How do you pronounce Finlay?

[myloveforfrazzles]

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.

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

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).

Pronounced Fin-Lee

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

Much prefer the Finley spelling.

Fin-lee

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.

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

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.

Fin-lee

Ah god damn it; old thread!

Finley = Fin-lee
Finlay = Fin-lay

Two different names.

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.

Both spellings are pronounced Fin-lee.