Flinn
A masculine given name derived from the Irish surname Flynn, meaning "descendant of the red-haired one".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Flinn. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Flinn today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Flinn births was 2022 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Flinn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Flinn with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Flinn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2022
7 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2022 SSA rank
#10,145
Tracked since 2020
Popularity
Flinn: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Flinn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Flinn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Flinn
The name Flinn has its origins in the Gaelic language, stemming from the Irish word "flann" which means "red" or "ruddy". It is believed to have emerged as a given name in Ireland as early as the 6th century AD.
Flinn was a popular name among the ancient Irish, particularly in the regions of Connacht and Munster. Its earliest recorded usage can be traced back to the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it appeared as the name of several notable figures.
One of the most famous historical bearers of the name Flinn was Flann Sinna (879-916 AD), a High King of Ireland who ruled from 879 until his death. He was renowned for his military campaigns against the Vikings and his efforts to unify the various Irish kingdoms under his rule.
Another notable Flinn was Flann Mainistreach (1014-1056 AD), an Irish monk and scribe who served as the abbot of the Monastery of Monasterboice. He was highly regarded for his scholarly works, including several manuscripts on Irish history and literature.
In the 12th century, Flinn was the name of a prominent Irish warrior and leader named Flann O'Muldory (1120-1180 AD). He played a significant role in the ongoing conflicts between the Irish and the Anglo-Normans, leading his clan in battles against the invading forces.
Moving forward in history, Flinn Daly (1550-1617 AD) was an Irish nobleman and military commander who fought in the Nine Years' War against English forces. He was known for his bravery and tactical prowess on the battlefield.
Lastly, Flinn O'Brien (1628-1692 AD) was an Irish poet and historian from County Clare. He authored several works that chronicled the lives of Irish chieftains and preserved the cultural heritage of his homeland.
While the name Flinn has its roots in ancient Ireland, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, its historical significance and connection to Irish culture remain a defining aspect of this name's legacy.
People
Flinn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Flinn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Flinn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Flinn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Flinn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Flinn a common name?
We classify Flinn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Flinn most popular?
The single biggest year for Flinn was 2022, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Flinn is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Flinn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Flinn a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Flinn in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Flinn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Flinn in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Flinn can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Flinn?
Find out how many people share the name Flinn on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.