Fionnán
Say it: FIN-awn
BoyIrishMeans usually explained as "little fair one"7 letters2 syllables
#286
in Ireland (2025)
#276 with spellings combined
15
babies in 2025
#211
best rank (2006)
309
babies since 1971
Up 121
10-year rank change
Fionnán through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #276 |
| 2024 | 8 | #413 |
| 2023 | 10 | #351 |
| 2022 | 7 | #438 |
| 2021 | 9 | #377 |
| 2020 | 9 | #391 |
| 2019 | 6 | #485 |
| 2018 | 12 | #324 |
| 2017 | 11 | #356 |
| 2016 | 7 | #448 |
| 2015 | 9 | #397 |
| 2014 | 9 | #403 |
| 2013 | 7 | #448 |
| 2012 | 11 | #354 |
| 2011 | 24 | #225 |
| 2010 | 12 | #338 |
| 2009 | 11 | #337 |
| 2008 | 8 | #412 |
| 2007 | 13 | #282 |
| 2006 | 19 | #211 |
| 2005 | 6 | #370 |
| 2004 | 13 | #226 |
| 2003 | 11 | #245 |
| 2002 | 6 | #313 |
| 2001 | 5 | #317 |
| 2000 | 5 | #312 |
| 1999 | 6 | #266 |
| 1998 | 4 | #324 |
| 1996 | 6 | #276 |
| 1995 | 3 | #334 |
| 1993 | 5 | #275 |
| 1992 | 4 | #298 |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1986 | 6 | #247 |
| 1982 | 3 | #330 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1971 | 3 | #304 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Fionnán mean?
Usually explained as "little fair one"
Irish, usually traced to fionn (fair, bright) with the small ending -án.
Say it right
FINawn
The "á" is a long "aw" sound. In English it is often written Finian or Finnian.
Not:fee-OH-nanFYE-nan
The story of Fionnán
Fionnán is usually read as fionn, meaning fair, bright or white, with the small ending -án, giving something like “little fair one”. The same word fionn is behind Fionn, Fionnuala and many other Irish names.
Several early Irish saints are known in English as Finnian, Finian or Finan, and Fionnán is one of the Irish forms used for them. Finnian of Clonard founded the monastery at Clonard, and Finnian of Movilla worked in the north. Finian Lobhar is linked with a monastery on Inisfallen, near Killarney. Outside Ireland, Finan of Lindisfarne was the second bishop of that island monastery in Northumbria in the 600s.
Fionnán first appears in the CSO records in 1971. Its busiest year was 2011, when 24 boys were given the name. The CSO counts Fionnán and Fionnan separately, as fadas were only recorded from 2018. Together they were number 276 in 2025, with 15 boys.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Finnian
- Wikipedia: Finan
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Fionnán | 15 | 76 |
| Fionnan | under 3 | 233 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #244 (2013); 44 babies since 2004.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.