Lyn
Primarily a girl's name of Welsh origin with 7,211 recorded births. Also given to 1,561 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A short form of female given names ending in -lyn, such as Evelyn and Carolyn; also used as a formal unisex middle name.
Lyn is a girl's and boy's baby name of Welsh origin, from the Welsh llyn meaning 'lake' — also used as a short form of Evelyn, Carolyn, and other -lyn names.
Lyn is one of those elegant minimal names that carries real weight in just three letters. With over 7,000 recorded U.S. births, it has been a genuine given name and middle name for generations, particularly popular in the mid-20th century. Its lake meaning gives it a serene, natural quality.
EtymologyShow more
Lyn is built from 3 letters and one syllable — a compact structure that favors quick recognition and easy recall. Within the Welsh naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Lyn creates its characteristic smooth, flowing quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lyn was #9634 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11697, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 19 | #14295 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 48 | #14495 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 73 | #14146 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 127 | #8318 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 252 | #3752 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 699 | #1597 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 1,787 | #789 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 2,448 | #586 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 1,387 | #713 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 266 | #1591 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 80 | #3194 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 25 | #3546 | — |
The Story of Lyn
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1957, Lyn is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Lyn are most likely born between 1947 and 1967.
How rare is Lyn?
Only about 1 in every 450,000 babies born in 2024 was named Lyn — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1915, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 2,448 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lyn by the numbers
- Would fill 150 school buses
- Meeting one Lyn per day would take 19.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(100 years, 1915–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | #11697 |
| 2022 | 6 | #14614 |
| 2020 | 5 | #16574 |
| 2017 | 7 | #13543 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12440 |
| 2015 | 6 | #15648 |
| 2013 | 5 | #18209 |
| 2012 | 7 | #14414 |
| 2011 | 7 | #14219 |
| 2010 | 8 | #12991 |
| 2009 | 6 | #16442 |
| 2008 | 6 | #16671 |
| 2007 | 5 | #19357 |
| 2006 | 11 | #10336 |
| 2005 | 7 | #13885 |
| 2004 | 11 | #9634 |
| 2003 | 7 | #13275 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14686 |
| 2001 | 9 | #10640 |
| 2000 | 5 | #16534 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lyn as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Lyn has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 1,561 births since 1896.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lyn a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lyn most popular?
How popular is the name Lyn?
Can Lyn be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1915–2024