indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Feminine
Usage Irish, Irish Mythology
Other Forms FormsFindbhair, Findubur, Finnabarr, Finnavar, Finndabhair, Fionavar, Fionnabair, Fionnabhair (reformed modern Irish), Fionnbhair, Fionnbhairr, Fionúir; Fennore, Finnore, Finora, Finvarra
Meaning & History
Popularly claimed to be an Irish cognate of Gwenhwyfar (see Guinevere), it may actually mean "fair-browed" from Old Irish find "white, fair" and abair "a brow" (or "eyelash"). Notes P. W. Joyce (1873), 'The compound Finnabhair, old form Findabair, was formerly common as the name of a person, generally of a woman, but sometimes of a man; and it was also used as a place-name.' In Irish mythology this belonged to a daughter of Queen Medb and Ailill. The English variant Fennor is the name of an ancient place along the River Boyne (known as Finnabhair-abha ("Fennor of the river") in the Irish annals).