Finlay
Boy name · #2612 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Finlay? In official American birth records, Finlay has been tracked continuously since 1918, giving it 107 years of documented American history.
Finlay is currently the #2612 boy name in the United States — 50 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2145, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 36,000 boys born in 2025 was named Finlay.
The 107-year story
Finlay first appears in the Social Security records in 1918, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2015, when 64 boys were named Finlay — good for #2145 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Finlay per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Finlay against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Finlay in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Finlay is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Finlay will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Finlay is most common
State-level data for Finlay is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Finlay
Statistically, parents drawn to Finlay tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Advay, Klay, Anay, Fischer, and Fares.
AdvayKlayAnayFischerFaresFinniganSamayWrigley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Finlay | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50 | #2604 |
| 2024 | 55 | #2476 |
| 2023 | 50 | #2614 |
| 2022 | 48 | #2717 |
| 2021 | 54 | #2464 |
| 2020 | 50 | #2546 |
| 2019 | 38 | #3103 |
| 2018 | 55 | #2385 |
| 2017 | 56 | #2319 |
| 2016 | 56 | #2335 |
| 2015 | 64 | #2145 |
| 2014 | 34 | #3234 |
| 2013 | 41 | #2804 |
| 2012 | 37 | #3059 |
| 2011 | 35 | #3164 |
| 2010 | 30 | #3531 |
| 2009 | 50 | #2528 |
| 2008 | 41 | #2879 |
| 2007 | 44 | #2721 |
| 2006 | 50 | #2449 |
| 2005 | 42 | #2614 |
| 2004 | 26 | #3534 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4426 |
| 2002 | 17 | #4502 |
| 2001 | 21 | #3842 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Finlay?
In official American birth records, the name Finlay first appeared in 1918 (over 107 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 107 years.
Is Finlay a popular boy name?
Finlay ranked #2612 among boys in 2025 with 50 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2145.
When was the name Finlay most popular?
Finlay peaked in 2015, when 64 American boys received the name (ranked #2145 that year). Since 2015 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Finlay?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 36,000 newborn American boys was named Finlay. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.