Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Finnegan
BoyIrish· “descendant of the fair one”
- Meaning
- descendant of the fair one
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- FIH-nuh-guhn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #526
- US babies 2025
- 569
- Best rank
- #378 (2021)
- Peak year
- 2021
Meaning and origin of Finnegan
Finnegan is an Irish name that means “descendant of the fair one”.
Finnegan comes from the Irish surname Ó Fionnagáin, "descendant of Fionnagán", a personal name built on fionn, "fair" or "white". It is related to the names Finn and Fionn, and through them to the legendary hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. The name is famous from the Irish-American ballad "Finnegan's Wake", about a hod carrier who comes back to life at his own wake, and from James Joyce's novel Finnegans Wake, which borrows its title. As a first name Finnegan has grown in recent decades, prized for its lively rhythm and Irish flavor. Finn is the natural nickname.
Popularity over time
Finnegan first appears in US Social Security records in 1995. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 21 different years, starting in 2005. Its best national rank was #378 in 2021, the same year it reached its highest count of 860 babies. In 2025, 569 babies were named Finnegan, and it ranked #526 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,437 in 2000, #544 in 2010, and #526 in 2025. Of the 13,011 US boys named Finnegan since records began, 51% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 4,087 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Kashton, Zayne, Wilder, Lawson, and Gianni.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Finnegan ranked highest in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #102 | 15 |
| Maine | #122 | 11 |
| Massachusetts | #241 | 25 |
| South Dakota | #272 | 5 |
| Michigan | #280 | 35 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Finnegan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Finnegan is usually pronounced FIH-nuh-guhn, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with F and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Finnegan
A few middle names that flow with Finnegan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Finnegan
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Lists that include Finnegan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Finnegan mean?
Finnegan is an Irish name that means “descendant of the fair one”.
What is the origin of the name Finnegan?
Finnegan has Irish roots. Finnegan comes from the Irish surname Ó Fionnagáin, "descendant of Fionnagán", a personal name built on fionn, "fair" or "white".
Is Finnegan a popular name?
Yes. Finnegan ranked #526 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Finnegan a boy or girl name?
Finnegan is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Finnegan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Finnegan?
Finnegan is usually pronounced FIH-nuh-guhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings