Finley is both a surname and given name. Its meaning is of Scottish origin, from the Gaelic personal name Fionnlagh (Old Irish Findlaech), composed of the elements fionn "white", "fair" (see Finn) + laoch "warrior", "hero", which led many people believe that has been reinforced by an Old Norse personal name composed of the elements finn "Finn" + leikr "fight", "battle", "hero". Finley is a popular given name both in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is in use for both boys and girls in the United States. It has been more common for boys than girls in the United Kingdom. Notable people with the name include:

Surname

* Albert Ernest Finley (1870 –1923), Canadian physician and political figure * Amy Finley (born 1973), American cook and writer * Art Finley (1926—2015), American television and radio personality * Asa Finley (1788–1853), first elected judge of Arrow Rock, Missouri, 1824 * Ben Finley broadcast journalist who is the Editorial Producer with “Anderson Cooper 360” which broadcasts on CNN *

Bob Finley Robert Edward Finley (November 25, 1915 – January 2, 1986) was an American professional baseball catcher, who was an SMU back drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1943 and ...

(1915–1986), American baseball catcher *

Brian Finley Brian Finley (born July 13, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Playing career Finley was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. As a youth, he played in the 1995 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a mino ...

(born 1981), Canadian ice hockey player * Carl A. Finley (1924–2002), American minority owner of the Kansas City A's * Colin James Finley (Born 1971), Award Winning Singer-songwriter *

Chad Finley Chad J. Finley (born March 17, 1992) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado for Chad Finley Racing. Raci ...

(born 1992), American professional stock car racing driver and team owner *

Charles Finley (politician) Charles Finley (March 26, 1865 – March 18, 1941) was a United States representative from Kentucky and son of Hugh Franklin Finley. Biography Finley was born in Williamsburg, Kentucky, where he attended the common and subscription schools. La ...

(1865–1941), U.S. Representative from Kentucky * Charles Finley (coach) (1907–1972), college basketball coach for the Idaho Vandals, UTEP Miners, Southern Miss Golden Eagles * Charles M. Finley (1899–1958), businessman and politician from Philadelphia *

Charlie Finley Charles Oscar Finley (February 22, 1918 – February 19, 1996), nicknamed Charlie O or Charley O, was an American businessman who owned Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics. Finley purchased the franchise while it was located in Kansas C ...

(1918–1996), businessman and Oakland Athletics owner *

Chuck Finley Charles Edward Finley (born November 26, 1962) is an American retired professional baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1986 to 2002 for three teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the California Angels (later renamed the Anaheim A ...

(born 1962), American baseball pitcher *

Clement Finley Clement Alexander Finley (May 11, 1797 – September 8, 1879), was the 10th Surgeon General of the United States Army, May 15, 1861 – April 14, 1862. Early life Clement Finley was born at Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. His fath ...

(1797–1879), 10th Surgeon General of the United States Army * David Finley Jr. (born 1958), Northern Irish professional wrestling trainer, producer and former professional wrestler * David E. Finley (1861–1917), United States Representative from South Carolina *

Diane Finley Diane Finley (born October 3, 1957) is a former Canadian politician. From 2006 through 2015, she served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Her ministerial portfolios included Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, M ...

(born 1957), Canadian politician *

Donna Finley Donna W. Finley is an American politician from Maine. Finley, a Republican from Skowhegan, served for a single two-year term in the Maine House of Representatives (2007-2008). She was defeated for re-election by Democrat Jeff McCabe Jeffrey ...

, American politician *

Doug Finley Michael Douglas Finley (July 25, 1946 – May 11, 2013) was a Canadian Senator and was Campaign Director for the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2006 and 2008 federal elections and the party's director of Political Operations. Histo ...

(1946–2013), Canadian politician and Campaign Director for the Conservative Party of Canada during 2006 and 2008 elections * Ebenezer B. Finley (1833–1916) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio, nephew of Stephen Ross Harris *

Evelyn Finley Evelyn Finley (March 11, 1916 – April 7, 1989) was an American B-movie actress and stuntwoman of the 1940s through the 1980s, mostly in western films. Sometimes she is credited as ''Eve Anderson''. Biography Born in Douglas, Arizona, Finley ...

(1916–1989), American actress and stuntwoman * Francis Finley (1882 – c. 1943), British-born Australian rugby union player *

Frank Finley Merriam Frank Finley Merriam (December 22, 1865 – April 25, 1955) was an American Republican politician who served as the 28th governor of California from June 2, 1934 until January 2, 1939. Assuming the governorship at the height of the Great Depressio ...

(186 –1955), the 28th governor of California from 1934 to 1939 * Gary Finley (born 1970), English former professional football central defender and non-league manager * Gary Wade Finley Jr., American multiple time champion *

Gerald Finley Gerald Hunter Finley, (born January 30, 1960) is a Canadian baritone opera singer. Early life Finley was born in Montreal and studied music at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa, the University of Ottawa, King's College, Cambridge and the Ro ...

(born 1960), Canadian bass-baritone opera singer *

Gerry Finley-Day Gerry Finley-Day (born 1947, Broughty Ferry, Dundee) is a Scottish comics writer, prolific from the 1960s to the 1980s, best known as the creator of "Rogue Trooper". Career He began his career at D.C. Thomson & Co., before becoming the edito ...

(born 1947), Scottish comics writer * Gregory Finley (born 1984), American actor * Guy Finley (born 1949), American self-help writer, philosopher, spiritual teacher, and former professional songwriter and musician * Hala Finley (born 2009), American actress * Holly Finale' Finley, American professional disc golfer * Hugh F. Finley (1833–1909), U.S. Representative from Kentucky, father of Charles Finley * James Finley (engineer) (1756–1828), American judge and bridge designer *

James Finley (minister) James Finley (February 4, 1725 – January 6, 1795) was an American Presbyterian minister and politician who was a pioneer resident of Western Pennsylvania. Either he or his wife owned the house in which Thomas Jefferson began his first attempt t ...

(1725–1795), American Presbyterian minister *

James I. Finley James Ivan Finley is the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology in the United States Department of Defense. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 19, 2006. The following statement was issued by ...

, American former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology in the U.S. Department of Defense * James "John" Finley Gruber (1928–2011), American teacher and early LGBT rights activist * James Bradley Finley (1781–1856), United States Methodist elder and minister * Jeanne C. Finley (born 1962) American artist who works with representational media including film, photography, and video * Jeffrey Finley (born 1991), Canadian football player *

Jermichael Finley Jermichael Decorean Finley (born March 26, 1987) is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. With the Packers, he attended the Super Bowl XLV win over the Pittsburg ...

(born 1987), American football tight end * Jesse J. Finley (1812–1904), American member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida and the mayor of Memphis * Joe Finley (born 1987), American ice hockey player *

John Finley (musician) John Finley (born May 6, 1945 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian singer/songwriter who came to prominence with Toronto R&B band Jon and Lee & The Checkmates and later with the Elektra supergroup Rhinoceros. Finley's talents reach over many gen ...

(born 1945), Canadian singer/songwriter *

John Finley Williamson John Finley Williamson (June 23, 1887 in Canton, Ohio – May 28, 1964 in Toledo, Ohio) was the founder of Westminster Choir and co-founder of Westminster Choir College. He is considered to be one of the most influential choral conductors of the t ...

(1887–1964), American founder of the Westminster Choir and co-founder of Westminster Choir College * John Huston Finley (1863–1940), American educator * John "Jack" Lawrence Finley (1935–2006), a United States Navy aviator and astronaut *

John Park Finley John Park Finley (April 11, 1854 – November 24, 1943) was an American meteorologist and Army Signal Service officer who was the first person to study tornadoes intensively. He also wrote the first known book on the subject as well as many oth ...

(1854–1943), American meteorologist and Army officer; tornado researcher * Jonathan Finley (born 1972), British-German physicist * Joseph Cameron Finley (born 1987), American former child actor and molecular biologist * Julie Finley the United States Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) * Karen Finley (born 1956), American performance artist *

Lucinda Finley Lucinda Finley is the Frank G. Raichle Professor of Trial and Appellate Advocacy at the University at Buffalo. Biography She has a 1980 J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, and a 1977 B.A. from Barnard College. Prior to joining the Buffal ...

(born 1950), American professor and attorney appellant * Lucy Sherrard Atkinson (née Finley) (1817–1893), English explorer and author who travelled throughout Central Asia and Siberia * Martha Finley (1828–1909), teacher, author * Mason Finley (born 1990), American shot putter and discus thrower * Matt Finley (born 1951), American flugelhorn player and composer of Brazilian jazz *

Michael Finley Michael Howard Finley (born March 6, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player who is the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 15 seasons in the ...

(born 1973), American basketball player *

Mike Finley Mike Finley (4 July 1950 – 10 August 2020) was a writer, poet, and videographer from Youngstown, Ohio. Publications ''Why Teams Don't Work'', Robbins and Finley's first collaboration, was named "Best Management Book, The Americas, 1995" by th ...

(1950–2020), American writer, poet, and videographer *

Mitch Finley Mitch Finley (born December 17, 1945) is an American author who writes on religious and Catholic subjects. Finley has written over 30 books and has won 11 Catholic Press, Catholic Press Awards, along with an Excellence in Writing Award from t ...

(born 1945), American religious writer *

Morgan M. Finley Morgan Martin Finley (August 31, 1925 – September 20, 2016) was an American politician and businessman. Finley was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went to De La Salle Institute and DePaul University. Finley served in the United States Navy dur ...

(1925–2016), American politician and businessman * Moses I. Finley (1912–1986), American and English historian * Otis E. Finley Sr. (1898–1979), American football coach *

Reginald Vaughn Finley Sr. Reginald Vaughn Finley Sr. (born 1974) is an American skeptic, activist, and online host. He follows in the tradition of his great-grandmother, Dr. Mary Alice Person LaSaine (1882-1957), an early black educator. He is a US Army veteran, and serv ...

(born 1974), American internet radio host and atheist *

Robert Finley Robert Finley (1772 – November 3, 1817) was an American Presbyterian clergyman and educator who is known as one of the founders of the American Colonization Society, which established the colony of Liberia in West Africa as a place for free A ...

(1772–1817), American academic, minister and co-organizer of the colonization movement to Liberia *

Robert Finley (musician) Robert Finley (born February 13, 1954) is an American blues and soul singer-songwriter and guitarist. After decades of performing semi-professionally followed by time away from music, Finley made a comeback in 2016. He released his debut album, '' ...

, American blues and soul singer-songwriter and guitarist. *

Ron Finley Ron is a shortening of the name Ronald. Ron or RON may also refer to: Arts and media * Big Ron (''EastEnders''), a TV character * Ron (''King of Fighters''), a video game character *Ron Douglas, the protagonist in '' Lucky Stiff'' played by Joe ...

, American fashion designer * Ron Finley (American football), American former football coach * Ronald Finley (1940–2016), American wrestler *Ruth Finley (1920–2018), American businesswoman who was the founder and publisher of The Fashion Calendar *Ryan Finley (businessman), American founder of SurveyMonkey, an online survey software provider *Ryan Finley (soccer) (born 1991), American former professional soccer player *Ryan Finley (American football) (born 1994), American football player * Sam Finley (born 1992), English professional football midfielder *

Samuel Finley Samuel Finley (July 2, 1715 – July 17, 1766) was an Irish-born American Presbyterian minister and academic. He founded the West Nottingham Academy and was the fifth president and an original trustee of the College of New Jersey (later ren ...

(1715–1766), American Presbyterian minister and prominent academic *

Samuel Finley Brown Morse Samuel Finley Brown Morse (July 18, 1885 – May 10, 1969) was an American environmental conservationist and the developer of Pebble Beach. He was known as the Duke of Del Monte and ran his company from the 1919 until his death in 1969. Origi ...

(1885–1969), American environmental conservationist and the developer * Samuel Finley Patterson (1799–1874), American politician, planter, and businessman * Samuel Finley Vinton (1792–1862), American member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio *

Stephanie A. Finley Stephanie Ann Finley (born 1966) is the former United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana and is a former nominee to be a United States federal judge, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the West ...

(born 1966), American judge *

Steve Finley Steven Allen Finley (born March 12, 1965) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for eight teams between 1989 and 2007, most notably the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks; he is one of only two play ...

(born 1965), American baseball center fielder * Susan G. Finley, an American researcher and the longest-serving woman in NASA * T. J. Finley (born 2002), American football player * William James Finley (1863–1912), American professional baseball player * William Asa Finley (1839–1912), first president of Oregon State University in the United States *

William Finley (actor) William Franklin Finley (September 20, 1940 – April 14, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in the films ''Simon'', ''Silent Rage'', ''Phantom of the Paradise'', ''Sisters'' and '' The Wedding Party''. Finley had a long-running frie ...

(1940–2012), American actor *

William L. Finley William Lovell Finley (August 9, 1876 - June 29, 1953) was an American wildlife photographer and conservationist from Northern California. The William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge was named in his honor. Family He was born on August 9, ...

(1876–1953), American wildlife photographer and conservationist *

, American film actor

Given name

* Finley Duncan (died 1989), American singer who worked with independent record companies in Florida * Finley Jeffrey (born 1969), also known as "Scholar" and "King Scholar", American Grenadian calypsonian, Soca Artiste and songwrite *

Finley Peter Dunne Finley Peter Dunne (born Peter Dunne; July 10, 1867 – April 24, 1936) was an American humorist, journalist and writer from Chicago. In 1898 Dunne published ''Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War'', a collection of his nationally syndicated Mr. Dooley ...

(1867–1936), American writer and humorist * Finley Lockwood (born 2008), daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Lockwood *

Finley Quaye Finley Quaye (born 25 March 1974, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish musician. He won the 1997 MOBO Award for best reggae act, and the 1998 BRIT Award for Best Male Solo Artist. Life Finley Quaye is the son of vaudeville pianist Cab Kaye and t ...

(born 1974), Scottish musician * William Finley Semple (1832–1923), American dentist, commonly referred to as the first person anywhere to patent a chewing gum

References

{{Reflist English-language surnames Scottish surnames English-language unisex given names