The
Finnish nobility (Fi.
Aateli, Sw.
Adel) was historically a privileged
class in
Finland, deriving from its period as part of
Sweden and the
Russian Empire. Noble families and their descendants are still a part of Finnish republican society today, but except for the titles themselves, no longer retain any specific or granted privileges. A majority of Finnish nobles have traditionally been Swedish-speakers using their titles mostly in Swedish. The Finnish nobility today has some 6,000 male and female members.