Lynn first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Lynn

A traditionally feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "lake" or "pretty".

Popularity of Lynn by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Lynn is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 86% of people named Lynn being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 51 female babies and 14 male babies born with the name Lynn.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 14 51
2022 13 54
2021 23 67
2020 12 79
2019 19 96
2018 16 71
2017 20 88
2016 10 93
2015 16 84
2014 16 88
2013 20 91
2012 28 92
2011 30 110
2010 19 111
2009 19 94
2008 22 107
2007 18 137
2006 17 119
2005 22 151
2004 22 126
2003 29 142
2002 37 138
2001 27 153
2000 49 169
1999 40 164
1998 34 168
1997 36 181
1996 31 209
1995 45 211
1994 52 260
1993 57 264
1992 58 287
1991 66 339
1990 77 397
1989 86 420
1988 83 469
1987 84 475
1986 89 515
1985 110 603
1984 103 706
1983 102 789
1982 123 834
1981 170 953
1980 170 1,015
1979 143 1,070
1978 152 1,108
1977 150 1,099
1976 182 1,148
1975 192 1,423
1974 225 1,645

The history of the first name Lynn

The name Lynn has its origins in the Celtic language, specifically the Welsh word "llyn" which means "lake" or "pond." It is believed to have originated in the early Middle Ages, around the 5th to 10th centuries AD, in the region now known as Wales and parts of western England.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Lynn can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Linn" in reference to various locations, likely named after bodies of water.

The name Lynn gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in England and other parts of the British Isles. It was commonly used as a place name, as well as a surname derived from those place names. Over time, it began to be used as a given name for both males and females.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Lynn was Lynn Wyche (c. 1510 - c. 1580), an English composer and organist who served under King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. Another early example was Lynn Regis (fl. 1200s), a medieval Bishop of Norwich in England.

In the 16th century, Lynn Bradshaw (c. 1545 - 1619) was a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1598. During the same period, Lynn Thorton (c. 1570 - 1629) was an English poet and playwright known for her religious works.

In the 18th century, Lynn Townsend (1735 - 1795) was a British soldier and explorer who is credited with being one of the first Europeans to explore the interior of Australia.

As the name Lynn became more popular, it began to be used more frequently as a feminine given name, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, it has also been used as a masculine name in some cultures and time periods.

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 Lynn was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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

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

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

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