UK boy's name
Finbarr
A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "fair head" or "white head".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Finbarr is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Finbarr popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 7 births.
This profile covers 88 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 100 living people in the UK are called Finbarr. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Finbarr ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 7 boys were registered as Finbarr.
- • Finbarr ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #395 in 2023.
- • About 100 living people in the UK are estimated to have Finbarr as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
7 births
Estimated living
100
2026
Meaning
What does Finbarr mean?
The name Finbarr has its origins in the Irish language and is derived from the words "fionn" meaning fair or white, and "barr" meaning head or crown. It is believed to have emerged in the 6th century AD and was originally a descriptive nickname referring to someone with fair or blonde hair.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Finbarr dates back to the 7th century. It was the name of an Irish missionary and bishop, Saint Finbarr, who lived from around 550 to 623 AD. He founded a monastic school and church in what is now Cork City, Ireland.
Another historical figure who bore the name Finbarr was Finbarr of Dromadee, an Irish abbot who lived in the 6th century. He established a monastery in County Down, Ireland, and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
In the 9th century, Finbarr was also the name of an Irish scribe and scholar who worked at the monastery of Kildare. He is known for his contributions to the Book of Kildare, a significant manuscript containing religious texts and annals.
Moving forward to the 12th century, Finbarr was the name of an Irish chieftain and leader from County Cork. He is mentioned in various historical records and chronicles from that time period.
Another notable figure with the name Finbarr was Finbarr Fitzpatrick, an Irish nobleman and military leader who lived in the late 15th century. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses in England and was known for his loyalty to the House of York.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Finbarr, which has its roots in the ancient Irish language and culture. The name has been associated with religious figures, scholars, chieftains, and military leaders throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Finbarr over time
The chart below shows babies named Finbarr registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Finbarr, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Finbarr by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Finbarr 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 | #4020 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3635 | 19 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3121 | 42 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2560 | 15 | 4 |
Geography
Where Finbarr is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Finbarr. 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.
Finbarr ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #395 in 2023.
Across the UK
Finbarr in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#395 in 2023
3 years of NISRA records, 13 total registered
Related
Names similar to Finbarr
- 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
Finbarr: questions and answers
How popular is the name Finbarr in the UK right now?
In 2022, Finbarr was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Finbarr most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 7 babies registered as Finbarr in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Finbarr?
A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "fair head" or "white head".
How many people are called Finbarr in the UK?
A total of 88 babies have been registered as Finbarr across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 13 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Finbarr most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Finbarr ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #395 in 2023. 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.