Sisu
/S-IH-S-AH/
Grit and inner resolve, from the Finnish sisu, an almost untranslatable cultural ideal of stoic determination and courage that endures long past the point others give up. Regarded as a defining Finnish virtue, the word names a quiet, stubborn strength of will, and as a name it confers that prized tenacity.
See Sisu scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Sisu:
Yes — Sisu is a Christian unisex name of Finnish origin, meaning “Grit and inner resolve, from the Finnish sisu, an almost untranslatable cultural ideal of stoic determination and courage that endures long past the point others give up. Regarded as a defining Finnish virtue, the word names a quiet, stubborn strength of will, and as a name it confers that prized tenacity.”.
How well does Sisu fit your family?
This page tells you what Sisu means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Sisu's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Sisu is a unisex's name of Finnish origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Grit and inner resolve, from the Finnish sisu, an almost untranslatable cultural ideal of stoic determination and courage that endures long past the point others give up. Regarded as a defining Finnish virtue, the word names a quiet, stubborn strength of will, and as a name it confers that prized tenacity." and belongs to the Courage cluster — names for children who will grow into bold, fearless hearts.
Common among Scandinavian, European families, Sisu carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Sisu look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like Sisu carries. No two are alike.
See Sisu's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Sisu's baby portrait →What does Sisu's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Sisu resonates in either tradition.
Sisu's destiny number is 5 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Sisu's full reading →
Does Sisu go with your family's names?
Sisu breaks into 4 sounds: /S-IH-S-AH/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Sisu sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Sisu beside your family's names →
Names similar to Sisu
If Sisu resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian unisex names, common in Scandinavian families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian unisex names from the Courage cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian unisex names that open with the same syllables as Sisu
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Sisu — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Sisu
What does the name Sisu mean?
Sisu means "Grit and inner resolve, from the Finnish sisu, an almost untranslatable cultural ideal of stoic determination and courage that endures long past the point others give up. Regarded as a defining Finnish virtue, the word names a quiet, stubborn strength of will, and as a name it confers that prized tenacity.." It is a unisex name of Finnish origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Sisu a boy or girl name?
Sisu is a unisex name, used for any gender.
What is the origin of the name Sisu?
Sisu is of Finnish origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Scandinavian, European families.
Is Sisu a Christian name?
Yes. Sisu is a unisex name traditionally used in Christian families, of Finnish origin.
What does Sisu mean in Finnish?
Sisu originates from Finnish, where it means "Grit and inner resolve, from the Finnish sisu, an almost untranslatable cultural ideal of stoic determination and courage that endures long past the point others give up. Regarded as a defining Finnish virtue, the word names a quiet, stubborn strength of will, and as a name it confers that prized tenacity.."
What is the numerology of Sisu?
Sisu has a Pythagorean destiny number of 5 — freedom and adventurous change.
See how Sisu scores for your family
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