UK name, mostly boys
Finn
Irish name meaning "fair" or "white", derived from the Gaelic "Finn".
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.
Finn is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Finn popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #83, with 637 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 817 births.
This profile covers 14,413 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland 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 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19,142 living people in the UK are called Finn. 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
- • Finn ranked #83 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 637 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 817 boys were registered as Finn.
- • Finn ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #15 in 2024.
- • About 19,142 living people in the UK are estimated to have Finn as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.6% of Finn registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#83
2024
Births in 2024
637
Latest year
Peak year
2018
817 births
Estimated living
19,142
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Finn
In England and Wales birth records, Finn has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.6% of registrations are for boys and 0.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Finn registered for boys
- Ranked #83 in 2024
- 637 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2018 (817 births)
Finn registered for girls
- Ranked #3,519 in 2021
- 6 girls registered in 2021
- Peak: 2000 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Finn mean?
The name Finn has its origins in the Old Norse language and culture. It is derived from the Old Norse word "finna" which means "to find" or "to discover". The name was popular among the Vikings, and it was often given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be great explorers or adventurers.
In ancient Norse mythology, there was a character named Finn who was a legendary hunter and warrior. He was known for his bravery and skill in battle, and his story was passed down through generations of storytellers.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Finn comes from the 10th century, when it appeared in the Icelandic Sagas. These sagas were a collection of stories that were written down by monks and chroniclers, and they provide a valuable glimpse into the lives and traditions of the Viking people.
Throughout history, there have been many notable people who have borne the name Finn. One of the most famous was Finn MacCool, an Irish mythological hero who was said to have lived in the 3rd century AD. According to legend, Finn MacCool was a giant who was known for his strength and courage, and he was the leader of a band of warriors known as the Fianna.
Another notable figure with the name Finn was Finn Magnusson, a Norwegian king who ruled from 1035 to 1047 AD. He was known for his efforts to expand and strengthen the Norwegian kingdom, and he played a key role in the Christianization of Scandinavia.
In the 19th century, there was an Irish writer and poet named Finn O'Mahony (1825-1892) who was famous for his works in the Gaelic language. He was a staunch defender of Irish culture and tradition, and he played a key role in the Irish literary revival of the late 19th century.
Another notable figure with the name Finn was Finn Wolfhound (1888-1958), an American actor who appeared in many Hollywood films during the silent era. He was known for his rugged good looks and his ability to play tough, no-nonsense characters.
Finally, there was Finn Juhl (1912-1989), a Danish architect and furniture designer who was one of the pioneers of the Danish Modern style. His furniture designs were characterized by their clean lines and minimalist aesthetic, and they are still highly prized by collectors and design enthusiasts today.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Finn over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Finn in England and Wales, 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 Finn, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 637 births in 2024, compared with 817 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Finn by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Finn 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 | #79 | 3,497 | 5 |
| 2010s | #113 | 5,757 | 10 |
| 2000s | #118 | 4,505 | 10 |
| 1990s | #208 | 654 | 4 |
Geography
Where Finn is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Finn. 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.
Finn ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #15 in 2024.
Across the UK
Finn in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#17 in 2024
37 years of NRS records, 3,231 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#15 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 1,626 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Finn
-
Finn Geragusyan
association football player
English-born Armenian association football player
2007-
-
Finn O'Brien
sport cyclist
British cyclist
2007-
-
Finn Delap
association football player
English footballer
2005-
-
Finn Carnduff
rugby union player
English rugby union player
2004-
-
Finn Hawkins
windsurfer
British windsurfer
2002-
-
Finn Cousin-Dawson
association football player
English association football player
2002-
-
Finn Ecrepont
association football player
Scottish footballer
2002-
-
Finn Elliot
television actor; child actor; film actor
British actor
2002-
Related
Names similar to Finn
- Freddie 46,945
- Finley 42,410
- Frederick 19,866
- Finlay 17,879
- Frankie 17,528
- Felix 14,361
- Fraser 6,470
- Flynn 6,170
- Frank 5,992
- Filip 5,876
- Francis 5,744
- Freddy 4,114
FAQ
Finn: questions and answers
How popular is the name Finn in the UK right now?
In 2024, Finn was ranked #83 for boys in England and Wales, with 637 births registered.
When was Finn most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 817 babies registered as Finn in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Finn?
Irish name meaning "fair" or "white", derived from the Gaelic "Finn".
How many people are called Finn in the UK?
A total of 14,413 babies have been registered as Finn across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3,231 more in Scotland and 1,626 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Finn most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Finn ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #15 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.