Finch first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Finch has been for the last 13 years (from 2011 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Finch

A small seed-eating songbird, often symbolizing joy and resilience.

Popularity of Finch by gender

Based on the last 13 years of data, Finch is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Finch being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 12 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Finch.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 12 0
2022 20 5
2021 19 0
2020 16 0
2019 14 0
2018 8 0
2017 15 0
2016 8 0
2015 14 0
2014 8 0
2013 14 0
2012 6 0
2011 10 0

The history of the first name Finch

The given name Finch is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "finc" or "fuinc," which referred to the small songbird of the same name. The name likely emerged as a surname in the Middle Ages, given to individuals who lived near areas frequented by finches or who had a particular affinity for these birds.

The earliest recorded use of Finch as a given name dates back to the late 16th century, when it was occasionally bestowed upon male infants in England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Finch Bunkley, an English merchant who lived in London during the late 1500s.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Finch. One of the most famous was Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham (1621-1682), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Charles II. Another notable Finch was Robert Finch (1783-1830), an English poet and clergyman known for his religious works.

In the realm of literature, Finch has been the name of several fictional characters, including Finch Doldrums in the novel "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket, and Finch Weinberg in the novel "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen.

Other notable individuals named Finch include Finch Hatton (1901-1963), a British aristocrat and big-game hunter who was immortalized in the memoir "Out of Africa" by Karen Blixen, and Finch Asher (1910-1970), an American author and journalist best known for his work on the Civil Rights Movement.

While the name Finch has its roots in English culture and language, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, often as a nod to the bird or as a symbol of freedom and flight.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Finch was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Finch, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Finch first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on April 25, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/finch-meaning-and-history/.

"Finch first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/finch-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 25 April, 2025

Finch first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/finch-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.