Finley
Finley is a girl's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Fair-haired warrior or courageous hero.
Origin and history
Finley is an Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name Fionnlagh, derived from elements meaning fair and warrior. Long used as a traditional masculine name in Scotland, it has gained substantial popularity as a unisex name in the United States. Today, it is frequently chosen for girls, reflecting the modern trend toward surname-derived and Celtic-inspired names.
Popularity in the United States
22,908 babies in the United States have been named Finley since 1880. It ranks #969 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #268.
States where it is most popular
- TX (8.7 %)
- CA (7.2 %)
- FL (4.4 %)
- NC (4.2 %)
- IL (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 5 |
| 1990-2000 | 57 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,194 |
| 2010-2019 | 13,701 |
| 2020-2029 | 6,951 |
Famous people named Finley
- Finley Aaron Love Liddell: Public figure
Nicknames
Fin, Finn, Finny
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Gaelic elements 'fionn' (white, fair) and 'laoch' (warrior, hero).
- Finlay (a variation of Finley) was the name of the father of King Macbeth of Scotland.