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Original poster

How popular is Finley?

37 replies

DaisyEM · 23/01/2025 21:23

We would actually use the Scottish spelling (Finlay), but I’m just wondering how popular ‘Finley/Finlay’ is at the moment? I keep hearing it everywhere but generally in slightly older children?

We are due baby boy 2 in April, and I’m really struggling with names! DH, DS1 and I all have fairly uncommon Celtic names, and I’m hoping to find a name that is Celtic/not overly used for DS2, so I’m thinking that might mean Finaly isn’t really an option, if it’s very popular?

Other option is Ruairi, but I’ve been thinking of baby as ‘Finlay’ in my head for a while now, however I feel a bit put off by the fact that I keep coming across other children called Finley locally.

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Lemonade2011 · 24/01/2025 12:25

friend has a Finley don’t like that spelling not sure why, my nephew is Finlay he’s 14 now, generally gets Finn.

I’m a paeds nurse (Scotland) and hardly hear it in the babies I see now it was really popular but loads of Arthur, George, Albert etc Magnus is another not keen on that at all or Rhuari depends how you pronounce it Rory or rooory not keen on that either.

CottonPyjamas · 24/01/2025 12:14

We have six Finn/Finlay/Finley/Finnans out of twenty-four lads in our son's rugby team. But as you mentioned, they are a bit older.

Nicesocks · 24/01/2025 12:06

I have a 25 year old Finley! It was very unusual then, we never met another one when he was at school. He loves his name. And he certainly wasn’t naughty 😝

VenusClapTrap · 24/01/2025 11:59

Three in ds’s class when he was in primary school. He’s 12.

SallyWD · 24/01/2025 11:44

I don't know any. I have two children in school and worked in a school.

user2848502016 · 24/01/2025 11:38

Have you considered Fintan or Finnian which are less common?

user2848502016 · 24/01/2025 11:36

Finlay is a lovely name, I guess it just comes down to if you love it does it really matter if it's popular?
Also the other side is I have an unusual name and as a child/young adult just wanted to be called something "normal"

Kitkate21 · 24/01/2025 11:04

I have a Findlay, in north Scotland. There are two in his primary. I work in an academy of 850 kids, there are none. He gets called Finn mostly. I did want to call him something much wilder but typical Scottish hubby put his foot down. 😆 I liked Flynn too. He is very well behaved age 11. Id definitely not say there is a correlation between names and behaviour. The most popular names in my school are demi-leigh, Logan,Leighton and Aimee/Amy/even an Aymee

NCfor24 · 24/01/2025 10:56

Jabbabong · 23/01/2025 22:39

How about Fenton? 😀

Or Fintan. I've loved that for years.

DrEggman · 24/01/2025 10:52

2! Both are friends with my DC.

Original poster
DaisyEM · 24/01/2025 10:36

Thanks everyone for your replies so far ☺️ seems a bit mixed on opinions of how popular it is! I think I’ll most likely just choose between Finlay and Ruairi once he’s here, see what suits him best 🥰

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Original poster
DaisyEM · 24/01/2025 10:32

@Seaside31 ahh my family is from the west coast of Scotland 🥰 giving myself away here, but my name ends in a ‘dh’ and I think with that being rather unusual, if I use the dh on Ruairi it’ll be very matchy-matchy 😂

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Mummmmo · 24/01/2025 09:46

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sel2223 · 24/01/2025 09:43

We have a sweet 8 year old Finley in the family who is often called Finn but it's the full name on his BC so he has options when he's older.
Can't remember the last time I heard of a baby Finley

Emanwenym · 24/01/2025 08:36

When you look at the stats, factor in the Finley/Finlay/FindlayFinns etc.
If you like the name, use it.

Scorpion84 · 24/01/2025 07:44

I have a Finley born in 2013
, I would say very popular then . Everytime
my son plays football , there's always another Finley on the other team which can get confusing 🤣

everyone calls him Finn which I love and to be honest I prefer it to Finley .

oh and he's not naughty in slightest 🤣

Mirabai · 23/01/2025 22:53

Too popular. Love Finbar though.

Ultra75 · 23/01/2025 22:50

There are 2 Finley's in DS2 (yr2) class. We have 2 in our Beavers 6-8 year old, but there are 3 in our Squirrels. 4-6 year old.
If it helps we have a Ruairí with a fada on and there are none where we live.

Jabbabong · 23/01/2025 22:39

How about Fenton? 😀

BoleynMemories13 · 23/01/2025 22:33

I love Finlay and prefer this spelling. Finn is a very handsome shortening. It's fairly popular, statistically, but popular names are used nowhere near as frequently as they use to be so I really wouldn't worry about it.

I don't agree with the 'naughty boy' comments. I've taught quite a few boys called Finley and all have been lovely. Several names jump straight to mind when I think 'naughty child's name' but Finley isn't one.

Seaside31 · 23/01/2025 22:30

DaisyEM · 23/01/2025 22:17

@GreyhoundGal1 this is really helpful, thanks for that ☺️

@Seaside31 DS1 is Elis. I’ve considered the traditional Scottish name, but I think I prefer Ruairi as seems a bit more straightforward. Do you find the spelling without the DH is still used in Scotland, as I’m aware that technically it’s the Irish spelling and we are of Welsh/Scottish heritage.

@saraclara thank you for sharing this x

@DaisyEM Love the name Elis 😊 I think Elis & Finlay sound lovely together! I also like Murray 😊
Elis and Ruairi is also nice 😊 Definitely still more common with the DH here (west coast Scotland) - I went to school with 3 and DS is currently at nursery with 2 and they’re all spelt the same way 😊

idontknow54789 · 23/01/2025 22:18

I've got three boys and don't know any - Although it was top of our list for DS2. We're in East London if that helps.

Original poster
DaisyEM · 23/01/2025 22:17

@GreyhoundGal1 this is really helpful, thanks for that ☺️

@Seaside31 DS1 is Elis. I’ve considered the traditional Scottish name, but I think I prefer Ruairi as seems a bit more straightforward. Do you find the spelling without the DH is still used in Scotland, as I’m aware that technically it’s the Irish spelling and we are of Welsh/Scottish heritage.

@saraclara thank you for sharing this x

OP posts:
saraclara · 23/01/2025 22:03

They're are loads of them. There are three toddler boys in my life at the moment. Two of them called Finley.

Tangentially, there are six little girls in my four year old DGDs gym class. Three of them called Elsie.

Thelondonone · 23/01/2025 22:02

I taught a lovely Finlay but it’s mostly a dog’s name.

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