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Baby names

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

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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MaybeitsMaybelline · 16/09/2019 20:02

Yorkshire - Finn Li

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 16/09/2019 19:56

Fin-lay

TraceyHorrobin · 16/09/2019 19:55

I think both spellings get pronounced Fin-leh

babbydriver · 16/09/2019 19:13

Fin-lay
Fin-lee is Finley

user1493494961 · 16/09/2019 19:12

Fin-lee, I've never heard Fin-lay.

FrancisCrawford · 16/09/2019 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 16/09/2019 19:04

Fintan is quite a nice "Fin" name too op.

Grufallosfriends · 16/09/2019 19:03

there’s no “r” in bath but many people still say insert one when they pronounce it.

I've never heard anyone call in Barth! Hmm

Grufallosfriends · 16/09/2019 19:02

Finley- Fin lee

Finlay - Fin lay

Goldensummer · 16/09/2019 18:57

But bath and ba..r.th still make sense though because the "r" isn't being pronounced as an "r" it is being produced as an "ahh."

B..ahh..th.

Pronouncing finley as fin-Lay makes no sense because the "e" in finley has no way of even sounding like an "a."

Biancadelrioisback · 16/09/2019 18:54

I'm from NE and would say fin-lee

pumkinspicetime · 16/09/2019 18:47

Fin lay, I've not noticed another way of saying it.
I am Scots but have lived all over.

museumum · 16/09/2019 18:43

I’ve genuinely never heard fin-Lee ever. I’m Scottish but in a very Anglo city.

ThatCurlyGirl · 16/09/2019 18:41

Personally (South East / London) I would say Finn-lee.

But can't you just spell it Finley if you want everyone to pronounce it like that?

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 16/09/2019 17:53

Bath? Bar-th? Baaaaa-th?

minesagin37 · 16/09/2019 17:36

DH called that. He's nearly 50. It was rare then! He gets called Fin.

OrangeJustice · 16/09/2019 17:33

@Goldensummer there’s no “r” in bath but many people still say insert one when they pronounce it. Language innit.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 16/09/2019 17:27

Finlay (soft ‘lay’) not lee.

zen1 · 16/09/2019 17:27

My young cousin is called Finlay. His parents pronounce it Fin-lee, but I automatically pronounce it Fin-lay and have to keep correcting myself in my head before I talk to him. We are all from the SE.

myloveforfrazzles · 16/09/2019 17:24

I’m brummy anyway, so Finley will probably end up being said ‘Fin-lay’

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Goldensummer · 16/09/2019 17:22

Fin-lay for that spelling and fin-Lee for Finley spelling.

Fin-lee doesn't even make sense if it's spelt finlay because where's the ee bit in ay?

Apolloanddaphne · 16/09/2019 17:22

Both definitely Fin-lay. It is a Scottish name and i am Scottish so obviously i am best qualified to adjudicate on this one!. Fin-lee is just bonkers. Grin

ratatata · 16/09/2019 17:19

I would say Finlee. SW here

ChelseaCat · 16/09/2019 17:19

Fin-lee

notso · 16/09/2019 17:17

To me Finley and Finlay are two different names.
Fin-lee and Fin-lay.
However there's a Finlay in the family who gets Fin-lee from everyone except me and his parents.