Rising since 1996, #2,604 for boys today.
Popularity of Finlay since 1918
Babies named Finlay per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 6 |
| 1920s | 0 | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 14 |
| 2000s | 40 | 329 |
| 2010s | 125 | 446 |
| 2020s | 39 | 307 |
Meaning & origin
Finlay is a Scottish and Irish name meaning 'fair-haired warrior,' derived from the Gaelic Fionnlagh. It has been in use in Scotland since medieval times and entered U.S. records in 1918. With a rank of 2604 in 2025, it is a relatively uncommon name, given to about 1 in 34,162 boys. Its popularity rose steadily from 1996, peaking in 2015. The name is most common in New York and California, reflecting its appeal among families with Scottish or Irish heritage. Finlay remains a distinctive choice with strong cultural roots, avoided the revivals of some vintage names but gaining steady traction over the past few decades.
Finlay derives from the Scottish Gaelic name Fionnlagh, composed of fionn 'white, fair' and laoch 'warrior' (or possibly lag 'hero'). It has been used in Scotland since medieval times and was also common in Ireland. The name was borne by several early Scottish chiefs and entered the English-speaking world as a given name and surname.
Where Finlay is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Finlay” around the world
Where Finlay lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
10
babies in 2025
New Zealand
17
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Fin, Finn, Finny
Sibling names for Finlay
Names that share Finlay's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Isla, Aila, Maisie, Freya, Eilidh, Rennie, Ailie, Ainslie, Lockie, Adaira, Islay, Kirsta, Ceilidh, Imrie, Mirren, Seona
Brothers: Callum, Lachlan, Ewan, Angus, Hamish, Alistair, Elgin, Iain, Mackie, Tam, Chalmers, Fraser, Guthrie, Kalum, Keir, Macallan, Alasdair, Aleister, Alister, Brae, Currie, Euan, Ewen, Greig, Mackay, Maclane, Mickle, Murdock, Ramsay, Wilkie, Macrae, Alaster, Carrick, Hendry, Lyal, Mackinnon, Matheson, Renton
