The retranslation hypothesis – the claim that first translations are more domesticating than others – is often referred to in Translation Studies literature, but only in passing, without looking at the issue in great detail. On the other hand, many of the studies that explicitly deal with first translations and retranslations and would therefore be ideal for testing the hypothesis do not mention it. Thus, there seems to be no substantial body of evidence either in support of or against the retranslation hypothesis. This article aims at taking a closer look at the hypothesis and comparing its claims with data from Finnish first translations and retranslations. It is suggested that many different factors, not just the order of appearance, affect the profiles of these translations.