Finlay is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

, and also a

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

. The given name is represented in

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

as Fionnlagh.

Given name

Finlay

Finlay Calder Finlay Calder OBE (born 20 August 1957) is a Scotland international former rugby union player. Rugby Union career Amateur career Born in Haddington, East Lothian and educated at Stewart's Melville College, Calder played at open side fla ...

, Scottish rugby player * Finlay Christie (comedian), British comedian *

Finlay Christie Finlay Turner Christie (born 19 September 1995) is a Scotland born, New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a halfback for in the Bunnings NPC and the in Super Rugby. Born in Scotland, he represents New Zealand at international level a ...

, Scottish-born New Zealand rugby player *

Finlay Crerar Air Commodore Finlay Crerar, (23 March 1904 – 12 August 1965) was a senior Royal Air Force officer during the Second World War who served as the fourth Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC). He led the ROC through the final two years of ...

, Royal Air Force Officer *

Finlay Crisp Leslie Finlay Crisp (19 January 191721 December 1984) was an Australian academic and political scientist. The son of Leslie Walter Crisp (1884–1965), and Ruby Elizabeth Crisp (1896–1951), née Duff, Leslie Finlay Crisp was born in Sandringh ...

(1917–1984), Australian academic and political scientist *

Finlay Currie William Finlay Currie (20 January 1878 – 9 May 1968) was a Scottish actor of stage, screen, and television.McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. pp. 175-176; He rec ...

(1878–1968), Scottish actor * Finlay Freundlich (1885–1964), astronomer * Finlay Jackson (1901–1941), cricketer and rugby union player *

Finlay Macdonald (minister) Finlay A. J. Macdonald is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland. He was Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1996 until 2010. In addition to his rapid rise up the ranks of the Church of Scotland, Macdonal ...

, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland *

Finlay MacDonald (musician) Finlay MacDonald (born 1978) is a Scottish musician and composer. He was one of the first pipers to receive a BA in Scottish music and piping from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. MacDonald is head of piping studies at the National ...

(born 1978), Scottish bagpiper * Finlay MacDonald (politician, born 1866) (died 1948), Canadian Member of Parliament for Cape Breton South, Nova Scotia * Finlay MacDonald (politician, born 1923) (died 2002), Canadian senator *

Finlay J. MacDonald Finlay John Macdonald (; 4 July 1925 – 14 October 1987) was a Scottish journalist and radio and television producer and writer. Career Born and raised on Harris in the Outer Hebrides, and a native Gaelic language speaker, was an important fi ...

, Scottish journalist * Finlay McNaughton Young (1852–1916), Canadian Senator *

Finlay Mickel Finlay Mickel (born 6 December 1977) is a Scottish skiing coach and former downhill skier who competed in World Cup competitions 2000–2009 and the 2006 Winter Olympics. Downhill skier Mickel was born on 6 December 1977 in Edinburgh, Scotland ...

, Scottish skier *

Finlay Speedie Finlay Ballantyne Speedie (18 August 1880 – 5 February 1953) was a Scottish footballer who played for Rangers, Newcastle United and Scotland in the 1900s. He was a versatile forward who was most at home at inside left. Career Speedie began his ...

, Scottish footballer *

Finlay Tarling Finlay (Fin) Tarling (born 2 October 2006) is a Welsh track and road cyclist who rides for . He is the younger brother of Welsh track and road cyclist Josh Tarling. In 2023 he won silver medals in the team pursuit at the Junior European Trac ...

(born 2006), Welsh cyclist for *

Starsmith Finlay Dow-Smith (born 8 July 1988), known professionally as Starsmith, is a British songwriter, record producer and DJ. Smith's best known for co-writing and serving as the primary producer for Ellie Goulding's debut album '' Lights,'' whic ...

, British songwriter and music producer born as Finlay Dow-Smith

Other spellings

Fionnla Dubh mac Gillechriosd Fionnla Dubh mac Gillechriosd is purported to have been a 15th-century Scottish people, Scotsman, who lived in the north-west of Scotland. The Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic ''Fionnla Dubh mac Gillechriosd'' translates into English language, English as ...

, 15th-century Scotsman *

Fionnlagh MacCailein Fionnlagh MacCailein or Finlay ''Colini'' (died 1419) was a medieval Scottish bishop. Both his early life and the details of his career as Bishop of Dunblane are not well known, however it is known that he held the latter bishopric between 1403 ...

(died 1419), Scottish bishop *

Findláech of Moray Findláech mac Ruaidrí (died 1020), son of Ruaidrí mac Donald, was the minor "king", locally called "Mormaer", of Moray, in the north of modern-day Scotland, from some point before 1014 until his death in 1020. Findláech's son Macbethad mac Fi ...

, Macbeth's father, and possible ancestor of the Finlay surname, and its variants

Surname

Alan Gordon Finlay Alan Gordon-Finlay (8 June 1890 – 6 June 1959) was a British engineer and inventor of Scottish descent born in Australia. He is best known for having co-created the Filene-Finlay (incorrectly spelled Findlay) simultaneous interpretation system ...

, (1890–1959), British engineer and inventor *

Alec Finlay Alec Finlay (born 14 March 1966) is a Scottish-born artist currently based in Edinburgh. He is a son of Sue Finlay and Ian Hamilton Finlay. Finlay's work takes various forms and media, including poetry, sculpture, collage, audio-visual, neon, and ...

(born 1966), Scottish artist *

Alex Finlay Alexander Finlay (14 November 1887 – 2 March 1963) was an Australian politician. Born in the South Yarra neighborhood of Melbourne, Victoria, he moved to Adelaide, South Australia as a child and attended school there until the age of twe ...

(1887–1963), Australian unionist and Senator *

Alexander Struthers Finlay Alexander Struthers Finlay (20 July 1807 – 9 June 1886) was a Scottish Liberal Party politician who served as the member of parliament (MP) for Argyllshire 1857–68. He was a deputy lieutenant for Argyllshire and Buteshire and a magistrate. ...

(1807–1886), Scottish Liberal Party politician *

Brogan Finlay Brogan Finlay (born August 26, 2002) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Uriah Connors and is a member of the Chase University stable. Finlay is a fourth-generation ...

(born 2002), Northern Irish-American professional wrestler *

Carlos Finlay Carlos Juan Finlay (December 3, 1833 – August 20, 1915) was a Cuban epidemiologist recognized as a pioneer in the research of yellow fever, determining that it was transmitted through mosquitoes ''Aedes aegypti''. Biography Early life and ...

(1833–1915), Cuban doctor who first identified mosquitoes as a disease carrier *

Charles Coleman Finlay Charles Coleman Finlay (born July 1, 1964 in New York City, NY) is an American science fiction and fantasy author and editor. He grew up in Marysville, Ohio and attended Ohio State University. His first story, ''Footnotes'', was published i ...

(born 1964), American science fiction and fantasy writer *

Chase Finlay Chase Finlay (born 1990) is an American former ballet dancer. He was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and also danced with the Mariinsky Theatre. Early life Born in Fairfield, Connecticut, Finlay began his dance training at the a ...

(born 1990), New York City Ballet dancer * David Finlay (VC) (1893–1916), Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross *

David Finlay (wrestler) David Stephen Finlay (born 16 May 1993) is a German-born American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former two-time IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, IWGP Global Heav ...

(born 1993), German-born Northern Irish-American professional wrestler *

David White Finlay David White Finlay (1 September 1840 – 4 November 1923) was a Scottish physician and yachtsman. He was Regius Professor of Medicine at Aberdeen University 1891 to 1912. He was Honorary Physician to the King in Scotland to both King Edward VII ...

(1840–1923), Scottish physician and yachtsman * Donald Finlay (1909–1970), British athlete * Dr. Finlay, fictional character created by author A. J. Cronin *

Erwin Finlay-Freundlich Erwin Finlay-Freundlich (; 29 May 1885 – 24 July 1964) was a German astronomer, a pupil of Felix Klein. Freundlich was a working associate of Albert Einstein and introduced experiments for which the general theory of relativity could be teste ...

(1885–1964), German astronomer and businessman * Ethan Finlay (born 1990), American soccer player *

Fergus Finlay Fergus Finlay (born 1 June 1950) is the former Chief Executive of the charity Barnardos in Ireland, leaving the post in 2018. He was a senior member of the Irish Labour Party and is also a weekly columnist with the ''Irish Examiner'' and the aut ...

(born 1950), Irish political figure *

Fit Finlay David John Finlay (, born 31 January 1958) is a Northern Irish former professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as a trainer and assistant coach at the Performance Center, as well as a producer. He is best known for his tenures with World Cha ...

(born 1958), Dave "Fit" Finlay, Northern Irish professional wrestler *

Frank Finlay Francis Finlay, (6 August 1926 – 30 January 2016) was an English actor. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance as Iago in ''Othello'' (1965). His first leading television role came in 1971 in '' Casanova''.

(1926–2016), British stage, film and television actor *

Garfield Finlay Edgar Garfield Finlay, (7 September 1893 – 18 April 1958) was an Australian flying ace of the First World War. He served with distinction in the Gallipoli Campaign as a noncommissioned officer in the Light Horse. After transferring to the Au ...

(1893–1958), Australian WW1 flying ace *

George Finlay George Finlay (21 December 1799 – 26 January 1875) was a Scottish historian. Biography Finlay was born in Faversham, Kent, where his Scottish father, Captain John Finlay FRS, an officer in the Royal Engineers, was inspector of government pow ...

(1799–1875), British historian of classical and post-classical Greece * Graham Finlay (1936–2018), New Zealand boxer *

Harold John Finlay Harold John Finlay (22 March 1901 – 7 April 1951) was a New Zealand palaeontologist and conchologist. Biography Finlay was born in Comilla, India (now Bangladesh), on 22 March 1901, to a family of Baptist missionaries. He was left a paraple ...

(1901–1951), New Zealand palaeontologist and conchologist *

Iain Finlay Iain Finlay (21 October 1935 – 6 May 2025) was an Australian author, journalist, radio and television host, and humanitarian. He was known for his work with the ABC, including a lengthy stint as a foreign correspondent for ABC News. Bi ...

(1935–2025), Australian author and journalist *

Ian Hamilton Finlay Ian Hamilton Finlay (28 October 1925 – 27 March 2006) was a Scottish poet, writer, artist and gardener. Life Finlay was born in Nassau, Bahamas, to James Hamilton Finlay and his wife, Annie Pettigrew, both of Scots descent. He was educa ...

(1925–2006), Scottish poet and writer *

Ilora Finlay, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff Ilora Gillian Finlay, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, FRCP, FRCGP, FLSW, FMedSci (born 23 February 1949) is a Welsh doctor, professor of palliative medicine, and a crossbench member of the House of Lords. Born the only daughter of Professo ...

(born 1949), Welsh physician and member of the House of Lords * Jack Finlay (1889–1942), Irish hurler and politician * Jack Finlay (American football) (1921–2014), Los Angeles Rams footballer * Jaco Finlay (1768–1828), Canadian settler in what is now the US state of Oregon * Katrina Finlay, character in ''Monarch of the Glen'' (TV series) *

Kirkman Finlay Kirkman Finlay (April 1773 – 4 March 1842) was one of the leading merchants in Glasgow, Scotland. He was Lord Provost of Glasgow and Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament. Life Kirkman Finlay was born in the Gallowgate, ...

(1773–1842), MP, Provost for Glasgow and leading merchant *

Martyn Finlay Allan "Martyn" Finlay (1 January 1912 – 20 January 1999) was a New Zealand lawyer and politician of the New Zealand Labour Party, Labour Party. He was an MP in two separate spells and a member of two different governments, including being a ...

(1912–1999), New Zealand politician and lawyer *

Mary Lou Finlay Mary Lou Finlay (born 1947) is a Canadian radio and television journalist, best known for hosting various programs on CBC Radio and CBC Television.

(born 1947), Canadian journalist *

Ninian Finlay Ninian Jamieson Finlay (31 January 1858 – 7 March 1936Godwin, p147) was an international rugby player for Scotland.Bath, p136 He played nine caps for between 1875 – 1881. He is generally considered to be the youngest player ever to play fo ...

(1858–1936), Scottish international rugby player * Peter Warren Finlay, the birthname of Australian writer

DBC Pierre Peter Warren Finlay (born in 1961), also known as DBC Pierre, is an Australian author who wrote the novel '' Vernon God Little''. Pierre was born in South Australia, and largely raised in Mexico. He has resided in the Republic of Ireland and ...

* Richard Finlay (1883–1948), Scottish footballer *

Robert Finlay, 1st Viscount Finlay Robert Bannatyne Finlay, 1st Viscount Finlay, (11 July 1842 – 9 March 1929), known as Sir Robert Finlay from 1895 to 1916, was a British barrister and politician who was Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain from 1916 to 1919. Backgrou ...

Ross Finlay Ross Finlay (1937 – 15 December 2004) was a Scottish motoring journalist, travel writer, broadcaster and rally co-driver. He wrote travel guidebooks including for the AA and ''Reader's Digest'' as well as writing for newspapers and maga ...

(1937–2004), Scottish motoring journalist, travel writer, broadcaster and rally co-driver * Thomas Finlay (Cumann na nGaedheal politician) (1893–1932), Irish Cumann na nGaedhael politician and lawyer *

Thomas Finlay (judge) Thomas Aloysius Finlay (17 September 1922 – 3 December 2017) was an Irish judge, politician and barrister who served as Chief Justice of Ireland and a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1985 to 1994, President of the High Court from 1974 to 198 ...

(1922–2017), Irish Fine Gael politician and former Supreme Court Chief Justice * Thomas A. Finlay (1848–1940), Irish Catholic priest, economist, philosopher and editor * Tom Finlay (1987–1967), Irish hurler *

Virgil Finlay Virgil Finlay (July 23, 1914 – January 18, 1971) was an American pulp fantasy, science fiction and horror illustrator. He has been called "part of the pulp magazine history ... one of the foremost contributors of original and imagi ...

(1914–1971), science fiction illustrator *

William Henry Finlay William Henry Finlay ( FRAS) (17 June 1849, in Liverpool – 7 December 1924, in Grahamstown, South Africa) was a South African astronomer. He was First Assistant at the Cape Observatory from 1873 to 1898 under Edward James Stone. He discovered ...

(1849–1924), South African astronomer

References

{{given name, type=both Scottish masculine given names Masculine given names