How to say it
FIN · ne · gan
ˈfɪn.ɪ.ɡən
Masculine
Finnegan
Fair, white
What it means
An Irish surname from Ó Fionnagáin, 'descendant of the fair-haired one.'
Finnegan is an anglicized Irish surname from Ó Fionnagáin, built on fionn, 'fair' or 'white,' the same root as Finn. James Joyce immortalized it in Finnegans Wake. Lively and friendly, it gives the nickname Finn with extra flourish. Said FIN-ih-gun.
How to spell Finnegan
The standard spelling is Finnegan. Common variants include Finnigan, Finegan, Fionnagán, but Finnegan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #378 in 2021, currently #526 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Finn.
- Pop culture
James Joyce's Finnegans Wake.
Spelling variants
- Finnigan
- Finegan
- Fionnagán
Names with the same feeling
See Finnegan from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Finnegan mean?
- An Irish surname from Ó Fionnagáin, 'descendant of the fair-haired one.'
- What does Finnegan mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Finnegan means "Fair, white." Finnegan is an anglicized Irish surname from Ó Fionnagáin, built on fionn, 'fair' or 'white,' the same root as Finn. James Joyce immortalized it in Finnegans Wake. Lively and friendly, it gives the nickname Finn with extra flourish. Said FIN-ih-gun.
- How do you pronounce Finnegan?
- Finnegan is pronounced ˈfɪn.ɪ.ɡən. Say it as FIN-ne-gan, with the stress on the "fin" syllable.
- How do you spell Finnegan?
- The standard spelling is Finnegan. Common spelling variants include Finnigan, Finegan, Fionnagán.
- Is Finnegan a boy or girl name?
- Finnegan is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Finnegan?
- Finnegan ranked #526 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.