Finnegan

Finnegan is both a surname and a given name of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic Ó Fionnagáin or Ó Fionnáin, from the given name Fionnagán, a diminutive of Fionn meaning "white" or "fair." The spelling Finnegan is the most common Anglicization, but variants such as Finnigan, Finnagan, and Ó Fionnagáin appear in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora.

As a surname, Finnegan is especially common in Ireland and among descendants of Irish emigrants in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. It is used by people in politics, sports, music, and academia, among other fields.

Culturally, Finnegan is associated with the traditional Irish ballad Finnegan's Wake, which tells the story of Tim Finnegan and his aftermath at his wake. The name has also appeared in modern literature and media, and as a given name in contemporary usage, often abbreviated as Finn.

In fiction and popular culture, characters named Finnegan appear across genres, reflecting the name's Irish resonance and its adoption as a mainstream English given name.