Kinley is a short form of the Scottish surname McKinley, which means "son of Finlay" and goes back to the Gaelic Fionnlagh, "fair-haired hero" or "white warrior". It is a modern American favorite that rhymes with Kinsley and Finley, and it is usually chosen for its sound rather than its history. Kinley ranked number 1440 in 2000, entered the top 1000 in 2006, peaked at number 180 in 2012 and has fallen back to number 692 in 2025.