Finlay or Finley?

[Crazymummyto3]

We like the name Finlay for a boy, which could be shortened to Finn. Would you spell it Finlay or Finley?

Finley

Finlay

My Fin is a Findley

Finlay, I think.

Finley

Finlay

Finlay

Finlay

I know a Fin whose full name is Finley.

A Finn is someone from Finland 🇫🇮

Finn is a name in its own right, from Irish folklore I believe. So if you like the name, you can just go for Finn and not worry about Finlay/ley.

Finlay

If you don't want him to have to spend his life spelling his name for everyone he meets, use Finlay.

Finley X

Finlay

All the girls I know are Finlay or Findlay, and all the boys are Finley. I have no idea if that’s an actual thing, but it’s anecdata here. 🤷‍♀️

Lay

Finley

Whichever spelling you choose, he'll spend a lot of time correcting people

Finley

@MsHighwater

I disbanded. Finley is number 30 in the charts. Finlay is number 156 (and on a very steep downward trajectory so likely to be outside the top 200 by the time the 2020 stats are released)

Looking at the actual numbers themselves, there's 7 times more 'Finley's' than 'Finlay's' in the most recent statistics so in future most people are going to assume Finley with an E

On that basis I'd go for Finley so your son doesn't have to go through life correcting people ☺️

Great name by the way - love it

I’m in the SE and the more common spelling here is Finley. I’ve taught a fair few. Never had a Finlay and only one Findlay.

If you want to be true to the name's Gaelic origins, it should be Finlay or perhaps Findlay.
See here: www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2015/10/finlay.html

As I'm sure you know, it means 'white or fair soldier' (masculine).

Traditionally, Finlay was by far the most popular spelling in Scotland (and I think Irealnd) for several centuries, though other spellings were known. Since the name became popular in England and beyond, Finley has been increasing in popularity.

Finlay

Finlay

But I'd avoid the name altogether as he'll spend his life correcting people.

I would pronounce Finlay as Finn-lay, and Finley as Finn-lee.