Fintan

Fintan is a masculine given name of Gaelic origin that remains in use in Ireland and among Irish communities abroad. In Irish, the traditional form is Fiontán, while Fintán is the common anglicized version. The name appears in both mythic and early Christian contexts and has persisted into modern times.

In Irish mythology, Fintan mac Buadáin (often rendered Fintán mac Buadáin) is a legendary figure said to have survived the Great Flood and to have accumulated wisdom and memory through the ages. He is portrayed as a keeper of knowledge who endures across mythic time, sometimes continuing to tell the world’s history long after others have perished.

Several early Irish saints bore the name. St. Fintán of Clonenagh, also known as Munnu, founded a monastery at Clonenagh in what is now County Laois. St. Fintán of Clonfert is associated with the monastic community at Clonfert in present-day County Galway. These figures contributed to the dissemination of Christian monasticism in medieval Ireland and helped preserve local religious traditions.

In contemporary use, Fintan is a familiar given name in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora. Notable individuals with the name include Fintan O’Tool e, an Irish journalist, critic and author. The name continues to be encountered in literature, media, and public life, reflecting its long-standing place in Irish culture.