Lemon
Primarily a boy's name of Old English origin with 1,071 recorded births. Also given to 329 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Lemon is a girl's and boy's baby name of English origin, used both as a color name (the bright yellow of lemon peel) and as a fruit name in the tradition of nature-inspired naming. The lemon has long symbolized brightness, vitality, and a zesty approach to life.
Lemon is part of the growing trend of unexpected, vivid fruit names — joining Clementine, Berry, and Plum as names that embrace the playful, colorful world of the garden.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Lemon is rooted in the Old English tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1882 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Lemon’s 1,071 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lemon has 91+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1882.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 28 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 60 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 80 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 119 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 162 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 228 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 182 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 82 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 76 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 39 | — |
The Story of Lemon
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1927, Lemon is a name steeped in history. Boys named Lemon are most likely born between 1917 and 1937.
How rare is Lemon?
With 1,071 total births on record, Lemon remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1882, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 228 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lemon by the numbers
- Would fill 22 school buses
- Meeting one Lemon per day would take 2.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(91 years, 1882–1992)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 5 | #9268 |
| 1991 | 5 | #9046 |
| 1987 | 5 | #7663 |
| 1979 | 5 | #6631 |
| 1973 | 7 | #4327 |
| 1972 | 5 | #5433 |
| 1971 | 6 | #4703 |
| 1970 | 5 | #5141 |
| 1969 | 7 | #3791 |
| 1968 | 5 | #4485 |
| 1967 | 5 | #4307 |
| 1966 | 6 | #3754 |
| 1965 | 8 | #3133 |
| 1964 | 7 | #3472 |
| 1963 | 10 | #2784 |
| 1961 | 6 | #3880 |
| 1960 | 6 | #3882 |
| 1959 | 5 | #4321 |
| 1958 | 5 | #4272 |
| 1957 | 5 | #4309 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lemon as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Lemon has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 329 births since 1913.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lemon a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lemon most popular?
How popular is the name Lemon?
Can Lemon be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1882–1992