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Original poster

How do you pronounce Finlay?

88 replies

myloveforfrazzles · 16/09/2019 17:08

We are considering the name Finlay for our DC. We like it pronounced Fin-lee, but our family think it should be pronounced Fin-lay.

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JemimaTiggywinkle · 26/11/2020 08:37

Both spellings are pronounced Fin-lee.

Storklhd · 26/11/2020 07:53

A lot of misinformation and misguided commentary here. Finlay is a traditional spelling of the name. Finlay and the more modern Finley are pronounced exactly the same way.

It's been said a few times already, there are many examples of names ending "ay" (generally with the same Scottish/Irish etymology) which are pronounced "eey" and not "ay". Think of the actor Macaulay Culkin, for example. You don't say MacauLAY!

Hope this helps to clear up the obvious misapprehension.

Personally I much prefer the Finlay spelling. I prefer traditional spellings.

festivebug · 26/11/2020 04:11

Finley = Fin-lee
Finlay = Fin-lay

Two different names. Smile

DeeandraReynolds · 25/11/2020 22:56

Ah god damn it; old thread!

DeeandraReynolds · 25/11/2020 22:56

Fin-lee

Bzaza · 25/11/2020 22:53

This has been an interesting thread to read.

Finlay is pronounced the same way that Murray, Lindsay, Macaulay, Ramsay and Barclay are pronounced.

For the avoidance of doubt, it's pronounced Fin-lee.

Smile
Minai · 20/09/2019 09:43

I would pronounce it Fin-lee but I know a lot of people pronounce it Fin-lay. I have a Finley and I spelt it that way mainly because I didn’t want people pronouncing it -lay

foxtiger · 20/09/2019 08:27

I'd only ever heard Fin-lee (for Finlay as a first name or a surname) until quite recently. The radio programme "Dr Finlay's Casebook" pronounced it that way too. I know one boy, who would now be about 16, called Finlay pronounced Fin-lay. His mum always put real emphasis on the lay, almost as if she was saying it in a French accent! For that reason I've though up till now that anyone who pronounced it Fin-lay was being a bit pretentious. (Can I also add the name Murray, which was a contender for one of my DC, to the list of "exceptions that prove the rule"? I've never heard anyone say that any other way than rhyming with hurry!)

But reading this thread has convinced me that it's not as clear-cut as that and anyone naming a child Finlay should be prepared for both pronunciations to be used. If I was considering using it and really wanted the Fin-lee pronunciation, I'd probably use the spelling Finley now. But actually I prefer just plain Finn.

fedup21 · 20/09/2019 07:37

Fin-lee

ariamontgomery · 20/09/2019 07:35

Fin-lay if it’s spelt like that.
Fin-lee if it’s spelt Finley.

Much prefer the Finley spelling.

whattodo2019 · 19/09/2019 22:45

Pronounced Fin-Lee

Laureatus · 19/09/2019 22:09

How interesting! I'm from the East of Scotland and only ever heard it pronounced Fin-lee. I even know someone who is called Finlay Finlay (first name last name).

Kaykay06 · 19/09/2019 22:00

Scottish too have a nephew Finlay, I say Fin Lay
Friend has son Finley she says fin lee

porridgeface · 19/09/2019 21:55

I'm Scottish and have a Fin-Lay

VenusClapTrap · 19/09/2019 09:01

There are two in ds’s class. One pronounces it lay and the other lee. I call them both Fin because I can never remember which is which.

Ohyesiam · 17/09/2019 22:36

I've never heard anyone call in Barth!
Have you really never heard a West Country accent? It’s how people round Bath say it.

Drabarni · 17/09/2019 22:28

Finley - GTR Manc

BoudicasBoudoir · 17/09/2019 22:21

I’m Scottish. I say FIN-lee. I’ve never heard it any other way.

Plus, while we’re on the topic, Barclay’s Bank should be pronounced BARK-lee.

I’m right. The end.

KronksSpinachPuffs · 17/09/2019 19:08

I would think it was pronounced Finley whether it was spelt Finley or finlay

Verily1 · 16/09/2019 22:34

Lay

EllieBellend · 16/09/2019 22:28

I have a Finlay and it's pronounced Fin Lay, although most people call him Fin Lee.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 16/09/2019 22:20

definitely regional.

I'm from East Anglia and both spellings would be pronounced Fin-Lee here. As would Lindsay/Linsey.

Original poster
myloveforfrazzles · 16/09/2019 22:14

Lindsay is Lin-see here, interesting point. I’m guessing it’s regional.

OP posts:
margotsdevil · 16/09/2019 21:47

Definitely FinLAY. And to the poster who said how do you get the "lay" sound from Finley then it's the same as "grey" surely?

I'd say Lindsay/Lynsey the same - a "say" at the end. Central Scotland - I've never heard either of these names (or their variants) pronounced any differently.

thespellhasbeenbroken123 · 16/09/2019 21:34

Fin lee

Only time I've heard fin lay was one of the presenters on CBeebies said fin lay and it seemed really odd to me

Must be regional haha