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Finnan

Boy name · 20 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Finnan: 20 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 5 births in 2020.

Finnan has Irish and Scottish Gaelic roots, coming from the name Finnán, a diminutive of Fionn, meaning “fair” or “white.” This name shares its origin with the legendary hero Fionn mac Cumhaill, though Finnan itself is more commonly linked to early Irish saints, such as Saint Finnan of Clonard, a 6th-century monastic teacher. In Scotland, Finnan also evokes the traditional dish Finnan haddie, a smoked haddock delicacy from the fishing village of Findon, whose name stems from the same Gaelic root. As a given name, Finnan offers a softer, less common alternative to Finlay or Finian, while still carrying that crisp, Celtic feel. It has appeared occasionally on Scottish birth registers in recent decades, appealing to parents drawn to gentle yet enduring names.