How popular is Finley?

[DaisyEM]

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.

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 😊

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

@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

What about Finn

or Fergus ?

@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

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

Fergus, yes.

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

Phillip, Fergus, Finnian?

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

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

@MummyInTheNecropolis @WeMeetInFairIthilien 🙈😂

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/

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 😊

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

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.

@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

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.

@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 😊

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.

How about Fenton? 😀

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.

Too popular. Love Finbar though.

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 🤣

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

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