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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How would you Spell...?

79 replies

Winchking · 27/08/2019 17:50

Hi all,
We've just had a baby boy, and have decided on a name, but can't decide how to spell it... the first way appears to be by far the most common way of spelling it, but I prefer the look of the second way and it sounds different somehow in my head, even though when I say them out loud they sound the same! I've no particular wish for the name to be 'unusual' for the sake of it. Which spelling do you prefer?
FINLEY
or
FINLAY

Ta!

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NameChange84 · 01/09/2019 15:08

Should say we’ve got 5 Findlays in our family tree!

NameChange84 · 01/09/2019 15:07

Funny, Finley looks made up to me but maybe it’s because Findlay is a family name going back over 100 years in our family.

maryannay · 01/09/2019 14:59

A Finn is also a person from Finland 🇫🇮

joystir59 · 01/09/2019 14:41

And congratulations!!!Flowers

DontGetMeWrongBaby · 01/09/2019 14:40

Another that thinks just Finn is much nicer than any of the confusing alternatives.

joystir59 · 01/09/2019 14:40

Findlay. Finley looks wrong

maryannay · 01/09/2019 14:39

You have to spell out many names though.

Yes, that's a pain too!

There are lots of names that have only one recognised spelling. Makes life much easier imo.

BoggiesBonnieBelle · 01/09/2019 12:14

Another Scot who has known lots of Finlay and Findlay and Fionnlaidhs but has never come across a Finley.

SoupDragon · 01/09/2019 12:11

You have to spell out many names though.

maryannay · 01/09/2019 10:52

I think it would be annoying to constantly have to spell out the name!

MrsGilly1 · 01/09/2019 09:51

Finley x

devilishlygood · 01/09/2019 07:13

I assume, given the even weighting to either/or spelling, it really doesn’t matter at all. They both mean the same, sound the same, and yes, you might end up having to correct occasionally but it’s hardly detracts from the sentiment.

Choose whichever version comes first for you. No biggy.

EssexSexpot · 31/08/2019 16:22

I've never seen it spelled Finley, only Finlay.

TheYeaSayer · 31/08/2019 14:18

Very much a Finlay here.

maryannay · 31/08/2019 14:12

Finley

But I've also seen it spelled Finlay, Finlee and even Fynnley Shock

IckleBear · 31/08/2019 12:05

Finley

whattodowith · 29/08/2019 16:54

They’re pronounced the same way. I think Finlay is the original spelling.

Lavenderblues · 29/08/2019 13:46

People may mispronounce Finlay as Fin-lay.

Finley or Finlee are more phonetic in English

FrancisCrawford · 29/08/2019 12:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sophronia · 29/08/2019 00:38

I prefer the Finlay spelling. My friend spelled it Finlee for her DS.

SoupDragon · 28/08/2019 09:49

I had no idea it could be spelled Finlay

It's weird isn't it - I had no idea it could be spelled Finley! (South London born and bred)

CocoLoco87 · 28/08/2019 08:41

Finley! SE here. Finlay would sound like 'Fin-laaaayyyy' where I'm from Grin

katesalwayslate · 28/08/2019 08:34

FWIW I think plain old Finn is much nicer. Finley and Finlay are both so common at the moment that I think they’ll date very badly.

katesalwayslate · 28/08/2019 08:33

When I see Finlay I pronounce it like Bianca used to shout ‘Rickaaaaaaay!’ in Eastenders 😂

CassianAndor · 28/08/2019 08:29

Scottish relatives though English myself - Finlay.