NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Finbar

Fair-headed, fair-haired young warrior. (of Irish origin).

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.

Finbar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Finbar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 21 births.

This profile covers 355 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 421 living people in the UK are called Finbar. 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

  • Finbar ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 21 boys were registered as Finbar.
  • Finbar ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #339 in 2024.
  • About 421 living people in the UK are estimated to have Finbar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3254

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

1999

21 births

Estimated living

421

2026

Meaning

What does Finbar mean?

The name Finbar has its origins in the Irish language and culture, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 6th century AD. It is derived from the Gaelic words "fionn" meaning fair or white, and "barr" meaning head or top, essentially translating to "fair-headed" or "white-haired".

This name was particularly popular in Ireland during the medieval period, with several notable figures bearing the moniker. One of the most renowned was Saint Finbar, a 6th-century Irish bishop and founder of a monastic school in Cork, Ireland. His life and teachings were recorded in the ancient Irish annals, and he is revered as the patron saint of the Diocese of Cork and Ross.

Another historical figure with this name was Finbar Fuathnacháin, an Irish king who ruled the Kingdom of Leinster in the 10th century. His reign was marked by conflicts with the neighboring kingdoms, and his exploits were chronicled in the medieval Irish annals.

During the 12th century, Finbar mac Donnchadha was a prominent Irish cleric and scribe who served as the Bishop of Derry. He was known for his contributions to the preservation of Irish literature and manuscripts.

In more recent times, Finbar Furey, born in 1946, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has played a significant role in the revival of traditional Irish folk music. He has released numerous albums and continues to perform and tour internationally.

Finbar Lynch, born in 1957, is an Irish actor best known for his roles in films such as "Waking Ned Devine" and "Calvary". He has had a prolific career in both film and television, and is highly regarded for his versatility and talent.

While the name Finbar has its roots in Irish culture, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with strong Irish diasporas. The name continues to be a source of cultural pride and connection to Ireland's rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Finbar over time

The chart below shows babies named Finbar registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Finbar, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Finbar
05111621199620102024

Decades

Finbar by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Finbar 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 #2873 35 5
2010s #2389 99 10
2000s #1308 155 10
1990s #921 66 4

Geography

Where Finbar is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Finbar. 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.

Finbar ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #339 in 2024.

Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Finbar in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#339 in 2024

17 years of NISRA records, 69 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Finbar

  • Finbar McConnell

    Gaelic football player

    Tyrone Gaelic footballer

    1954-

Related

Names similar to Finbar

FAQ

Finbar: questions and answers

How popular is the name Finbar in the UK right now?

In 2024, Finbar was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Finbar most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 21 babies registered as Finbar in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Finbar?

Fair-headed, fair-haired young warrior. (of Irish origin).

How many people are called Finbar in the UK?

A total of 355 babies have been registered as Finbar across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 69 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Finbar most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Finbar ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #339 in 2024. 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.