Freelin
Of Old English origin meaning "freeborn, free person".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Freelin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Freelin today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Freelin births was 1916 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Freelin. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Freelin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1916
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1916 SSA rank
#4,137
Tracked since 1916
Popularity
Freelin: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Freelin 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 Freelin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Freelin
The name Freelin has its origins in the Germanic language family, with roots that can be traced back to the Old English and Old Norse tongues. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "freo," meaning "free," and the Old Norse word "linna," meaning "to cease" or "to stop." Thus, the name Freelin could be interpreted as "one who is free from restraint" or "one who is liberated."
In its earliest known usage, Freelin was predominantly found in the regions of ancient Britain and Scandinavia, where it was borne by individuals of both Saxon and Norse descent. The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly among the Anglo-Saxon and Viking communities that settled in these areas.
While there are no definitive historical records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is noteworthy that the concept of freedom and liberation was highly valued in the cultures that gave rise to this name. The Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were known for their fierce independence and resistance to oppression, which could have contributed to the name's enduring appeal.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Freelin can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Among the listed individuals was a certain Freelin of Wessex, whose name and location suggest he was of Saxon descent.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Freelin. One such figure was Freelin of Shrewsbury (c. 1150-1220), a renowned English scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of scholastic thought during the High Middle Ages.
Another notable bearer of the name was Freelin Anderton (1753-1824), a British naval officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Hastings.
In the realm of literature, Freelin Smythe (1856-1932) was an American poet and playwright whose works explored themes of individuality and personal freedom, reflecting the spirit of the name's original meaning.
The 19th century also saw the rise of Freelin Stanton (1808-1892), an American abolitionist and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the anti-slavery and suffrage movements.
More recently, Freelin Hutchinson (1914-1996) was a Canadian hockey player who enjoyed a successful career in the National Hockey League, representing the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins during the 1940s and 1950s.
These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have carried the name Freelin throughout history, each contributing to its enduring legacy and reflecting the values of freedom and independence that lie at the heart of its meaning.
People
Freelin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Freelin 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
Freelin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Freelin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Freelin 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 - US residents.
Is Freelin a common name?
We classify Freelin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Freelin most popular?
The single biggest year for Freelin was 1916, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Freelin is about 0 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 Freelin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Freelin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Freelin 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 Freelin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Freelin 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 Freelin 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 called Freelin?
Find out how many people have the name Freelin on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.