Unclear; one theory derives the name from Proto-Norse*ᚨᚺᚹᚢᛚᚨᛞᚨ(*ahwulada), the first part of which the Finnic peoples would have associated with ahven(“perch”). According to the same theory the Swedish name of the islands, Åland, would come from the same origin.
The external locative cases (adessive, allative and ablative) are used with this place name when referring to a location; for example, "in Åland" is Ahvenanmaalla.