Lydon
From old French roots meaning "lion", suggesting strength and courage.
Name Census estimates that about 238 living Americans carry the first name Lydon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Lydon today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lydon births was 1964 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lydon. 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.
People living today
238
~ 1 in 1,440,144 Americans
Peak year
1964
14 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2022 SSA rank
#11,740
Tracked since 1964
Popularity
Lydon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lydon from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 87 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lydon 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 Lydon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lydon
The given name Lydon has its origins in the old English language. It is a variant of the name Linden, derived from the word "linden" which refers to the linden tree. The linden tree holds significant cultural and historical symbolism, often associated with love, protection, and fertility in many European traditions.
During the Middle Ages, the name Lydon gained prominence across various regions of England and parts of Scotland. It was primarily used by families residing in areas abundant with linden trees, reflecting their connection to the natural landscape and reverence for these majestic trees.
In ancient Celtic folklore, the linden tree was believed to possess spiritual qualities, and its wood was often used in the construction of sacred sites and ritual objects. Consequently, the name Lydon may have held spiritual connotations for those who bore it during those times.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lydon can be traced back to the 12th century, where it appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Lydon. One such individual was Lydon of Lindisfarne (c. 558 - c. 660), an Irish monk and missionary who played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity in Northumbria and the establishment of the famous Lindisfarne Priory.
Another prominent figure was Lydon de Bury (c. 1280 - c. 1345), an English jurist and legal scholar who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer under Edward III. His contributions to the development of English common law were significant during his time.
In the realm of literature, Lydon Leigh (1692 - 1768) was a renowned English poet and dramatist, known for his satirical works and plays that often addressed social and political issues of his era.
Moving into the 19th century, Lydon Haycraft (1815 - 1888) was a notable English architect who designed several iconic buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, which remains a celebrated venue for music and cultural events to this day.
Lastly, Lydon Boudreaux (1920 - 2001) was an influential American jazz musician and composer, renowned for his innovative approach to the saxophone and his contributions to the development of bebop and cool jazz styles.
People
Lydon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lydon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lydon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lydon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 238 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lydon 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 1,440,144 US residents.
Is Lydon a common name?
We classify Lydon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 244 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lydon most popular?
The single biggest year for Lydon was 1964, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lydon is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lydon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lydon 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.
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.