This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Finlay m. Old Irish finn 'fair, white; blonde' + Old Irish láech 'warrior; layman'.

The name of a minor Scottish saint and an 11th C king of Moray.

Scotland
Latin
1040x1057 Finlach (gen) ESC V; 1426 Fynlao (abl) RMSRS-2 65
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Finlay". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2020, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2020/1/name/Finlay.