Fun Facts About the Name Finley
- More than 42 thousand babies named Finley: U.S. records list 42,280 babies given the name Finley from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 19,377 boys received the name Finley.
What Does the Name Finley Mean?
Finley is an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic personal name Fionnlagh, commonly explained as "fair warrior" or "fair hero." The first element is fionn, meaning "white" or "fair." The second element is usually identified with Gaelic laoch (older lóeg), "warrior" or "hero"; Scottish Gaelic laogh also means "calf," so the original sense of the compound is not entirely certain. The name is Scottish Gaelic in origin. A separate Irish surname Finley can come from Ó Fionnghaile, but the given name is generally traced to the Scottish Fionnlagh.
Finley Name History & Origins
The name entered English through Scotland, where Gaelic Fionnlagh was anglicized as Finlay, Findlay, and Finley. A documented early bearer was Findláech mac Ruaidrí, Mormaer of Moray, who died in 1020 and was the father of the historical Macbeth. The personal name also became a hereditary surname in Scotland, especially in the forms Finlay and Findlay. From Scotland, the surname and given name spread to Ireland, England, and later to other English-speaking countries. In modern use, Finley appears as a given name for both boys and girls, but it rests on the old Scottish masculine name.
How Popular is the Name Finley?
Finley recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2017. Its best rank was #159 in 2017.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #415 | 753 | 0.0468% |
| 2024 | #365 | 858 | 0.0532% |
| 2023 | #282 | 1,112 | 0.0694% |
| 2022 | #218 | 1,367 | 0.0834% |
| 2021 | #211 | 1,414 | 0.0862% |
| 2020 | #201 | 1,442 | 0.0893% |
| 2019 | #188 | 1,575 | 0.0939% |
| 2018 | #165 | 1,755 | 0.1032% |
| 2017 | #159 | 1,866 | 0.1081% |
| 2016 | #191 | 1,727 | 0.0975% |
| 2015 | #204 | 1,602 | 0.0898% |
| 2014 | #223 | 1,510 | 0.0845% |
| 2013 | #292 | 1,093 | 0.0623% |
| 2012 | #349 | 913 | 0.0519% |
| 2011 | #364 | 880 | 0.0500% |
| 2010 | #408 | 780 | 0.0439% |
| 2009 | #525 | 576 | 0.0314% |
| 2008 | #663 | 463 | 0.0245% |
| 2007 | #815 | 352 | 0.0183% |
| 2006 | #914 | 289 | 0.0152% |
| 2005 | #986 | 248 | 0.0134% |
| 2004 | #1,275 | 168 | 0.0091% |
| 2003 | #3,375 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 2002 | #4,540 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2001 | #8,961 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #6,295 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #5,504 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1998 | #7,712 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #9,279 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #10,954 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #14,166 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #13,873 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #13,038 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #333 | 1,017 | 0.0595% |
| 2024 | #290 | 1,153 | 0.0672% |
| 2023 | #285 | 1,178 | 0.0689% |
| 2022 | #281 | 1,225 | 0.0702% |
| 2021 | #265 | 1,307 | 0.0748% |
| 2020 | #305 | 1,088 | 0.0631% |
| 2019 | #287 | 1,194 | 0.0666% |
| 2018 | #275 | 1,290 | 0.0711% |
| 2017 | #279 | 1,296 | 0.0700% |
| 2016 | #287 | 1,253 | 0.0660% |
| 2015 | #326 | 1,060 | 0.0553% |
| 2014 | #376 | 834 | 0.0434% |
| 2013 | #483 | 571 | 0.0302% |
| 2012 | #546 | 478 | 0.0252% |
| 2011 | #511 | 507 | 0.0267% |
| 2010 | #596 | 419 | 0.0218% |
| 2009 | #716 | 331 | 0.0167% |
| 2008 | #825 | 266 | 0.0130% |
| 2007 | #794 | 272 | 0.0131% |
| 2006 | #891 | 220 | 0.0107% |
| 2005 | #1,173 | 136 | 0.0068% |
| 2004 | #1,248 | 121 | 0.0061% |
| 2003 | #1,680 | 74 | 0.0037% |
| 2002 | #2,410 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2001 | #2,706 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2000 | #2,493 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1999 | #4,213 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #4,073 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #5,059 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #4,245 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1995 | #4,893 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #6,011 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #6,318 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #7,580 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #7,472 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #4,614 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #4,545 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #5,686 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #5,149 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #4,669 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #4,643 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #3,425 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #5,361 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #4,582 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #4,480 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #5,478 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #3,287 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #2,271 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #2,869 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #3,362 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #2,463 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,629 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,277 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #2,848 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #2,303 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #2,583 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,236 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,566 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #2,966 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #1,929 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #2,142 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #1,494 | 28 | 0.0013% |
| 1957 | #1,727 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #2,038 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #1,581 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #1,606 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1953 | #1,784 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1952 | #1,634 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1951 | #1,569 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1950 | #1,444 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1949 | #1,680 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1948 | #1,623 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1947 | #1,808 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #1,576 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #1,147 | 33 | 0.0025% |
| 1944 | #1,293 | 27 | 0.0020% |
| 1943 | #1,290 | 29 | 0.0020% |
| 1942 | #1,199 | 34 | 0.0025% |
| 1941 | #1,383 | 24 | 0.0020% |
| 1940 | #1,281 | 28 | 0.0024% |
| 1939 | #1,247 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1938 | #1,635 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1937 | #1,550 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1936 | #1,517 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1935 | #1,558 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1934 | #1,398 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1933 | #1,259 | 28 | 0.0028% |
| 1932 | #1,184 | 33 | 0.0032% |
| 1931 | #1,563 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1930 | #1,350 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1929 | #1,538 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1928 | #1,133 | 39 | 0.0035% |
| 1927 | #1,065 | 44 | 0.0039% |
| 1926 | #1,201 | 36 | 0.0032% |
| 1925 | #1,209 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1924 | #1,194 | 37 | 0.0033% |
| 1923 | #1,142 | 39 | 0.0036% |
| 1922 | #1,167 | 38 | 0.0035% |
| 1921 | #1,208 | 36 | 0.0033% |
| 1920 | #1,096 | 42 | 0.0039% |
| 1919 | #1,055 | 42 | 0.0043% |
| 1918 | #1,043 | 42 | 0.0041% |
| 1917 | #841 | 58 | 0.0063% |
| 1916 | #1,004 | 41 | 0.0046% |
| 1915 | #945 | 44 | 0.0052% |
| 1914 | #1,063 | 29 | 0.0044% |
| 1913 | #885 | 31 | 0.0060% |
| 1912 | #1,200 | 16 | 0.0037% |
| 1911 | #1,141 | 10 | 0.0044% |
| 1910 | #837 | 14 | 0.0072% |
| 1909 | #1,194 | 7 | 0.0043% |
| 1908 | #851 | 11 | 0.0071% |
| 1907 | #1,247 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1906 | #874 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| 1905 | #760 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1904 | #1,270 | 5 | 0.0039% |
| 1901 | #799 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1900 | #992 | 8 | 0.0053% |
| 1898 | #711 | 10 | 0.0082% |
| 1897 | #746 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1896 | #1,030 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1894 | #1,142 | 5 | 0.0043% |
| 1893 | #947 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1892 | #820 | 8 | 0.0066% |
| 1890 | #835 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1889 | #1,024 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #774 | 8 | 0.0066% |
| 1887 | #775 | 7 | 0.0069% |
| 1886 | #886 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1885 | #727 | 8 | 0.0074% |
| 1884 | #633 | 10 | 0.0087% |
| 1883 | #753 | 7 | 0.0067% |
| 1882 | #501 | 14 | 0.0123% |
| 1881 | #573 | 10 | 0.0099% |
| 1880 | #583 | 11 | 0.0100% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Finley Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Finley's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Finley's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.