# Aino — The Kalevala character guide

> Aino in The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the tearful Aino, beauteous Aino, lovely Aino, poor Aino, Weeping Aino, the lovely Aino, sister Aino

**First appearance:** 0007-rune-iv-the-fate-of-aino

## Snapshot

A young maiden who would rather vanish beneath the waves than become an old magician's bride, choosing the sea over a marriage she never consented to.

## Who they are

Aino is Youkahainen's sister, pledged by her brother's reckless boast to the ancient singer Wainamoinen as a prize for losing a singing contest. Her refusal is quiet but absolute: she strips off the gold and ribbons meant for a wedding and walks into the water, leaving her jewels on the shore. Her grief-song and disappearance haunt Wainamoinen into the next rune, making her the emotional cost of his courtship and the first shadow over his heroic stature.

## Relationships

### [Wainamoinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/wainamoinen)

_romantic_

Wainamoinen pursues Aino as a bride, but she rejects him and ultimately drowns herself to escape the marriage.

### [Youkahainen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/youkahainen)

_family_

Aino is Youkahainen's sister, and her tragic fate is tied to her brother's rivalry with Wainamoinen.

### [Wainamoinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/wainamoinen)

_romantic_

Wainamoinen pursues Aino as a bride, but she rejects him and ultimately drowns herself to escape the marriage.

### [Youkahainen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/youkahainen)

_family_

Aino is Youkahainen's sister, and her tragic fate is tied to her brother's rivalry with Wainamoinen.

### [Wainamoinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/wainamoinen)

_romantic_

Wainamoinen pursues Aino as a bride, but she rejects him and ultimately drowns herself to escape the marriage.

### [Youkahainen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/youkahainen)

_family_

Aino is Youkahainen's sister, and her tragic fate is tied to her brother's rivalry with Wainamoinen.

## In the story

### [Rune III: Wainamoinen and Youkahainen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-iii-wainamoinen-and-youkahainen)

Sister of Youkahainen, offered as a bride to Wainamoinen to secure her brother's release.

### [Rune IV: The Fate of Aino](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-iv-the-fate-of-aino)

The tearful maiden who chooses death over marriage to the aged Wainamoinen.

### [Rune V: Wainamoinen’s Lamentation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-v-wainamoinen-s-lamentation)

Appears as a mermaid after her death, rebukes Wainamoinen for trying to kill and eat her.

### [Rune XI: Lemminkainen’s Lament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xi-lemminkainen-s-lament)

Mentioned indirectly as a contrast; Kyllikki is the 'Sahri-flower' and 'Maid of Beauty'.

### [Rune XIX: Ilmarinen's Wooing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xix-ilmarinen-s-wooing)

Referenced indirectly as the 'Maid of Beauty' and 'rainbow-daughter' of Pohyola, the object of Ilmarinen's wooing.

### [Rune XXII: The Bride’s Farewell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxii-the-bride-s-farewell)

Not directly present; the bride is compared to a 'maid of sorrow' and 'bride of Night,' echoing Aino's tragic fate.

### [Rune XLIV: Birth of the Second Harp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xliv-birth-of-the-second-harp)

Referenced indirectly as the 'forest-maiden' who gives her golden ringlets to Wainamoinen for the harp strings, though the maiden is not explicitly named Aino in the text.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/aino
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters