Lynn
Primarily a girl's name of Welsh origin with 182,316 recorded births. Also given to 52,375 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A local name for King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.
Lynn is a girl's and boy's baby name of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh llyn meaning "lake" or "pool." It developed as an independent given name and a popular middle name in the English-speaking world during the 20th century.
Lynn ranked in the U.S. top 30 girls' names in the late 1940s and 1950s. It has functioned as one of the great American middle names — Lynn sits comfortably between almost any first and last name. As a given name it has a clean brevity that never feels incomplete — one syllable of clear, still water.
EtymologyShow more
Lynn is cataloged under the Welsh naming tradition. Celtic names carry the echoes of ancient insular traditions, often drawing from nature, warfare, and mythology.
In the U.S., Lynn has been recorded as a girl's name since 1880, with 182,316 total births. Browse the Welsh names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lynn was #1568 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2804, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 312 | #2783 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 927 | #2100 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,336 | #1576 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 2,480 | #874 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 6,778 | #372 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 17,610 | #178 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 51,930 | #78 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 66,047 | #65 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 29,387 | #119 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 3,987 | #356 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 896 | #789 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 444 | #914 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 121 | #1188 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 46 | #1286 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 15 | #1083 | — |
The Story of Lynn
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1956, Lynn is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Lynn are most likely born between 1946 and 1966.
How rare is Lynn?
Only about 1 in every 60,000 babies born in 2024 was named Lynn — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1950s with 66,047 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lynn by the numbers
- Enough Lynns to fill 2.6 football stadiums
- More Lynns than the population of a small U.S. town
- Meeting one Lynn per day would take 499.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(134 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 60 | #2804 |
| 2023 | 51 | #3206 |
| 2022 | 54 | #3058 |
| 2021 | 68 | #2574 |
| 2020 | 79 | #2272 |
| 2019 | 96 | #2004 |
| 2018 | 71 | #2496 |
| 2017 | 90 | #2137 |
| 2016 | 93 | #2105 |
| 2015 | 84 | #2251 |
| 2014 | 88 | #2163 |
| 2013 | 92 | #2088 |
| 2012 | 92 | #2088 |
| 2011 | 110 | #1834 |
| 2010 | 111 | #1838 |
| 2009 | 94 | #2140 |
| 2008 | 107 | #1973 |
| 2007 | 137 | #1630 |
| 2006 | 119 | #1753 |
| 2005 | 151 | #1423 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Lynn as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Lynn has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 52,375 births since 1880.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lynn a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lynn most popular?
How popular is the name Lynn?
Can Lynn be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024