Lane first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Lane has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Lane

A gender-neutral name of English origin referring to a narrow path or road.

Popularity of Lane by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Lane is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 92% of people named Lane being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,371 male babies and 100 female babies born with the name Lane.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 100 baby girls were named Lane in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 1,371 100
2022 1,331 119
2021 1,318 111
2020 1,368 104
2019 1,404 98
2018 1,209 85
2017 1,178 78
2016 1,230 86
2015 1,208 98
2014 1,198 63
2013 1,152 69
2012 1,223 76
2011 1,294 74
2010 1,062 71
2009 1,052 76
2008 1,053 66
2007 1,016 70
2006 985 82
2005 1,039 68
2004 1,068 80
2003 1,129 89
2002 981 98
2001 894 69
2000 1,015 78
1999 968 73
1998 954 55
1997 967 83
1996 1,070 78
1995 1,168 66
1994 689 85
1993 299 74
1992 296 61
1991 289 54
1990 328 68
1989 239 53
1988 249 54
1987 210 48
1986 219 64
1985 180 51
1984 169 73
1983 137 70
1982 173 97
1981 176 68
1980 147 35
1979 148 35
1978 130 26
1977 134 10
1976 154 24
1975 146 24
1974 155 13

The history of the first name Lane

The name Lane originates from the Old English word "lane", which means a narrow path or road between hedges or fences. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lanu", which itself comes from the Proto-Germanic word "lainon".

The name Lane has been in use since at least the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a surname. However, over time, it became increasingly common as a given name as well.

In the Middle Ages, the name Lane was often used as a topographic surname, given to people who lived near a lane or a narrow road. It was particularly common in rural areas of England, where lanes and narrow paths were a common feature of the landscape.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Lane was Sir Ralph de la Lane, a 13th-century English knight who fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Lane (c. 1520-1593), an English merchant and adventurer who played a key role in the early colonization of Virginia.

In the 17th century, the name Lane gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the most well-known individuals with this name was Samuel Lane (1718-1806), a Virginia planter and politician who served in the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War.

Over the centuries, the name Lane has been carried by many notable figures across various fields. These include the American poet John Lane (1854-1925), the British publisher Arbuthnot Lane (1878-1943), and the Australian politician David Lane (1935-2017).

Other famous individuals named Lane include the American football player Larry Lane (1940-2019), the British actor Nathan Lane (born 1956), and the American actress Diane Lane (born 1965). These individuals have helped to keep the name Lane in the public consciousness and contributed to its enduring popularity.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Lane was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lane, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Lane first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/lane-meaning-and-history/.

"Lane first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/lane-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Lane first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/lane-meaning-and-history/.

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