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Baby names

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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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SlothRunner · 16/09/2019 21:26

Finlee

MooKnee · 16/09/2019 21:24

How do you pronounce Lindsay? I always say lin-zee so assume that Finlay would be fin-lee?
Also from London

Corneliawildthing · 16/09/2019 21:18

Finlay and Findlay (as a surname) both quite common in Scotland and always Fin lay, never Fin lee

Frith2013 · 16/09/2019 21:06

Fin lee

Heyboyo · 16/09/2019 21:03

Fin-lay. There’s no E in it

ClaraThePigeon · 16/09/2019 20:54

It's more Lay than Leh to me.(Scottish) I'd say Finley more like Leh but Finlay as written.

xtinak · 16/09/2019 20:54

Dunno I'm Scottish and I'd say Finlee with the emphasis on the fin part so the lee isn't very harsh but still not lay as in play.

Original poster
myloveforfrazzles · 16/09/2019 20:49

It’s such a 50/50. So in Scotland it’s more Fin-leh than fin-lay?

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MadisonAvenue · 16/09/2019 20:49

Finlee

Ninkaninus · 16/09/2019 20:46

Although my OH has just said that if you’re from Somerset there could well be a bit of an ‘r’ in there. Which hadn’t occurred to me...

I love threads like this, always quite interesting.

Ninkaninus · 16/09/2019 20:40

That’s probably where some confusion lies then. A bit like the supposed ‘r’ in bath which isn’t an r but more like a long ahhh sound. There’s always a lot of debate about that one.

7Worfs · 16/09/2019 20:35

The way our Scottish neighbour pronounces it is indeed closer to Findleh.

Ninkaninus · 16/09/2019 20:31

I actually think I would like it better with the Scottish pronunciation. I lived there for a year and I can hear it in my head the way I think they would say it there. Am I right in imagining that it’s somewhere closer to ‘leh’ so not actually lay as as in play?

But down here I’ve only ever heard it with a sound at the end that’s similar to leigh.

ClaraThePigeon · 16/09/2019 20:23

Fin-Lay

whiteroseredrose · 16/09/2019 20:22

Fin li

7Worfs · 16/09/2019 20:16

I have a Finley. We didn’t register him for a month because we kept overthinking the spelling. DH wanted it pronounced Fin Lee so insisted on that spelling.
And then our lovely Scottish neighbour inquired after our boy Findlay Grin It sounds lovely in her accent so I won’t be correcting her

TheGlaikitRambler · 16/09/2019 20:15

It's Scottish and it's Fin-Lay

DramaFarmer · 16/09/2019 20:14

Finnly

Like thinly.

Never ever heard it pronounced fin-lay.

AverageMummy · 16/09/2019 20:13

Fin-lee I’m from the SE if that makes a difference

TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 16/09/2019 20:10

Finlay.

Bookworm4 · 16/09/2019 20:10

It’s a Scottish name and it’s Fin lay, Fin lee is laughable.

Annaskies · 16/09/2019 20:09

Definitely Fin-lee here, I only heard Fin-lay for the first time on a programme recently and thought it sounded odd!

Ninkaninus · 16/09/2019 20:08

I’ve only ever heard it pronounced closer to the ee sound, for both spellings. I live in the south.

Fuiseog · 16/09/2019 20:06

Fin Lay, I'd have said. As a surname in Ireland, spelled Finlay is said that way.

Original poster
myloveforfrazzles · 16/09/2019 20:02

Thank you everyone

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