Where does the name Lynn come from?

Lynn is a unisex name of Welsh origin.

Is Lynn a boy or a girl name?

Lynn is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 78% of children given the name Lynn are girls and 22% are boys.

How popular is the name Lynn in 2023?

Lynn ranks #3165 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1956 with 8,989 babies.

How do you pronounce Lynn?

Lynn is pronounced LIN (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Lynn?

Lynn is also written as Lynne, Lin, Linn.

A name from Welsh · Unisex

Lynn

From Welsh llyn meaning 'lake' or 'pool' — originally a surname tied to several places in Wales and England. Used as a unisex given name since the 19th century, now predominantly feminine.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

234,619 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

66 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

LFrom Welsh llyn meaning 'lake' or 'pool' — originally a surname tied to several places in Wales and England. Used as a unisex given name since the 19th century, now predominantly feminine.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Lynn".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Lynne Most common Lin Linn

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Lynn.

L
Loretta Lynn (country singer; surname)
L
Lynn Whitfield (actress)
L
Lynn Swann (NFL Hall of Famer)

Quick answers

People often ask about Lynn.

What does the name Lynn mean?: Lynn means from Welsh llyn meaning 'lake' or 'pool' — originally a surname tied to several places in Wales and England. Used as a unisex given name since the 19th century, now predominantly feminine.
Where does the name Lynn come from?: Lynn is a unisex name of Welsh origin.
Is Lynn a boy or a girl name?: Lynn is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 78% of children given the name Lynn are girls and 22% are boys.
How popular is the name Lynn in 2023?: Lynn ranks #3165 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1956 with 8,989 babies.
How do you pronounce Lynn?: Lynn is pronounced LIN (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Lynn?: Lynn is also written as Lynne, Lin, Linn.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.