Lynn is a unisex name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Lynn means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Lynn across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Lynn has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Lynn is a unisex name of Welsh origin meaning “lake”. also used as a short form of names ending in -lyn.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 234,778 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 174 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 3,362 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 3 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 1,398 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 53 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Lynn per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1956 (8,989/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1974 (376/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1978 (84/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2004 (10/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1998 (3/yr).
Lynn has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1956, when it ranked #88 nationally (given to 8,989 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1950s.
Luna · Lena · Leon · Lonnie · Lynne · Lana · Luann · Lane
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