Finley
Say it: FIN-lee/ˈfɪnli/
BoyMeans usually explained as "fair warrior"6 letters2 syllables
#159
in Ireland (2025)
#154 with spellings combined
32
babies in 2025
#137
best rank (2020)
327
babies since 2005
Up 307
10-year rank change
Finley through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | #154 |
| 2024 | 31 | #158 |
| 2023 | 27 | #186 |
| 2022 | 34 | #164 |
| 2021 | 30 | #178 |
| 2020 | 44 | #137 |
| 2019 | 19 | #241 |
| 2018 | 13 | #313 |
| 2017 | 10 | #374 |
| 2016 | 11 | #353 |
| 2015 | 7 | #461 |
| 2014 | 8 | #428 |
| 2013 | 11 | #352 |
| 2012 | 12 | #336 |
| 2011 | 4 | #623 |
| 2010 | 7 | #448 |
| 2009 | 5 | #532 |
| 2008 | 11 | #346 |
| 2006 | 8 | #335 |
| 2005 | 3 | #518 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Finley mean?
Usually explained as "fair warrior"
Scottish, a spelling of Finlay, from the Gaelic name Fionnlagh.
Say it right
FINlee
The story of Finley
Finley is a spelling of Finlay, a Scottish surname that comes from the Gaelic personal name Fionnlagh. That name is usually explained as fionn (white, fair) with laoch (warrior, hero), though an Old Norse name may also have fed into it. The first part is the same word found in the Irish name Fionn.
The surname became a first name in modern times. The CSO counts Finley and Finlay as separate names, and in Ireland Finley is now the more common of the two.
Finley first appears in the CSO records in 2005. It grew quickly in the last decade and peaked in 2020, with 44 babies, when it reached number 137. In 2025, 32 boys were named Finley. In Northern Ireland its best rank so far was number 89 in 2024.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Finley (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Finley (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Finn
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Finley | 32 | 327 |
In Northern Ireland
#185 in 2025 with 11 babies. Best rank #89 (2024); 263 babies since 1999.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Finley is also given to girls: 3 since 2017.