List of personalities of the city of Helsinki

The following list contains people who were born in Helsinki as well as those who lived there temporarily, each listed chronologically according to the year of birth. The list does not claim to be complete.

People born in Helsinki

18th and 19th centuries

Until 1860

Peter Forsskål (1732–1763), Swedish-Finnish naturalist and orientalist
Johan Hampus Furuhjelm (1821–1909), Russian vice admiral
Hampus Dalström (1829–1882), architect
August Holmström (1829–1903), master goldsmith
Werner Holmberg (1830–1860), painter
Adolf von Becker (1831–1909), painter and art teacher
Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (1832–1901), polar explorer, cartographer and travel writer
Hugo Gyldén (1841-1896), Swedish astronomer
Martin Wegelius (1846–1906), Swedish weightlifter
Klas Richard Sievers (1852–1931), doctor and archiater
Robert Kajanus (1856–1933), conductor and composer

1861 to 1880

Helene Schjerfbeck (1862–1946), Finnish-Swedish painter
Edvard Westermarck (1862–1939), philosopher, sociologist and ethnologist
Kaarle Krohn (1863–1933), folklorist
Natalia Nordman (1863–1914), Russian writer
Jakob Johannes Sederholm (1863–1934), petrologist
Venny Soldan-Brofeldt (1863–1945), Finnish-Swedish painter and illustrator
Karl Fazer (1866–1932), baker, confectioner, chocolatier and entrepreneur
Wolfgang Andreas Reuter (1866–1947), German engineer and entrepreneur
Ilmari Krohn (1867–1960), musicologist and composer
Emil Lindh (1867–1937), sailor
Nikolai Ivanovich Kulbin (1868–1917), Russian military doctor, painter, graphic artist, art theorist, music theorist and patron
Oskar Merikanto (1868–1924), composer
Ernst Leonard Lindelöf (1870–1946), mathematician
Aino Sibelius (1871–1969), wife of the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius
Pekka Ervast (1875-1934), author
Anni Swan (1875–1958), writer
Aino Ackté (1876–1944), soprano
Robert Waldemar Huber (1878–1946), marksman
Gunnar Landtman (1878–1940), ethnologist, philosopher, sociologist and anthropologist
Karl Rudolf Walden (1878–1946), general and politician

1881 to 1900

Gunnar Nordström (1881–1923), theoretical physicist
Väinö Tanner (1881–1966), politician
Walter Jakobsson (1882–1957), figure skater
Mauritz Stiller (1883–1928), Russian-Swedish director and screenwriter
Karl H. Wiik (1883–1946), politician
Lennart Lindroos (1886–?), Swimmer
Gunnar Björling (1887–1960), Finnish-Swedish poet
Sigrid Fick (1887–1979), Swedish tennis player
Erkki Karu (1887–1935), film director and producer
Kai Donner (1888–1935), linguist, ethnologist and politician
Gustaf Molander (1888–1973), Swedish director and screenwriter
Johan Helo (1889–1966), leftist politician
Carolus Lindberg (1889–1955), architect
Julius Skutnabb (1889–1965), speed skater
Axel Erik Heinrichs (1890–1965), officer
Armas Taipale (1890–1976), discus thrower
Konrad Huber (1892–1960), marksman, medalist at the Olympic Games and World Championships
Yrjö Kilpinen (1892–1959), composer
Olof Molander (1892–1966), Swedish film and theater director, actor and theater director
Hugo Österman (1892–1975), General
Hjalmar Siilasvuo (1892–1947), officer
Aarre Merikanto (1893–1958), composer
Clas Thunberg (1893–1973), speed skater
Veli Verkko (1893–1955), sociologist and criminologist
Aino Aalto (1894–1949), architect and designer
Tuure Nieminen (1894–1968), ski jumper
Väinö Auer (1895–1981), geologist and geographer
Pekka Johansson (1895–1983), javelin thrower
Artturi Ilmari Virtanen (1895–1973), biochemist
Elmer Diktonius (1896–1961), Finnish-Swedish writer
Yrjö Leino (1897–1961), communist politician
Simon Parmet (1897–1969), conductor and composer
Toivo Wiherheimo (1898–1970), politician
Ragnar Granit (1900–1991), Finnish-Swedish neurophysiologist and Nobel Prize winner

20th century

1901 to 1910

Irja Browallius (1901–1968), Swedish writer
Edvard Vesterlund (1901-1982), wrestler
Georg Malmstén (1902–1981), singer, musician, composer, orchestra leader and actor
Marcus Nikkanen (1904–1985), figure skater who started in a single run
Hjalmar Nyström (1904–1960), wrestler
Adolf Ehrnrooth (1905–2004), infantry general
Aulis Koponen (1906–1978), football player
Jorma Nortimo (1906–1958), actor and director
Lars Valerian Ahlfors (1907–1996), Finnish-American mathematician
Mika Waltari (1908–1979), writer
Holger Fransman (1909–1997), horn player
Carl-Adam Nycop (1909–2006), Finnish-Swedish journalist, editor-in-chief and author
Olavi Pesonen (1909–1993), composer
Abraham Tokazier (1909-1976), sprinter
Lauri Valonen (1909–1982), ski jumper and Nordic combined athlete
Ossi Aalto (1910–2009), jazz drummer and orchestra conductor
Eero Böök (1910–1990), chess master
Gunnar Höckert (1910–1940), track and field athlete

1911 to 1920

Gunnar Bärlund (1911–1982), amateur and professional boxer
Tauno Marttinen (1912–2008), composer
Reino Helismaa (1913–1965), lyricist, couplet singer and film actor
Tove Jansson (1914–2001), Finnish-Swedish writer, draftsman, comic book writer, graphic artist, illustrator and painter
Aatos Lehtonen (1914–2005), soccer, bandy, handball and basketball player and soccer coach
Olavi Rove (1915-1966), Turner
Herman Fredrik Zeiner-Gundersen (1915–2002), Norwegian Army General, Commander in Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee
Erkki Aro (1916–1993), orienteer
Osmo Kaila (1916–1991), chess player and composer
Georg Henrik von Wright (1916–2003), philosopher and logician
George Gaynes (1917-2016), American actor
Väinö Leskinen (1917–1972), politician
Kaarle Ojanen (1918–2009), chess player
Tauno Pylkkänen (1918–1980), composer
Kim Borg (1919-2000), opera singer
Kurt Wires (1919-1992), canoeist
Heikki Suolahti (1920–1936), composer

1921 to 1930

Taina Elg
(born 1930)

Laci Boldemann (1921–1969), composer
Willy Kyrklund (1921–2009), Finnish-Swedish writer
Samuel Lehtonen (1921–2010), Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
Harry Siljander (1922-2010), boxer
Viveca Serlachius (1923-1993), Swedish actress
Holger Thesleff (* 1924), classical philologist and historian of philosophy
Erik Allardt (1925-2020), sociologist
Hans Evers (1925–1999), German civil servant and politician
Olli Lehto (* 1925), mathematician
Arne Nevanlinna (1925–2016), architect, university professor and writer
Bo Carpelan (1926–2011), Finnish-Swedish writer, literary critic and translator
Yrjö Hietanen (1927–2011), canoeist
Rolf Back (1928–2009), track and field athlete
Keijo Komppa (1928–2009), actor and director
Åke Lindman (1928–2009), football player, director and actor
Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928-2016), composer
Boris Rung (1928–2003), composer
Paavo Berglund (1929–2012), conductor
Sebastian Lybeck (* 1929), author
Taina Elg (* 1930), Finnish-American dancer and actress
Burkard Krug (1930–2006), Protestant theology professor

1931 to 1940

Antero Markelin
(1931-2005)

Matti Klinge
(* 1936)

Paavo Haavikko (1931–2008), writer
Brita Koivunen (1931–2014), jazz and pop singer
Antero Markelin (1931–2005), architect and university professor
Eero Aarnio (* 1932), interior and furniture designer
Pentti Linkola (1932–2020), environmentalist, deep ecologist, amateur biologist and fisherman
Jörn Donner (1933–2020), writer, film director, actor, film producer and politician
Anselm Hollo (1934–2013), poet and literary translator
Kalevi Kärkinen (1934-2004), ski jumper
Tom Gunnar Krause (1934–2013), opera and lieder singer
Lasse Mårtenson (1934–2016), jazz singer and pianist
Peter Lahdenpera (* 1935), American cross-country skier and biathlete
Elisabeth Rehn (* 1935), politician
Märta Tikkanen (* 1935), Finnish-Swedish writer and philosophy teacher
Matti Klinge (* 1936), historian and university professor
Juha Ilmari Leiviskä (* 1936), architect
Bengt Ahlfors (* 1937), Finnish-Swedish author, director, playwright and composer
Claes Andersson (1937–2019), Finnish-Swedish writer, doctor, politician and jazz musician
Anders Cleve (1937–1985), Swedish-speaking Finnish writer
Daniel Katz (* 1938), writer
Timo Mäkinen (1938–2017), rally driver (flying Finn of rally sport)
Kai Simons (* 1938), physician and biochemist
Pertti Paasio (1939-2020), politician
Heikki Sarmanto (* 1939), jazz pianist and composer
Sirkka Turkka (* 1939), poet
Lill Lindfors (* 1940), Finnish-Swedish singer and TV presenter
Tove Skutnabb-Kangas (* 1940), linguist and educator

1941 to 1950

Tarja Halonen
(* 1943)

Bengt Holmström
(* 1949)

Kaija Mustonen (* 1941), speed skater
Erkki Salmenhaara (1941–2002), composer and musicologist
Carola Standertskjöld (1941–1997), pop, hit and jazz singer
Yrjö Edelmann (1941–2016), Swedish artist, painter and illustrator
Jukka Kuoppamäki (* 1942), songwriter and priest
Pertti Purhonen (1942-2011), boxer
Matti Aura (1943–2011), politician
Johan Bargum (* 1943), Finnish-Swedish writer and director
Tarja Cronberg (* 1943), politician
Tarja Halonen (* 1943), head of state of Finland
Irma Urrila (* 1943), opera singer
Lennart Koskinen (* 1944), Swedish Lutheran bishop
Seija Simola (1944–2017), singer
Heikki Westerinen (* 1944), chess player
Pentti Airikkala (1945–2009), rally driver
Merete Mazzarella (* 1945), Finnish-Swedish writer and literary scholar
Marion Rung (* 1945), pop singer
Pekka Sarmanto (* 1945), jazz bassist
Okko Kamu (* 1946), conductor
Marie-Louise von Bergmann-Winberg (* 1946), professor of political science
Longin von Klin (1946–2014), Russian Orthodox Archbishop
Eero Koivistoinen (* 1946), jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger and band leader
Reino Laine (* 1946), jazz drummer and member of parliament
Henrik Lax (* 1946), politician
Topi Mattila (* 1946), ski jumper
Barbro Owens-Kirkpatrick (* 1946), American diplomat
Erkki Tuomioja (* 1946), politician
Annika Idström (1947–2011), writer and dramaturge
Leo Linkovesi (1947-2006), speed skater
Heikki Riihiranta (* 1948), ice hockey player and official
Yanti Somer (born 1948), actress
Heikki Toivanen (1948–2006), opera singer
Pekka Vasala (* 1948), athlete
Bengt Holmström (* 1949), professor of economics
Matti Murto (1949–2013), ice hockey player
Riitta Salin (born 1950), track and field athlete

1951 to 1960

Markku Alén (* 1951), rally driver
Satu Hassi (* 1951), politician
Seppo Honkapohja (* 1951), economist
Kyra Kyrklund (* 1951), dressage rider and trainer
Matti Pellonpää (1951–1995), actor
Henry Saleva (born 1951), ice hockey player
Timo Salonen (* 1951), rally driver
Osmo Soininvaara (* 1951), politician
Erik T. Tawaststjerna (* 1951), pianist and professor
Yrjö Hakanen (* 1952), communist politician
Pekka Pohjola (1952–2008), multi-instrumentalist, composer, jazz and rock musician
Matti Rantanen (* 1952), accordionist
Kaija Saariaho (* 1952), composer
Riki Sorsa (1952–2016), pop and rock singer
Jukka Tolonen (* 1952), jazz guitarist
Ben Furman (* 1953), psychiatrist and psychotherapist
Timo Kojo (* 1953), singer
Harri Nykänen (* 1953), writer
Thomas Wulff (* 1953), Finnish-Swedish writer and poet
Carita Holmström (* 1954), pianist, singer and composer
Matti Raekallio (* 1954), pianist
Martin Scheinin (* 1954), Professor of Constitutional and International Law
Matti Hagman (1955-2016), ice hockey player
Jone Takamäki (* 1955), jazz saxophonist and actor
Markku Peltola (1956–2007), actor and musician
Hannu Raittila (* 1956), writer and columnist
Simo Salminen (1956–2014), jazz trumpeter
Atik Ismail (* 1957), football player
Hannu Kamppuri (* 1957), ice hockey goalkeeper
J. Karjalainen (born 1957), musician
Henrik Dettmann (* 1958), basketball coach
Pekka Haavisto (* 1958), politician
Magnus Lindberg (* 1958), composer
Esko Rechardt (* 1958), sailor
Esa-Pekka Salonen (* 1958), conductor and composer
Arto Härkönen (* 1959), javelin thrower
Silvo Lahtela (* 1959), German writer and chess player
Kari Sallinen (* 1959), orienteer
Klaus Suonsaari (* 1959), jazz drummer
Anne Åkerblom (* 1960), judoka
Jari Kurri (* 1960), ice hockey player
Harri Toivonen (* 1960), racing car driver
Jukkis Uotila (* 1960), jazz drummer

1961 to 1970

Mika Salo
(* 1966)

Timo Blomqvist (* 1961), ice hockey player
Monika Fagerholm (* 1961), Finnish-Swedish author
Tiina Lillak (* 1961), athlete
Sebastian Lindholm (* 1961), rally driver
Kati Outinen (born 1961), actress
Tomi Poikolainen (* 1961), archer
Pasi Rautiainen (* 1961), football player
Lenita Toivakka (* 1961), politician
Kjell Westö (* 1961), writer
Jari Europaeus (* 1962), soccer player and coach
Outi Mänenpää (* 1962), actress
Michael Monroe (* 1962), rock musician
Seppo Räty (* 1962), athlete
Antti Rinne (* 1962), trade unionist and politician
Michael Widenius (* 1962), software developer
Sixten Boström (* 1963), soccer player and coach
Tony Halme (1963-2010), politician, wrestler and professional boxer
Harri Hänninen (* 1963), long-distance runner
Stina Rautelin (* 1963), Finnish-Swedish actress
Simo Saarinen (* 1963), ice hockey player
Mika Vainio (1963-2017), musician
Antti Sarpila (* 1964), jazz musician
Tuija Brax (* 1965), politician
Iiro Järvi (born 1965), ice hockey player
Sakari Oramo (* 1965), conductor
Susanna Rahkamo (* 1965), figure skater
Ute Schmiedel (* 1965), German biologist
Esa Tikkanen (* 1965), ice hockey player and coach
Jyrki Järvi (* 1966), sailor
Téa Karvinen (* 1966), skeleton pilot
Petri Kekki (* 1966), chess player
Petri Kokko (* 1966), figure skater
Jari Korpisalo (* 1966), ice hockey player
Timo Lehkonen (* 1966), ice hockey goalkeeper
Mika Salo (* 1966), racing car driver
Kärtsy Hatakka (* 1967), musician
Markus Ketterer (* 1967), ice hockey goalkeeper
Olli Mustonen (* 1967), pianist, conductor and composer
Mixu Paatelainen (* 1967), soccer player and coach
Mika Väyrynen (* 1967), accordion virtuoso
Mika Hietanen (* 1968), racing cyclist
Pontus Jäntti (* 1968), badminton player
Tuomo Karila (* 1968), wrestler
Karoliina Lundahl (* 1968), politician
Alexander Stubb (* 1968), politician
Jyri Aalto (* 1969), badminton player
Thomas Johanson (* 1969), sailor
Valentin Kononen (* 1969), athlete
Ari Sulander (* 1969), Finnish-Swiss ice hockey goalkeeper
Linus Torvalds (* 1969), Finnish-American programmer and initiator of the Linux kernel
Roope Latvala (* 1970), musician
Jussi Niinistö (* 1970), politician
Iiro Rantala (* 1970), pianist and composer
Teemu Selänne (* 1970), ice hockey player
Mika Strömberg (* 1970), ice hockey player

1971 to 1980

Robert Liljequist (* 1971), badminton player
Björn Monnberg (* 1971), handball player
Pekka Päivärinta (* 1971), motorcycle racer
Elina Brotherus (* 1972), photographer and video artist
Mika Immonen (* 1972), pool player
Réka Szilvay (* 1972), Finnish-Hungarian violinist
Sami Yli-Sirniö (* 1972), musician
Juha Ylönen (* 1972), ice hockey player
Kalle Kalima (* 1973), jazz guitarist
Anni Sinnemäki (* 1973), politician
Maija Vilkkumaa (* 1973), singer, composer and poet
Timo Lassy (1974), jazz musician
Juha Lind (* 1974), ice hockey player
Pekka Niemelä (* 1974), ski jumper
Aki Parviainen (* 1974), javelin thrower
Vera Jordanova (* 1975), actress and photo model
Markus Juva (* 1975), pool player
Jere Karalahti (* 1975), ice hockey player
Kimmo Kuhta (* 1975), ice hockey player
Iiro Seppänen (* 1975), base jumper, actor, director and producer
Petra Vaarakallio (* 1975), ice hockey player
Samu Haber (* 1976), musician
Laura Horelli (* 1976), artist
Mikko Viljami Lindström (* 1976), guitarist
Anne Mäkinen (* 1976), soccer player
Hanno Möttölä (* 1976), basketball player
Tomi Räisänen (* 1976), composer
Aki Riihilahti (* 1976), football player
Sami Uotila (* 1976), ski racer
Ville Valo (* 1976), rock musician, singer and songwriter
Katharina Kaali (* 1977), Finnish-German actress
Satu Kunnas (* 1977), soccer player
Anu Nieminen (* 1977), badminton player
Verneri Pohjola (* 1977), jazz trumpeter
Juuso Riksman (* 1977), ice hockey goalkeeper
Niklas Bäckström (* 1978), ice hockey goalkeeper
Susanna Majuri (1978-2020), photographer
Jaakko Suomalainen (* 1978), ice hockey goalkeeper
Toni Dahlman (* 1979), ice hockey player
Juha Kaunismäki (* 1979), ice hockey player
Tommi Santala (* 1979), ice hockey player
Antti Siirala (* 1979), pianist
Mikko Strömberg (* 1979), ice hockey goalkeeper
Olli Tuominen (* 1979), squash player
Lauri Ylönen (* 1979), singer
Patrik Antonius (* 1980), poker player
Matias Loppi (* 1980), ice hockey player
Siiri Nordin (* 1980), rock and pop musician
Jasper Pääkkönen (* 1980), actor
Sami Ryhänen (* 1980), ice hockey player

1981 to 1990

Sanna Marin
(* 1985)

Jani Rita (* 1981), ice hockey player
Joonas Vihko (* 1981), ice hockey player
Kim Hirschovits (* 1982), ice hockey player
Mai Kivelä (* 1982), politician and activist
Teemu Laine (* 1982), ice hockey player
Pihla Viitala (* 1982), actress
Kari Lehtonen (* 1983), ice hockey goalkeeper
Miikka Lommi (* 1983), film producer
Tomi Mäki (* 1983), ice hockey player
Petri Oravainen (* 1983), football player
Hannu Pikkarainen (* 1983), ice hockey player
Mika Poutala (* 1983), speed skater
Olavi Uusivirta (* 1983), musician and actor
Sean Bergenheim (* 1984), ice hockey player
Petra Gargano (* 1985), musician
Tero Konttinen (* 1985), ice hockey player
Sanna Marin (* 1985), politician
Maria Ohisalo (* 1985), politician
Matias Strandvall (* 1985), cross-country skier
Essi Sainio (* 1986), football player
Andreas af Enehielm (* 1987), Finnish-Swedish actor
Jonas Enlund (* 1987), ice hockey player
Jori Lehterä (* 1987), ice hockey player
Niko Hovinen (* 1988), ice hockey goalkeeper
Petteri Koponen (* 1988), basketball player
Ville Lajunen (* 1988), ice hockey player
Jens Kyllönen (* 1989), poker player
Amadeus Lundberg (* 1989), singer
Annina Rajahuhta (* 1989), ice hockey player

1991 to 2000

Alexander Ring (* 1991), football player
Markus Hännikäinen (* 1993), ice hockey player
Petteri Lindbohm (* 1993), ice hockey player
Esa Lindell (* 1994), ice hockey player
Joel Pohjanpalo (* 1994), football player
Teuvo Teräväinen (* 1994), ice hockey player
Sebastian Dahlström (* 1996), football player
Henrik Borgström (* 1997), ice hockey player
Olli Juolevi (* 1998), ice hockey player
Lotta Kemppinen (* 1998), track and field athlete
Nella Korpio (* 1999), ski racer
Viivi Lehikoinen (* 1999), athlete
Emil Ruusuvuori (* 1999), tennis player

Helsinki-related persons

Statue of Tsar Alexander II in front of the cathedral

Fredrika Charlotta Runeberg (1807–1879), Finnish-Swedish writer
Alexander II. (1818–1881), Russian tsar, removed economic restrictions and revitalized Finland's economy
Jully Ramsay (1865-1919), genealogist
Tor Carpelan (1867–1960), genealogist
Väinö Raitio (1891–1945), composer
Kalervo Tuukkanen (1909–1979), composer
Bengt Ahlfors (* 1937), Finnish-Swedish author, director, playwright and composer
Pentti Kirstilä (* 1948), author of detective novels
Kari Hotakainen (* 1957), writer
Aki Kaurismäki (* 1957), director
Rosa Liksom (* 1958), writer, artist and filmmaker
Eija-Liisa Ahtila (* 1959), filmmaker and video artist
Sylvia Eckermann (* 1962), Austrian media artist
Robert Bär (* 1964), German music teacher at the DSH (young people make music)
Marco Hietala (* 1966), bass player and singer
Marina Meinander (* 1967), dramaturge