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HelpFinley for a Girl?
Opinions on the subject, please.
I know an actress (can't remember her name) has a daughter named Finley Faith. I was thinking more along the lines as a middle name.
I know an actress (can't remember her name) has a daughter named Finley Faith. I was thinking more along the lines as a middle name.
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Replies
I don't care for it as a girls' name.
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No! ... But if you must, it's better as a mn.
Miranda
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks; see my profile for their names.
Proud adopter of 15 punctuation marks; see my profile for their names.
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This site states Finley means: "white warrior" from Gaelic fionn "white, fair" and laogh "warrior".
I see nothing in the etymology of the name to suggest that it should be used on males only. For a start, what is masculine about "white, fair"? Nothing in particular. As for the "warrior" part, males don't have the monopoly on that description either. For example Boudicca and Joan of Ark. In ancient times women did have equal status in the celtic cultures, and yes some would have been warriors!
Personally I don't see anything 'wrong' with giving a girl a name that means "white/fair warrior".
"I love God far too much to be religious" ~ Jean-Claude Koven
I see nothing in the etymology of the name to suggest that it should be used on males only. For a start, what is masculine about "white, fair"? Nothing in particular. As for the "warrior" part, males don't have the monopoly on that description either. For example Boudicca and Joan of Ark. In ancient times women did have equal status in the celtic cultures, and yes some would have been warriors!
Personally I don't see anything 'wrong' with giving a girl a name that means "white/fair warrior".
"I love God far too much to be religious" ~ Jean-Claude Koven
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No way. Let's leave some names for boys please!
:)
:)
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Why destroy all cool boy's names?
Finley means "white warrior" so obviously it is a boy's name originally.
But this is an etymological site, many people here care about origins and meanings. Most other people don't. Names are just letters and sounds.
I suspect that many will find Finleigh a great girl's name.
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
Finley means "white warrior" so obviously it is a boy's name originally.
But this is an etymological site, many people here care about origins and meanings. Most other people don't. Names are just letters and sounds.
I suspect that many will find Finleigh a great girl's name.
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
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Well-- not sure how the word for "warrior" was gendered in the original Irish Gaelic, but I think that in the 21st century we certainly shouldn't assume that a "warrior" has to be male! :)
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Yes but its an old name. Basically when it was used it would mean warrior (as in male warrior, not Xena warrior princess)
~~* BEX *~~
Surfing is my religion!
~~* BEX *~~
Surfing is my religion!
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Nooooooooo ! Boys. Name. no. text.
:)
:)
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NO NO NO (cries)
~~* BEX *~~
Surfing is my religion!
~~* BEX *~~
Surfing is my religion!
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I love it for either gender.
Self proclaimed Supernatural obsessor.
Self proclaimed Supernatural obsessor.1
No, it's a masculin name through and through. I could never imagine it on a girl. If I met a girl called Finley, I would instantly think that the parents think so low of women that they rather give their child a masculin name because it's "better" and "stronger", as if femininity was weakness.
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I don't think it has anything to do with giving girls masculine sounding names, it's that Finley isn't a common or widely known name in the US, and it sounds like a girls name. Finley has a similar feel to Ashley, which usuage is 100% female in the US. Most people don't care about the etymology of name, they care how it looks, sounds, and is perceived. With the current US naming trends, Finley sounds like very put together girls name or a very sissy boys name.
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Why do you think it sounds like a girls name? Does Stanley? Does Bradley?
And why do you think it's a "sissy boys" name? Finn is a very masculine nickname.
Also, I know several male Ashleys, so, no, it's not 100% female in the US.
And why do you think it's a "sissy boys" name? Finn is a very masculine nickname.
Also, I know several male Ashleys, so, no, it's not 100% female in the US.
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But why not a classic girl's name then?
I think the reason parents like Finley for a girl is that they realize that it is a masculine name (or a surname). But since it is uncommon, it is too "sissy" for a boy.
The whole concept of "too sissy for a boy" is rather sexist imo. The thinking must be girl = weak, boy = macho. And anything new and unusual is not macho enough but ok for girls.
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
I think the reason parents like Finley for a girl is that they realize that it is a masculine name (or a surname). But since it is uncommon, it is too "sissy" for a boy.
The whole concept of "too sissy for a boy" is rather sexist imo. The thinking must be girl = weak, boy = macho. And anything new and unusual is not macho enough but ok for girls.
"But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself."
Rick Nelson, GardenParty
"It does not become me to make myself smaller than I am." (Edith Södergran 1891-1923)
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I agree too.
t
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I see it as a surnamey sounding boys name, but using surnames and traditional boys names for girls is very trendy at the moment so a little girl with this name as a first or middle name might not be out of place in some circles
Where I live it is very very popular for boys,
Where I live it is very very popular for boys,
This message was edited 3/16/2006, 10:54 AM
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I wasn't aware that Finley was "newly-popular" or "trendy" on boys... But trends are different in other places. It's always been an old and unusual name to me. It would be nice to see more of them here.
Personally, I like just plain Finn on a girl. I think it's spunky! But if you think it needs something longer, Finley is lovely.
Personally, I like just plain Finn on a girl. I think it's spunky! But if you think it needs something longer, Finley is lovely.
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Finley (and Finlay) are extremely popular for boys in the UK right now. However, I think there is a good chance that Finley will never become very common as a boys' name in the USA but will go right to predominantly female over here if it becomes popular. Most Americans seem to think that -ley is now a feminine suffix on given names. So I suspect that on the western side of the Atlantic, Finn and perhaps Phineas may become popular for boys, and that Americans will see Finley as the feminine form of those names.
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Oh, I hope not. As a mom of a Finley (boy) I hope it doesn't become
predominantly female here in the US.
predominantly female here in the US.
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It is getting very popular where I live in England but only for boys
In both spellings Finlay and Finley it is whizzing up the England and Wales top 100
Finlay
2005 57
2004 62
2003 67
2002 79
2001 ---
And
Finley
2005 66
2004 70
2003 83
2002 93
2001 ----
Finlay is even more popular in Scotland
Scotland
2005 28
2004 27
2003 32
2002 41
2001 50
2000 53
1999 80
1998 80
In both spellings Finlay and Finley it is whizzing up the England and Wales top 100
Finlay
2005 57
2004 62
2003 67
2002 79
2001 ---
And
Finley
2005 66
2004 70
2003 83
2002 93
2001 ----
Finlay is even more popular in Scotland
Scotland
2005 28
2004 27
2003 32
2002 41
2001 50
2000 53
1999 80
1998 80
This message was edited 3/16/2006, 10:54 AM
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Wow! I had no idea.
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Given how much I've seen it message boards, and the general trendiness of Irish/Scots names, Finley has a very trendy feel to me. It's all subjective though! :-)
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♥Elinor♥
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♥Elinor♥
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