Finlay
A male given name transferred from the surname.
Every Finlay since 1918 — 1,306 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Finlay
Finlay is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,614 in 2025 with 50 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1918, 1,306 American babies have been named Finlay — about 84% boys and 16% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2017, when 75 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Finlay stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Finlay year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #11,258 | 50 | #2,614 |
| 2024 | — | — | 55 | #2,484 |
| 2023 | 5 | #15,972 | 50 | #2,625 |
| 2022 | 8 | #11,556 | 48 | #2,731 |
| 2021 | 9 | #10,559 | 54 | #2,473 |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,541 | 50 | #2,562 |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,893 | 38 | #3,117 |
| 2018 | 8 | #11,774 | 55 | #2,399 |
| 2017 | 19 | #6,363 | 56 | #2,327 |
| 2016 | 18 | #6,739 | 56 | #2,346 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10,376 | 64 | #2,154 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12,298 | 34 | #3,253 |
| 2013 | 18 | #6,832 | 41 | #2,818 |
| 2012 | 14 | #8,358 | 37 | #3,072 |
| 2011 | 10 | #10,641 | 35 | #3,192 |
| 2010 | 13 | #8,886 | 30 | #3,561 |
| 2009 | 5 | #18,226 | 50 | #2,542 |
| 2008 | 8 | #12,992 | 41 | #2,901 |
| 2007 | 9 | #11,948 | 44 | #2,733 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14,063 | 50 | #2,459 |
| 2005 | 6 | #15,120 | 42 | #2,632 |
| 2004 | 5 | #16,968 | 26 | #3,563 |
| 2003 | — | — | 18 | #4,488 |
| 2002 | — | — | 17 | #4,567 |
| 2001 | — | — | 21 | #3,886 |
| 2000 | — | — | 20 | #3,969 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Finlay mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Finlay in 2025?
Finlay ranked #2,614 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 50 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Finlay?
1,306 babies have been named Finlay in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Finlay most popular?
Finlay peaked in 2017, when 75 newborns received the name.
Is Finlay a boy or girl name?
Finlay is used for both: about 16% of babies named Finlay have been girls and 84% boys.
Is the name Finlay rising or falling?
Finlay is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.