Findlay

Meaning & origin

Findlay is a Scottish Gaelic name meaning 'fair-haired warrior', reflecting its origins in the Highlands. While it has been in use as a given name since at least the 19th century, its modern U.S. popularity is modest. Social Security data shows first recorded births in 2003, with a peak rank of 10,695 in 2016. Since then, its trajectory has fallen, reflecting a broader trend of surname-style Scottish names seeing fluctuating interest. The name remains rare, with only 1 in 284,679 newborns receiving it in 2025. Unlike its variant Finley, which has grown in popularity for girls, Findlay has stayed almost exclusively male and has not appeared among top state rankings. Its historical use in Scottish clans gives it a strong, heritage-driven appeal for families seeking a distinctive yet traditional name.

Findlay is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Fionnlagh, composed of fionn 'fair, white' and laoch 'warrior'. Historically, it was a common name in the Highlands and among Scottish clans, notably associated with the MacFarlane family. The spelling Findlay is more typical in Scotland, while Finley (which can also be an Irish surname) is the predominant variant in the United States.