Declining since 2021, #526 for boys today.
Popularity of Finnegan since 1995
Babies named Finnegan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 83 |
| 2000s | 2,207 |
| 2010s | 6,634 |
| 2020s | 4,087 |
Meaning & origin
Finnegan is an Irish surname turned first name that entered the U.S. charts in 1995 and reached its peak popularity in 2021, ranking 526th in 2025. While it has been falling since 2021, the name retains a strong presence, with roughly 1 in 3,002 boys receiving it last year. Finnegan is most common in New Hampshire, Maine, and South Dakota, reflecting its appeal in states with a strong Irish heritage. The name appeals to parents drawn to the nickname Finn, but offers a more formal, literary edge thanks to the Joyce connection.
Finnegan is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Fionnagáin, meaning 'descendant of Fionnagán.' The personal name Fionnagán is derived from 'fionn,' meaning 'fair' or 'white,' often describing hair or complexion. This surname originated in County Roscommon, but the name became popular as a first name through its use in the 19th-century ballad 'Finnegan's Wake,' later referenced in James Joyce's novel 'Finnegans Wake.' In the U.S., it emerged as a given name in the 1990s, largely as a variation of Finn.
Where Finnegan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Finn, Finny
Variants: Finigan
Sibling names for Finnegan
Names that share Finnegan's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Maeve, Saoirse, Clara, Nora, Piper, Magnolia, Sheridan, Taegan, Tierney, Tresa, Karrigan, Madigan, Marney, Mckinnley, Avereigh, Hennessey, Novalynn, Poetry, Delancey, Ileigh, Lochlyn, Phallon
Brothers: Declan, Rowan, Liam, Sullivan, Cormac, Madden, Dempsey, Macklin, Callaghan, Donovon, Duffy, Gilmore, Hobie, Kincaid, Maclain, Broderic, Dolan, Garvey, Kinney, Leary, Macauley, Maguire, Riordan, Alistar, Bohannon, Conroy, Kallahan, Mccauley, Quinnlan, Royel, Taggert
Names like Finnegan
Names whose popularity has moved with Finnegan's over the last 50 years.
