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Home › Baby Names Directory › Finlay

Finlay

♂ Boy

Pronounced FIHN-lee /ˈfɪn.li/Medium

Meaning: fair hero, white warriorMedium

In 30 seconds: Finlay is a Scottish Gaelic boy's name meaning 'fair hero' or 'white warrior'.
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Origin MediumScottish Gaelic
Meaningfair hero, white warrior
U.S. rank (2025)#2614 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births50 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,101

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519182025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Finlay descends from the Scottish Gaelic Fionnlagh, combining elements for 'fair' or 'white' with 'warrior' or 'hero'. It has long roots in Scotland, where the older forms Fionnlagh and Findláech preserve the original spelling.

The name has spawned a family of spellings, with Finley and Finnley being the most common modern variants and Findlay holding to the older look. All of them keep the bright Fin- opening that makes the name feel friendly and unfussy.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Finlay is 'white warrior', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Finlay — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSVEtymology — Finlay — meaning/etymology

Variations

FindlayFionnlaghFinleyFinnleyFindláech

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Finlay Currie (1878-1968)
    Scottish actor known for Great Expectations and Ben-Hur

If you like Finlay…

Finnley— A doubled-n variant spelling of Finlay with the same sound.
Camryn— a similarly popular pick
Dallas— lands in the same popularity range
Malcolm— another Scottish Gaelic name
Kenneth— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Finlay

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Finlay mean?

Finlay is usually explained as meaning 'white warrior' and is most often linked with Scottish tradition.

How do you pronounce Finlay?

It's commonly said FIHN-lee /ˈfɪn.li/.

Is Finlay a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Finlay is used as a boy name.

How popular is Finlay?

In 2024, Finlay ranked #2478 in the U.S. for boys, with 55 births recorded.

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