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NamyLab

Finlay

male
Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Fair Warrior"

Anglicized form of Fionnlagh, commonly interpreted as fair warrior and used historically in Scotland and Ireland.

Themes:gaelicscottishwarriorhistoric

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection CuratorCreative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Finlay

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#2478Ranked nationally
SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
Unranked

Finlay did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
--

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Finlay Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Finlay.

10 ideas
finy
Nickname
finl
Nickname
fie
Nickname
fy
Nickname
fo
Nickname
nlay
Nickname
layy
Nickname
fi
Nickname
FI
Nickname
ffie
Nickname

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Finlay mean?
Finlay means "Fair Warrior". Anglicized form of Fionnlagh, commonly interpreted as fair warrior and used historically in Scotland and Ireland.
What is the origin of Finlay?
Finlay is of Scottish Gaelic origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Finlay?
According to the latest SSA data, Finlay is currently ranked #2478 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Finlay a boy name?
Finlay is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Finlay?
Popular nicknames for Finlay include finy, finl, fie, fy, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Finlay?
There are many names similar to Finlay in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginScottish Gaelic
Syllables2
Length6 letters
US Rank#2478
Trend→ Stable
Starts withF

Explore More Boy Names Like Finlay

Finlay has Scottish Gaelic roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Scottish Gaelic baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Finlay appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Warrior and Beautiful Irish Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Unique Baby Names and Names That Mean Fire Warrior for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Finlay pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Finlay beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.