Rantanen is a Finnish surname meaning "small shore". Notable people with the surname include: Anssi Rantanen (born 1982), Finnish ice hockey player Eelis Rantanen (1879–1946), Finnish schoolteacher and politician Heli Rantanen (born 1970), Finnish javelin thrower Jari Rantanen (born 1961), Finnish footballer Kaarlo Rantanen (born 1988), Finnish footballer Marko Rantanen (born 1975), Finnish ice hockey goaltender Mari Rantanen, Finnish politician Matti Rantanen (accordionist) (born 1952), Finnish accordionist Matti Rantanen (rally driver) (born 1981), Finnish rally driver Merja Rantanen (born 1980), Finnish orienteering competitor Mikko Rantanen (born 1996), Finnish ice hockey player, forward for the Colorado Avalanche Paavo Rantanen (born 1934), former Finnish Foreign Ministry official, who was briefly the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pasi Rantanen (born 1969), Finnish singer for the band Thunderstone Piritta Rantanen (born 1979), Finnish politician Siiri Rantanen (born 1924), Finnish cross-country skier Vesa Rantanen (born 1975), Finnish pole vaulter Yrjö Rantanen (born 1950), Finnish chess grandmaster Finnish-language surnames