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

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

Baby names

What do you think of Finley for a boy??? would it date?

53 replies

mummyloveslucy · 11/02/2008 19:30

Just wondered what people thought of the name Finley, would it date and is it common? I usually like more traditional names. I really like Oliver too.

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HarrogateMum · 11/02/2008 20:23

I have a Finlay! I love it and have yet to meet another child with the same name, although by the comments here it seems to be quite popular in other areas.

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BigBadMouse · 11/02/2008 20:28

Incredibly common around here - almost feels like every other little boy is called Finley or Finlay. I personally don't like it but obviously many others do.

FYI Finley is No 47 in last years top 100 boys names and Finlay is No 59 - that adds up to an awful lot of Finlay/leys. Both have been getting more popular over the last 5 years. Oliver was 3rd in 2007. In the end I think you should go with what you like regardless of how popular

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Flum · 11/02/2008 20:29

Yeah I like Finlay and Finian and Phineas

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tassisssss · 11/02/2008 20:29

Lovely name. I'd spell it Finlay.

Quite popular round here too though (but both my littlies have common names!)

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allytjd · 11/02/2008 21:34

I knew a boy called Finlay 30 years ago, and have come across them regularly ever since, it's one of those scottish surname turned into first name jobs like Duncan and Cameron. for gods sake don't spell it with an "e" that is just wrong! I have to admit that I get a bit twitchy about people using any name that has an exact meaning in one language innapropriately eg. Calling a boy Rory or Rhuari, which means red-haired (from scottish gaelic), when they are blonde or brown. I could go on with many other examples but maybe I should post this in pedants' corner (did i get the apostrophe right?).

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FJLA · 11/02/2008 21:36

Finlay's been around for centuries! It ranked at number 75 (Scotland) in 1800 and was the real MacBeth's father's name. It's an old Scottish, royal classic!

It's very popular in Scotland at the moment, but it's hardly Jack, James, George, Charlie, Oliver, Joseph or Joshua here.

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Wallace · 12/02/2008 11:49

I have a frind who named her ds Finlay lasy year, because she didn't know any and thought it was a lovely name. On to find that whne she went along to the local baby and toddler group everyone else had had the same idea, and most of the baby boys her son's age are called Finlay, Finn, , or some varient

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puffling · 12/02/2008 11:56

Mummyloveslucy - I like Ivan, Edward (Teddy), Michael, Alex, Fabian, Andrew and more that I can' think of at the moment.

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FJLA · 12/02/2008 12:18

Finlay seems to be popular in certain areas, Nottingham being one of them. It's fairly unusual where I live.
Why does it matter anyway? George is very popular, but i'd still use it in a heartbeat!

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theowlwhowasafraidofthedark · 12/02/2008 12:22

I like the name. I think it will probably date as there's suddenly a few of them about, but not sure that matters!

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pointydog · 12/02/2008 12:25

Finlay reaSONABLY common in Scotland. Don;t know where the Finley spelling came from

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DumbledoresGirl · 12/02/2008 12:26

Finley is very popular at the moment and I can imagine that it will date eventually. But does that matter if you like it?

My youngest is Finbar and we have met a few Finlays and Finns in our time, but he is the only Finbar! I adore his name but then, I didn't pick it randomly. It fits with his brothers' names.

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DualCycloneCod · 12/02/2008 12:26

a problem if he is fat

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luvaduck · 12/02/2008 12:26

love it - i wanted it but dh didn't i prefer scottish version finlay too

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luvaduck · 12/02/2008 12:27

pmsl at cod

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DumbledoresGirl · 12/02/2008 12:28

I used to call my (thin) Finbar "Fat Fin" when he was a baby.

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Wilkie · 12/02/2008 12:29

Love it, and Oliver. DH wouldn't have it for our DS though

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FJLA · 12/02/2008 12:52

It won't date anymore than all the other names that came from nowhere, namely Theo, Noah, Oscar, Isaac, Joshua and Oliver (and most of the top 100 that aren't James, William, Thomas and Edward).
I agree with others re Finley. It's like spelling Rhys, Reece.

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thequietone · 12/02/2008 12:55

My son's called Finlay. Needless to say I think it's gorgeous - it suits him perfectly.

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expatinscotland · 12/02/2008 12:58

it's popular just the now.

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Lomond · 12/02/2008 13:06

I love the name but only when spelling it with an A. (Finlay)

I am biased though, it is my 2yr old nephews name and he is lovely!

I certainly don't think it would date. It is quite an old name I think.

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PippiCalzelunghe · 12/02/2008 13:08

like finlay too

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MuffinMclay · 12/02/2008 13:18

Prefer it as Finlay. There are 2 in my village (and it is a small village), so perhaps it is getting quite popular.

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HonoriaGlossop · 12/02/2008 13:58

Agree that i prefer the more 'classic' spelling of Finlay.

I like it - and really like the shortening to Fin / Finn.

But it is definitely popular just now - we know a couple in ds' school year and he goes to a small school!

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FJLA · 12/02/2008 14:12

There were about 2,500 Finlays and Finleys (joint) born in 2007. There were about 5,500 Olivers. So in comparison...

There is only one in my older son's school and there are none in my younger son's (200 place) nursery. It really does depend on where you live. A friend with a Jack (aged 6), has never met another!

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