Finkelstein (פֿינק(ע)לשׁטײַן, פינקלשׁט(י)ין, Финкельштейн) is a German and Yiddish surname (originated from German Karfunkelstein, a "carbuncle stone") shared by a number of notable individuals:
- Arthur Fields (Abe Finkelstein), American singer and songwriter
- Arthur J. Finkelstein, US Republican political activist
- Avram Finkelstein, gay rights activist
- Clive Finkelstein, Information Engineering pioneer
- David Finkelstein, professor of Physics at the Georgia Institute of Technology
- Daniel Finkelstein, British journalist
- Israel Finkelstein, Israeli archaeologist
- Jacob Finkelstein (Jackie Fields), American world champion welterweight & Olympic champion featherweight Hall of Fame boxer
- Louis Finkelstein, Talmud scholar
- Louis Finkelstein (artist) (1923-2000), painter and Queens College (CUNY) professor
- Max Finkelstein (died 1940), New York City policeman.
- Meir Finkelstein, cantor and composer of contemporary Jewish liturgical music
- Menachem Finkelstein, Israeli district judge, Israel's Military Advocate General from 2000 to 2004.
- Norman Finkelstein, American political scientist and writer.
- Norman Finkelstein (poet), poet and writer
- Peter Max (Peter Finkelstein)
- Salo Finkelstein
- William Zorach (born Finkelstein)