UK boy's name
Finan
An Irish masculine name meaning "fair" or "white".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Finan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Finan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1235, with 22 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 28 births.
This profile covers 185 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 79% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 195 living people in the UK are called Finan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Finan ranked #1235 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 22 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 28 boys were registered as Finan.
- • Finan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #522 in 2022.
- • About 195 living people in the UK are estimated to have Finan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1235
2024
Births in 2024
22
Latest year
Peak year
2023
28 births
Estimated living
195
2026
Meaning
What does Finan mean?
The name Finan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "fionn," which means "fair" or "white." It was a popular name in ancient Ireland, particularly among the Celtic tribes that inhabited the island.
This name has its roots in Irish mythology, where it was associated with the legendary hero Finn MacCool, also known as Finn McCool or Finn mac Cumhaill. He was a famous warrior and leader who appeared in many Irish folktales and was renowned for his wisdom, bravery, and skill as a hunter.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Finan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a Finan of Rath Mhuighe, who was the abbot of Rath Mhuighe (now Raymoghy) in County Donegal, Ireland, in the 7th century.
Another notable figure with the name Finan was Saint Finan, an Irish monk who became the Bishop of Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England, in 651 AD. He played a crucial role in spreading Christianity in the region and is remembered for his missionary work and the establishment of several monasteries.
In the 12th century, Finan O'Gorman was a renowned Irish poet and scholar who served as the Chief Poet of Ireland. He was known for his extensive knowledge of Irish history, mythology, and literature.
During the 16th century, Finan O'Driscoll was a prominent chieftain and leader of the O'Driscoll clan in West Cork, Ireland. He was involved in several conflicts with the English forces during the Elizabethan conquest of Ireland.
Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, Finan Lynch was an Irish novelist and playwright born in 1912. He gained recognition for his works that explored the lives and struggles of working-class Irish people, such as his novel "Seamrog" and the play "The Bogs of Loughaun."
Throughout history, the name Finan has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including religious figures, poets, warriors, and writers. While its usage may have fluctuated over time, it remains a name deeply rooted in Irish culture and heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Finan over time
The chart below shows babies named Finan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Finan, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 22 births in 2024, compared with 28 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Finan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Finan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1338 | 104 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3885 | 37 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2794 | 41 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Finan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Finan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Finan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #522 in 2022.
Across the UK
Finan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#522 in 2022
3 years of NRS records, 11 total registered
Related
Names similar to Finan
- Freddie 46,945
- Finley 42,410
- Frederick 19,866
- Finlay 17,879
- Frankie 17,528
- Finn 14,413
- Felix 14,361
- Fraser 6,470
- Flynn 6,170
- Frank 5,992
- Filip 5,876
- Francis 5,744
FAQ
Finan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Finan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Finan was ranked #1235 for boys in England and Wales, with 22 births registered.
When was Finan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 28 babies registered as Finan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Finan?
An Irish masculine name meaning "fair" or "white".
How many people are called Finan in the UK?
A total of 185 babies have been registered as Finan across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland.
Where is Finan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Finan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #522 in 2022. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.