UK boy's name
Finton
A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "the fair-haired one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Finton is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Finton popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 10 births.
This profile covers 103 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1998 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 102 living people in the UK are called Finton. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Finton ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 10 boys were registered as Finton.
- • About 102 living people in the UK are estimated to have Finton as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4810
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
10 births
Estimated living
102
2026
Meaning
What does Finton mean?
The given name Finton has its roots in the ancient Celtic language. It is believed to have originated in the region encompassing modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and parts of England during the early medieval period, around the 5th to 7th centuries AD. The name is derived from the Old Irish word "fínn," meaning fair or white, often referring to hair color or complexion.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Finton can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle that dates back to the 15th century. It mentions a man named Finton mac Cáelchon, who lived in the 7th century and was a renowned warrior and chieftain from the kingdom of Dál Riata, which spanned parts of modern-day Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Finton. One of the most famous was Saint Finton of Rheinau (c. 825 - 878), an Irish monk and missionary who founded the Benedictine monastery of Rheinau in present-day Switzerland. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, and his feast day is celebrated on November 17th.
Another notable figure was Finton O'Driscoll (c. 1100 - 1180), an Irish chieftain and lord of the O'Driscoll clan in West Cork, Ireland. He played a significant role in the struggles between the Irish clans and the Norman invaders during the 12th century.
In the 13th century, Finton fitz Henry (c. 1210 - 1280) was a prominent English nobleman and landowner who served as Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire during the reign of King Henry III.
Moving forward to the 16th century, Finton O'Donnell (c. 1520 - 1589) was an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Donnell clan in what is now County Donegal, Ireland. He was known for his resistance against English colonization efforts during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
Lastly, in the 18th century, Finton Lalor (1720 - 1799) was an Irish lawyer and landowner from County Laois. He was a prominent figure in the Irish Patriot movement and played a role in the events leading up to the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Finton over time
The chart below shows babies named Finton registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Finton, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Finton by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Finton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3479 | 37 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2395 | 58 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2499 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Finton
- 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
Finton: questions and answers
How popular is the name Finton in the UK right now?
In 2016, Finton was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Finton most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 10 babies registered as Finton in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Finton?
A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "the fair-haired one".
How many people are called Finton in the UK?
A total of 103 babies have been registered as Finton across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.