Total births
1,102
Unisex name · since 1918
Finlay
Since 1918, U.S. Social Security records show 1,102 babies named Finlay, peaking in 2015. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2483
- among boys today
- 1,102
- born since 1918
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 83%
- more common than other boys
Finlay currently ranks #2483 among unisex names in America, with 1,102 babies recorded since 1918.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Finlay has been recorded 1,102 times among boys since 1918, currently ranked #2483 nationally and more common than 83% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1918 to 2025.
- #2483 among boys today
- 1,102 born since 1918
- 2010s peak decade
- 83% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Finlay is currently the #2483 unisex name in America, more common than 83% of boys - 1,102 born since 1918, peaking in the 2010s.
- #2483
- among boys today
- 1,102
- born since 1918
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 83%
- more common than other boys
Finlay vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2483
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 83% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
40% of everyone ever named Finlay was born in this single decade.
2015
Single peak year
64 babies were named Finlay in 2015 - its busiest year on record.
How Finlay compares
1,102 Top 29% higher than 71% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Finlay's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Finlay | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,102 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 64 | 23 | 22,252 |
Finlay's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Finlay splits its recorded history at 2011: 66% of all births land in the more recent half, 34% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1918 (6 births) -- compare that against the 2015 peak of 64 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Finlay at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2015
Current rank
#2,483
Active since
1918
Finlay popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1918–2025
- Peak year (2015)
- 64
- Annual births at peak, across 108 years of records
Finlay popularity over time - girls
204 total births recorded since 2004 (Finlay as girls' name)
Finlay by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Finlay's strongest decade.
446 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 40% of all-time use.
Finlay births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 6
1910s
6 births
- 1990s 14
1990s
14 births
- 2000s
2000s
329 births
- 2010s
2010s
446 births
- 2020s
2020s
307 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 446 births (40% of all-time use).
How Finlay compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Finlay's total volume
Finlay vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Finlay by state
Where Finlay concentrates geographically, total births since 1918
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 115 | 10.4% |
| #2 | New York | | 40 | 3.6% |
| #3 | Massachusetts | | 14 | 1.3% |
| #4 | Washington | | 12 | 1.1% |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | | 11 | 1.0% |
| #6 | Maryland | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #7 | Florida | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Finlay's total US births 10.4%
Even split
115 of 1,102 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 9 reporting states.
Finlay appears in 9 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Finlay? ▼
Finlay has been given to 1,102 babies in the U.S. since 1918, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #2483 as of the latest data. 64 babies were born in 2015, its single highest year.
When was Finlay most popular? ▼
Finlay was most popular in the 2010s decade with 446 total births. The single peak year was 2015.
Where is Finlay most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Finlay are California (115 births), New York (40 births), Massachusetts (14 births).
Is Finlay a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Finlay is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,102 births, and as a girl's name it has 204 births.
How long has the name Finlay been used? ▼
Finlay has been recorded in Social Security data since 1918, spanning 108 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Finlay? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Finn, Finley, Finnegan, Finnley, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Finlay's data
- Finlay's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (446 total births) through the 2020s (307) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Finlays (115 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Finlay
Nearby Names Like Finlay
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Finlay
Finn Boy
#198 34,949 births
Finley Boy
#290 19,380 births
Finnegan Boy
#493 13,011 births
Finnley Boy
#715 5,658 births
Finnian Boy
#1520 3,206 births
Compare Finlay side by side: Finlay vs Finn Finlay vs Finley Finlay vs Finnegan
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Finlay
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1918–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Finlay: #2483 Unisex Name - 1,102 Births, Peak 2015." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/finlay. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Finlay draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.