
Kautokeino Koutokeino Guovdageaidnu North Sami
Kirkenes Kirkkoniemi Girkonjárga North Sami
Kong Karls Land Kuningas Kaarlen maa
Kvitøya Valkosaari
Kvænangen Naavuono Návuonna North Sami
Lakselv Lemmijoki Leavdnja North Sami
Lakselva Lemmijoki Leavdnjajohka North Sami
Lofoten Lofootit Lufuohttá
Lufoahtta 		North Sami
Lule Sami
Lyngen Jyykeä Finnish Lyngen or Jyykeä
Lyngen (Lyngenfjorden) Lyngenvuono or
Jyykeänvuono 		Yykeänvuono
Ivguvuotna 		Kven
North Sami
Malangen Malankivuono
Nathorst Land Nathorstinmaa
Neidenfjorden Näätämönvuono Njávdámvuonna North Sami
Nordaustlandet Koillismaa
Nordenskiöldbreen Nordenskiöldin jäätikkö
Nordenskiöldbukta Nordenskiöldinlahti
Nordenskiöld Land Nordenskiöldinmaa
Nordkinnhalvøya Nordkinnin niemimaa
Nordreisa Raisi Ráisa North Sami
Ofotfjorden Ofotvuono Ufuohttá North Sami
Olav V Land Olav V:n maa
Olgastretet Olgansalmi
Oscar II Land Oscar II:n maa
Oslofjorden Oslonvuono
Peter I Øy Pietari I:n saari
Polmak Pulmanki Buolbmát North Sami
Porsanger Porsanki Porsáŋgu North Sami
Porsangerfjorden Porsanginvuono Porsáŋgguvuotna North Sami
Porsangerhalvøya Porsangin niemimaa
Prins Karls Forland Prinssi Kaarlen etumaa
Prins Harald Kyst Prinssi Haraldin rannikko
Prins Oscars Land Prinssi Oscarin maa
Prinsesse Ragnhild Kyst Prinsessa Ragnhildin rannikko
Sjuøyane Seitsensaaret
Skibotn Jyykeänperä Yykeänperä
Ivgobahta 		Kven
North Sami 		Finnish Skibotn or Jyykeänperä
Sognefjorden Sognevuono
Spitsbergen Länsimaa
Svalbard Huippuvuoret
Sværholthalvøya Sværholtin niemimaa
Sørkapp Land Sørkappinmaa
Sør-Varanger Etelä-Varanki
Tana Teno Deatnu North Sami
Tana bru Tenonsilta Deanušaldi North Sami Finnish Tana bru or Tenonsilta
Tanafjorden Tenonvuono Deanuvuotna North Sami
Torell Land Torellinmaa
Tromsø Tromssa Romsa North Sami
Trondheimsfjorden Trondheiminvuono
Ullsfjorden Moskivuono Olggosvuotna North Sami Finnish Ullsfjorden or Moskivuono
Vadsø Vesisaari Čáhcesuolu North Sami
Varangerfjorden Varanginvuono Varenkinvuono
Várjavuonna 		Kven
North Sami
Varangerhalvøya Varangin niemimaa Varenkinniemi
Várnjárga 		Kven
North Sami
Vardø Vuoreija Vuorea Kven
Vesterbotn Lemmivuono Leavdnjavuotna North Sami
Vestfjorden Länsivuono
Vestre Jakobselv Annijoki Ánnejohka North Sami
Wedel Jarlsberg Land Wedel Jarlsbergin maa

For further names, see Finnish exonyms for places in Norway.

Poland

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 Poland Puola
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Kraków Krakova Kraków Polish
Warsaw Varsova Warzawa Polish
Vistula River Veiksel Wisła Polish

Portugal

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 Portugal Portugali
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Lisbon Lissabon Lisboa Portuguese

Romania

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 Romania
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Bucharest Bukarest București Romanian

Russia

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Note that Finnish was formerly an official language in the Republic of Karelia and is still widely used there, and some places in what was Finnish territory until World War II have been given new Russian names; thus, Finnish names of Karelian places are not all strictly exonyms.

 Russia Venäjä
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Apatity Apatiitti
Arkhangelsk Arkangeli, Vienankaupunki Архангельск / Arkhangelsk Russian
Belomorsk Sorokka
Beloostrov Valkeasaari
Bolshaya Izhora Haisevaisi
Bolshoy Tyuters Tytärsaari
Borisoglebsky Kolttaköngäs Борисоглебский / Borisoglebsky Russian
Chudovo Tšudovo, Tiutova
Gatchina Hatsina
Gubanicy Kupanitsa
Hogland, Gogland Suursaari
Ivangorod Iivananlinna
Izhora Inkere
Kamennogorsk Antrea
Kandalakshi Kantalahti, Kannanlahti
Kem (Vienan) Kemi
Kingisepp Jaama
Kirovsk Hiipinä
Kobrino Koprina
Kola Kuola
Kolpany Kolppana
Koltushi Keltto
Komarovo Kellomäki Комарово / Komarovo Russian
Kondopoga Kontupohja Kondupohju Karelian
Koporka Kaprionjoki
Koporye Kaprio
Kostomuksha Kostamus Koštamuš Karelian
Kotlin Retusaari
Kotly Kattila
Kovdor Koutero
Kovdozero Kananen
Kronstadt Kronstadt, Kronstatti Кронштадт / Kronshtadt
Kronstadt 		Russian
German
Kurovitsy Kukkosi Kukkuzi Votic
Kuyto Kuittijärvet
Kuzyomkino Kosemkina, Narvusi
Lake Ilmen Ilmajärvi
Lake Kolvitskoye Kolvitsanjärvi
Lake Kovdozero Koutajärvi
Lake Keret Kierettijärvi
Lake Lämmi Kuumajärvi Tyopoloye ozero Russian
Lake Ladoga Laatokka, Nevajärvi
Lake Leksozero Lieksajärvi
Lake Lovozero Luujärvi
Lake Nyuk Nuokkijärvi
Lake Onega Ääninen, Äänisjärvi Änine, Änižjärv Veps
Oniegu(-järve) Karelian
Lake Pyaozero Pääjärvi
Lake Segozero Seesjärvi
Lake Syamozero Säämäjärvi Seämärvi Karelian
Lake Topozero Tuoppajärvi
Lake Tolvayarvi Tolvajärvi
Lake Tulos Tuulijärvi
Lake Yaglyarvi Ägläjärvi
Lake Yanisyarvi Jänisjärvi
Lake Vodlozero Vodlajärvi
Lake Vygozero Uikujärvi
Lebyazhye Lepäsi Лебяжье / Lebyazhye
Lembolovo Lempaala
Liinakhamari Liinahamari Лиинахамари / Liinakhamari Russian
Lisino Liissilä
Lodeynoye Pole Lotinapelto, Pellonlinna
Luga Laukaa, Ylä-Laukaa
Markovo Markkova, Loppi, Lopenkolkka
Martyshkino Tyrö
Medvezhyegorsk Karhumäki Karhumägi Karelian
Mga Namkku[7]
Moloskovitsy Valkeakirkko, Moloskovitsa
Moscow Moskova Москва / Moskva Russian
Moshchny Lavansaari
Murmansk Muurmanni, Muurmanski
Nikel Nikkeli, Kolosjoki Никель / Nikel Russian
Nikolskoye Lomkka
Nikulyasy Miikkulainen
Novaya Ladoga Uusi-Laatokka, Uusi Laatokankaupunki
Novosyolki Novasolkka
Nyenschantz Nevanlinna Nyenskans, Nyen Swedish Former Swedish Ingrian town and fortress
Olonets Aunuksenkaupunki, Aunuksenlinna, Aunus Anuksenlinnu Karelian
Onega Ääninen
Oranienbaum Kaarosta
Osinovaya Rossha Haapakangas
Pechenga Petsamo Печенга / Pechenga Russian
Pechory Petseri
Petergof Pietarhovi, Kuusoja
Petrozavodsk Petroskoi; Äänislinna Latter name used during 1941–1944
Povenets Poventsa Povenča Karelian
Priozersk Käkisalmi
Pskov Pihkova
Pudozh Puudosi, Puutoinen, Puudoži Pudož Veps
Puudoži Karelian
Repino Kuokkala
Ropsha Ropsu
Ryabovo Rääpyvä
Saint Petersburg Pietari Санкт-Петербург / Sankt-Peterburg Russian
Segezha Sege(h)e, Seke(h)e
Seskar Seiskari
Siberia Siperia Сибирь / Sibir Russian
Sestroretsk Siestarjoki
Shlisselburg Pähkinälinna, Pähkinäsaari Schlüsselburg German
Shlisselburg Fortress Pähkinäsaaren linna Oreshek Russian
Skvoritsy Skuoritsa, Kuoritsa
Slavyanka Venjoki
Soikino Soikkola
Sosnovy Bor Uustia
Staraya Ladoga Laatokankaupunki, Laatokanlinna, Vanha-Laatokka
Stolbovo Stolbova
Svetogorsk Enso
Svir Syväri
Svobodnoye Kirvu
Syas Säsjoki
Tikhvin Tihvinä
Tikhvinka river Tihvinänjoki
Toksovo Toksova
Tosno Tusina, Tosna
Tyaglino Tääkeli, Tääkkeli
Ust-Luga Laukaansuu
Volkhov Olhava
Vsevolozhsk Seuloskoi
Vuoly Vuole
Vyborg Viipuri Viborg Swedish
Vyborgskiy zaliv Viipurinlahti
Vyg Uikujoki
Yarvosol Järvisaari
Zelenogorsk Terijoki
Zemlyanoye Pummanki
Zherebyatki Serepetta

Saudi Arabia

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 Saudi Arabia Saudi-Arabia
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Mecca Mekka Makkah Arabic
Riyadh Riad Riyaḍ Arabic

Serbia

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 Serbia
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Belgrade Belgrad Beograd Serbian

South Africa

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 South Africa Etelä-Afrikka
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Cape Town Kapkaupunki
Cape of Good Hope Hyväntoivonniemi

Spain

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 Spain Espanja
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Tenerife Teneriffa Tenerife Spanish

Sweden

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Northern Sweden has a Finnish/Meänkieli-speaking minority and thus some place names are derived from Finnish, making them not exonyms. There are several more Finnish place names in this area.

Several place names of genuinely Swedish places, more than these, have been modified due to the much differing Finnish pronunciation principles. Meänkieli names have usually been slightly modified when picked up by Swedish language. Some Meänkieli names, at least closer to the mountains, were originally Sami, but were modified when picked up into Finnish.

 Sweden Ruotsi
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Dalecarlia Taalainmaa Dalarna Swedish
Gällivare Jällivaara, Jellivaara Gällivare Swedish Jellivaara is the Meänkieli form
Haparanda Haaparanta Haparanda Swedish * Founded with Finnish name
Jokkmokk Jokimukka Jokkmokk Swedish Founded with Sami name
Kalix Kainuu Kalix Swedish *
Karesuando Karesuvanto Karesuando Swedish * Founded with Finnish name
Kiruna Kiiruna Kiruna Swedish * Founded with Finnish name
Korpilombolo Korpilompolo Korpilombolo Swedish *
Luleå Luulaja Luleå Swedish
Överkalix Ylikainuu Överkalix Swedish *
Övertorneå Matarenki Övertorneå Swedish *
Piteå Piitime Piteå Swedish
Scania Skoone Skåne Swedish
Stockholm Tukholma Stockholm Swedish
Svanstein Turtola Svanstein Swedish *
Tärendö Täräntö Tärendö Swedish * Founded with Finnish name
Umeå Uumaja Umeå Swedish
Uppsala Upsala Uppsala Swedish

* marks place names in traditionally Finnish/Meänkieli-speaking areas.

Syria

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 Syria Syyria
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Damascus Damaskos Dimašq Arabic
Latakia Lattakia Al-Laḏiqiyah Arabic

Turkey

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 Turkey Turkki
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Istanbul Konstantinopoli İstanbul Turkish historic
Konstantinoúpolis Greek
Troy Troija Truva (Troya) Turkish ancient city

Ukraine

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 Ukraine Ukraina
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Kharkiv Harkova Kharkiv Ukrainian
Kyiv Kiova Kyiv Ukrainian
Poltava Pultava Poltava Ukrainian

United Kingdom

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 United Kingdom Iso-Britannia
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
London Lontoo London English

United States

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 United States Yhdysvallat
English name Finnish name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Hawai'i Havaiji Hawai'i Hawai'ian

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Suomen kunnat: Kökar". toti.eu.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  2. ^ "The Genealogical Society of Finland". Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
  3. ^ "Verbix". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
  4. ^ Lumpari World Water Features Database | WorldCityDB.com Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Svenska Ortnamn i Finland Archived 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Research Institute for the Languages of Finland, see "Mariehamn"
  6. ^ Svenska Ortnamn i Finland Archived 2007-11-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Research Institute for the Languages of Finland, see "Korsnäs" and "Liljendal".
  7. ^ "Venäjän federaation paikannimiä" (PDF). kotus.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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