Finesse
Skillful handling or movement; subtle and adroit maneuvering.
Name Census estimates that about 233 living Americans carry the first name Finesse. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 80.6% of registrations being female. The average person named Finesse today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Finesse births was 1989 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Finesse. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
233
~ 1 in 1,471,049 Americans
Peak year
1989
18 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,071
Tracked since 1953
Gender
Gender distribution for Finesse
Finesse leans heavily female at 80.6% of total registrations, but 47 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Finesse as a male name
- Ranked #10,071 in 2023
- 7 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2020 (9 births)
Finesse as a female name
- Ranked #15,121 in 2015
- 6 female births in 2015
- Peak: 1989 (18 births)
Popularity
Finesse: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Finesse from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 87 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Finesse by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Finesse during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Finesses live
Origin
Meaning and history of Finesse
The given name Finesse has its roots in the French language, originating from the Old French word "fin," meaning "refined" or "subtle." This name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when French culture and language were highly influential across Europe.
Finesse initially gained popularity as a descriptive term, often used to refer to someone with skill, grace, and dexterity in their actions or mannerisms. Over time, it transitioned into a personal name, embracing the qualities it represented.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Finesse can be found in the works of the 14th-century French author and poet, Jean Froissart. In his chronicles, he mentions a character named Finesse, embodying the traits of cleverness and subtlety.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Finesse. One of the most prominent was Finesse de Montfort (1265-1317), a French noblewoman known for her diplomatic skills and her involvement in the resolution of conflicts during the Hundred Years' War.
In the realm of literature, Finesse Delacroix (1785-1863) was a renowned French novelist and playwright, acclaimed for her literary finesse and intricate character development.
The name also found its way into the world of art, with Finesse Monet (1840-1926), a French Impressionist painter and daughter of the famous Claude Monet. Her works were celebrated for their delicate brushstrokes and attention to detail.
In the field of music, Finesse Beaumont (1901-1975) was a French classical pianist and composer, known for the finesse and nuance she brought to her performances.
Another notable figure was Finesse Dubois (1920-2005), a French fashion designer who revolutionized haute couture with her refined and elegant creations, embodying the essence of the name Finesse.
While the name has its origins in French language and culture, it has since gained popularity in various parts of the world, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries, and often serving as a reminder of the qualities it represents: refinement, subtlety, and grace.
People
Finesse + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Finesse as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Finesse: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Finesse?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 233 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Finesse going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,471,049 US residents.
Is Finesse a common name?
We classify Finesse as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 242 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Finesse most popular?
The single biggest year for Finesse was 1989, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Finesse is about 27 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Finesse a female name?
Yes, 80.6% of people registered as Finesse in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.