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Baby names

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

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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Seaside31 · 23/01/2025 21:59

I was coming to say the exact opposite of @MummyInTheNecropolis @WeMeetInFairIthilien 😂 Loads of young Finlay’s around here (I’m in Scotland 👍🏻) and all the ones I know personally are lovely kids!

Ruairi is quite common here too - although most commonly spelt Ruairidh here.

Are you comfortable telling us your other DSs name? Maybe we could suggest things that work well 😊

GreyhoundGal1 · 23/01/2025 21:58

Any 2024 data at this stage will be speculative as none has been officially released so I wouldn't use that to make a decision.

If you're based in England and Wales you can check latest stats here (it's #20 plus the other spelling): https://names.darkgreener.com/#finley

Number 10 in Scotland for 2023: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/babies-first-names-2023/

Baby Names in England & Wales

Find the perfect name for your baby or spot naming trends - explore the names chosen for babies in England and Wales since 1996.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#finley

Original poster
DaisyEM · 23/01/2025 21:53

@MummyInTheNecropolis @WeMeetInFairIthilien 🙈😂

OP posts:
IggyAce · 23/01/2025 21:52

I know 2, one is nearly 19 and the other 13.

MummyInTheNecropolis · 23/01/2025 21:47

WeMeetInFairIthilien · 23/01/2025 21:45

I've been teaching for 15 years, and have never met a well behaved Finley/Finlay.

Fergus, yes.

I was going to say the same! I’m a reception teacher, have taught loads of Finleys/Finlays, they are always badly behaved! 🙈

Firsttimebabymummy · 23/01/2025 21:46

Don't let popularity put you off if you really like the name. It is lovely.

Phillip, Fergus, Finnian?

WeMeetInFairIthilien · 23/01/2025 21:45

I've been teaching for 15 years, and have never met a well behaved Finley/Finlay.

Fergus, yes.

Original poster
DaisyEM · 23/01/2025 21:44

@ZiggyZowie Finn is cute, but then Finlay seems a better option from the point of view he could be Finlay or Finn. Not keen on Fergus personally x

OP posts:
ZiggyZowie · 23/01/2025 21:41

What about Finn

or Fergus ?

Original poster
DaisyEM · 23/01/2025 21:40

@Moreteaandchocolate I keep getting mixed results when I look up the popularity. Highest I’ve seen for 2024 is number 19, lowest is 34. Personally because we all have fairly uncommon names I’d prefer a name not in the top 30, so that doesn’t help me figure out whether Finlay is in or out 😂

@Firsttimebabymummy that’s good to know, thank you x

OP posts:
Firsttimebabymummy · 23/01/2025 21:35

There's a lot of 2 and 3yr olds in the nursery I work at.

Moreteaandchocolate · 23/01/2025 21:34

I only know one Finley, but I can see it’s number 20 in the 2023 stats, so I’m guessing he will meet a few others. Lovely name! My son has a top 5 name and there aren’t any others in his school, so he might get lucky 😊

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