Finnan

Irish

"fair"

Finnan Origin and Meaning

The name Finnan is a boy's name.

Finnan is a masculine name with Irish and Scottish Gaelic origins. It can be a variation of Fionn/Finn (meaning 'fair' or 'white') or derive from the name Fionnán, a diminutive of Fionn. The name may also relate to Saint Finnan, a 6th-century Irish missionary. In Scotland, Finnan is additionally associated with a type of smoked haddock ('Finnan haddie'). The name has seen modest increased usage in recent years as part of the trend toward Celtic names and shorter forms like Finn. Finnan offers more distinctiveness than the popular Finn while maintaining the same appealing Irish heritage. It has a gentle strength with its soft consonants and rhythmic two-syllable structure, appealing to parents seeking something traditional yet not overused.