Fintan: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Fintan is an Irish boy's name meaning “fair-haired.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Fair-haired
- Gender
- Boy
How do you pronounce Fintan?
Fintan is pronounced FIN-tan. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Fintan mean?
Fintan means “fair-haired” or could mean “white fire.” There have been seventy four saints with this name, including St. Fintan of Clonenagh in County Laois (c. 600 AD) who lived the life of a hermit on a diet of bread and water. Before he established his monastery Fintan sought the advice of his mentor St. Colmcille. When Colmcille looked out from the mountain, Slieve Bloom, over the wood-covered foothills to the south-east, he saw the angels of God coming and going over Clonenagh and he told Fintan that this was to be the place of his monastery. In mythology, Fintan is said to have been the only Irishman to have survived the Biblical flood.
How popular is Fintan in Ireland?
Fintan wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2024, when 5 baby boys got the name. It was most popular in 1965, when 49 baby boys were named Fintan, No. 85 that year. The most babies got the name in 1971: 69. The records go back to 1964, when 29 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | No. 582 |
| 2023 | 9 | No. 396 |
| 2022 | 4 | No. 657 |
| 2021 | 5 | No. 552 |
| 2020 | 6 | No. 496 |
| 2019 | 3 | No. 764 |
| 2018 | 6 | No. 520 |
| 2017 | 7 | No. 443 |
| 2016 | 7 | No. 448 |
| 2015 | 10 | No. 376 |
| 2014 | 8 | No. 428 |
| 2013 | 11 | No. 352 |
| 2012 | 8 | No. 430 |
| 2011 | 12 | No. 342 |
| 2010 | 13 | No. 322 |
| 2009 | 17 | No. 271 |
| 2008 | 22 | No. 231 |
| 2007 | 17 | No. 241 |
| 2006 | 18 | No. 218 |
| 2005 | 23 | No. 178 |
| 2004 | 17 | No. 192 |
| 2003 | 16 | No. 187 |
| 2002 | 24 | No. 159 |
| 2001 | 10 | No. 226 |
| 2000 | 12 | No. 196 |
| 1999 | 10 | No. 203 |
| 1998 | 13 | No. 179 |
| 1997 | 19 | No. 162 |
| 1996 | 19 | No. 160 |
| 1995 | 22 | No. 150 |
| 1994 | 17 | No. 161 |
| 1993 | 24 | No. 148 |
| 1992 | 28 | No. 141 |
| 1991 | 26 | No. 143 |
| 1990 | 18 | No. 166 |
| 1989 | 29 | No. 133 |
| 1988 | 25 | No. 137 |
| 1987 | 26 | No. 140 |
| 1986 | 25 | No. 142 |
| 1985 | 32 | No. 127 |
| 1984 | 37 | No. 119 |
| 1983 | 32 | No. 129 |
| 1982 | 30 | No. 135 |
| 1981 | 41 | No. 120 |
| 1980 | 39 | No. 123 |
| 1979 | 43 | No. 117 |
| 1978 | 32 | No. 127 |
| 1977 | 34 | No. 122 |
| 1976 | 41 | No. 115 |
| 1975 | 28 | No. 127 |
| 1974 | 50 | No. 107 |
| 1973 | 48 | No. 106 |
| 1972 | 62 | No. 97 |
| 1971 | 69 | No. 94 |
| 1970 | 45 | No. 101 |
| 1969 | 52 | No. 95 |
| 1968 | 50 | No. 90 |
| 1967 | 48 | No. 89 |
| 1966 | 34 | No. 103 |
| 1965 | 49 | No. 85 |
| 1964 | 29 | No. 100 |
Fintan in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Fintan, letter by letter.
- FFearn, alder
- IIodhadh, yew
- NNion, ash
- TTinne, holly
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Fintan
Questions about Fintan
- How do you pronounce Fintan?
- Fintan is pronounced FIN-tan. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- What does Fintan mean?
- Fintan means “fair-haired.”
- Is Fintan a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Fintan is a boy's name.