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Baby names

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Original poster

Is Finley/Finlay a 'fashion' name??

89 replies

Marzipanlover · 15/03/2011 19:37

What do you think of Finley being a 'fashion' name instead of a classic name? Do you think in 30 years time, people will think that it's really dated? Or does it not really matter?
I'm having a battle over picking a classic or a more 'now' name!

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KittenOfDoom · 16/04/2013 14:32

lou1403

"we used the 'ey' spelling instead of the 'ay' so the overseas contingent will pronounce it Fin-lay and not Fin-lee."

I'm intrigued - that makes no sense to me at all! :) How would 'lay' not be pronounced 'lay'? I should have thought that 'Finley' was far more likely to be prn 'lee' than Finlay would.

LittleAbruzzenBear · 16/04/2013 12:55

It's very popular in Suffolk, but then so is Alfie (name of DS1). I was a bit Blush when I realised it was so popular, but DS1 is named after DH's friend who died when I was a few months pregnant. Bottom line is, if you like it, who cares?

lou1403 · 16/04/2013 12:51

My wee boy is a Finley but usually gets Finn. I'm scottish, dh is from overseas, we used the 'ey' spelling instead of the 'ay' so the overseas contingent will pronounce it Fin-lay and not Fin-lee.

keiratomm · 15/04/2013 12:06

How about Sven - has a similar feel I think and is not very popular at the moment

CheerfulYank · 15/04/2013 02:40

Finley is almost exclusively used for girls here in the US, Finn is for boys.

It will definitely date here, but not so much there I wouldn't think.

It's a nice name. :)

mathanxiety · 15/04/2013 02:19

When a name normally used for a boy starts being used for a girl it's only a matter time before it goes over completely to the opposite team.

KittenOfDoom · 14/04/2013 22:59

Yes, it is a fad and will date badly. (Except in Scotland.)

BNmum · 13/04/2013 22:04

I definitely think its a fashionable name outside Scotland, I know 5 (girls & boys) under age of 3. I thought it was very faddy until I read this thread - I had no idea it was a traditional name.

mathanxiety · 13/04/2013 21:50

I think it's a fashion name outside of Scotland.

I know a huge number of Finbars, Fintans, Finleys, Finnegans, etc., all inspired by Finn.

thermalsinapril · 13/04/2013 21:12

I think it's sprung into fashion in the past few years. I'd never met a single Finlay until a few years ago.

thegreylady · 13/04/2013 17:50

I have a Finn [dgs] and dd took it because of the Irish hero Finn McCool :)
Finlay is surely a classic Scottish name.I dont think any version will 'date'.

thirpo · 13/04/2013 17:22

Hi just like to add that our 10 year old Daughter is called Finlay, she loves her name as it is unique for her she gets called Finn alot and likes this shortened version equally, we are really glad we choose this name as I doubt she'll ever bump into another Female Finlay. We consider this spelling more feminine than Finley, thats also why we choose it plus if we were having a boy it was to be Finley so we basicaly adapted the name we loved to suite a girl.

mayanna123 · 25/03/2011 13:36

What makes a name a fashion name imo is its quick rise up the charts and its inevitable fall in popularity as it falls back out of 'fashion'.

MrsSparkle · 25/03/2011 10:37

I wasn't aware Finley was a fashion name? I found it in a baby name book and had not heard it before and loved it! I have met other Finleys but they are usually Fin - lays.

clearsaint · 24/03/2011 22:18

All the Finn names will date! Who cares! If you like the name just use it.

belbos · 24/03/2011 22:01

I think Finley might go out of fashion at some point but feel that Finn is more timeless. Love the name Finn.

evamummy · 24/03/2011 21:55

I know 4 Fin/Finns under the age of five so the name seems to have become very popular recently. I'd probably avoid it now because 1) there are already lots of Fin/Finns out there and 2) the name will probably start to feel dated soon as people start to tire of it ( a bit like in fashion).

notso · 24/03/2011 15:08

I have a 15 week old Finlay (DH preferred ay to ey), I've liked it since Finley Quaye was in the charts, I had never met one until he was born and there was another one in the next bed, and then another one in the baby clinic, and two in toddlers!

It is popular but I love it.

All my DC's names are I suppose what you would call 'of the moment' ( Molly, Alfie, Finlay) but I am really happy with them so who cares.

Hedwig3 · 24/03/2011 14:41

The only Finley I know is 10!

MrsvWoolf · 24/03/2011 14:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pickler · 23/03/2011 22:22

Finn names will be around for donkeys! It may date eventually though.. in 50 years or so.

smother · 23/03/2011 22:11

I think Finlay is a used-to-be-but-now-out-of-fashion name! (sorry but you did ask)

mopsyflopsy · 23/03/2011 21:38

I wonder how high up the list Fin/Finn is if you add up all the variants - Finlay, Finley, Finnian, Finbar etc. I'm sure all these together must have become a lot more popular in the last 2-3 years.

NormanNorris · 23/03/2011 21:06

I don't think of it as a typical fashion name. They are Jayden/Kayden etc and Mason/Tyler/Taylor and all the other (occupational) surnames.

It will only be faddy if people stop using it and looking at the statistics it's been in the top 100 or so for about 15 years. Can't see it suddenly falling out of the top 100.

dauntless · 23/03/2011 20:38

No Hmm

It is in fact a traditional Scottish name.