Declining since 2007.
Popularity of Finola since 1966
Babies named Finola per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 67 |
| 2010s | 74 |
| 2020s | 21 |
Meaning & origin
Finola has never been a common name in the United States. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1966 and has never ranked in the top 1000. The name reached its peak usage in 2007, when it was given to a modest number of girls. Since then, its popularity has been falling, reflecting a broader trend away from traditionally Irish names that surged in the 2000s. The trajectory shows a steady decline since 2007. No state has shown a significant concentration of the name. Finola remains a distinctive choice, one that carries strong Irish heritage and mythological resonance through the story of Fionnuala, the swan-maiden of Irish legend.
Finola is the anglicized form of the Irish name Fionnuala, derived from the Gaelic elements fionn 'white, fair' and guala 'shoulder'. In Irish mythology, Fionnuala was the daughter of the sea god Lir, who was turned into a swan in the tragic tale 'The Children of Lir'. The name has been used in Ireland for centuries and gained some popularity in the English-speaking world in the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nola, Nuala, Finn
Sibling names for Finola
Names that share Finola's style, for a brother or sister.
