Finn
Irish name meaning "fair" or "white", derived from the Gaelic "Finn".
Name Census estimates that about 33,337 living Americans carry the first name Finn. It sits at #198 in the overall ranking, outside the top 50 but still well-represented. It is a predominantly male name (98.8% of registrations). The average person named Finn today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Finn births was 2017 (2,416 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Finn. 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.
Key insights
- • Although Finn is used almost entirely for boys, the SSA data does show 415 girls registered with the name since 1880.
- • Finn is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 11 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
33K
~ 1 in 10,281 Americans
Peak year
2017
2,416 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#198
Tracked since 1918
Gender
Gender distribution for Finn
Finn leans heavily male at 98.8% of total registrations, but 415 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Finn as a male name
- Ranked #198 in 2024
- 1,791 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2017 (2,381 births)
Finn as a female name
- Ranked #11,396 in 2024
- 8 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2017 (35 births)
Popularity
Finn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Finn from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 17,806 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Finn remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Finn 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 Finn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Finns live
The SSA's state-level files cover 51 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Finn, while Wyoming, New Mexico, Delaware recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 632 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Finn
The name Finn has its origins in the Old Norse language and culture. It is derived from the Old Norse word "finna" which means "to find" or "to discover". The name was popular among the Vikings, and it was often given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be great explorers or adventurers.
In ancient Norse mythology, there was a character named Finn who was a legendary hunter and warrior. He was known for his bravery and skill in battle, and his story was passed down through generations of storytellers.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Finn comes from the 10th century, when it appeared in the Icelandic Sagas. These sagas were a collection of stories that were written down by monks and chroniclers, and they provide a valuable glimpse into the lives and traditions of the Viking people.
Throughout history, there have been many notable people who have borne the name Finn. One of the most famous was Finn MacCool, an Irish mythological hero who was said to have lived in the 3rd century AD. According to legend, Finn MacCool was a giant who was known for his strength and courage, and he was the leader of a band of warriors known as the Fianna.
Another notable figure with the name Finn was Finn Magnusson, a Norwegian king who ruled from 1035 to 1047 AD. He was known for his efforts to expand and strengthen the Norwegian kingdom, and he played a key role in the Christianization of Scandinavia.
In the 19th century, there was an Irish writer and poet named Finn O'Mahony (1825-1892) who was famous for his works in the Gaelic language. He was a staunch defender of Irish culture and tradition, and he played a key role in the Irish literary revival of the late 19th century.
Another notable figure with the name Finn was Finn Wolfhound (1888-1958), an American actor who appeared in many Hollywood films during the silent era. He was known for his rugged good looks and his ability to play tough, no-nonsense characters.
Finally, there was Finn Juhl (1912-1989), a Danish architect and furniture designer who was one of the pioneers of the Danish Modern style. His furniture designs were characterized by their clean lines and minimalist aesthetic, and they are still highly prized by collectors and design enthusiasts today.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Finn
People
Finn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Finn 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
Finn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Finn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 33,337 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Finn 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 10,281 US residents.
Is Finn a common name?
We classify Finn as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 33,644 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Finn most popular?
The single biggest year for Finn was 2017, when 2,416 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Finn is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Finn a male name?
Yes, 98.8% of people registered as Finn in the SSA data are male. 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.