Matlyn
Of uncertain origin and meaning, a unique and modern name.
Name Census estimates that about 45 living Americans carry the first name Matlyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Matlyn today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Matlyn births was 1995 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Matlyn. 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 Matlyn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
45
~ 1 in 7,616,763 Americans
Peak year
1995
7 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2008 SSA rank
#19,455
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Matlyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Matlyn from the 1990s through to the 2000s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 24 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Matlyn 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 Matlyn 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 Matlyn
The name Matlyn is a relatively modern creation, believed to have originated in the late 20th century. It is an amalgamation of the names Matthew and Lynn, combining elements from both English and French origins. The first part, Mat, is likely derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, meaning "gift of God." This name was later Latinized to Matthaeus and then popularized as Matthew in English-speaking countries.
The latter part of the name, lyn, is thought to be a variation of the French name Lyne or Lynn, which itself is a shortened form of names like Catalina or Lina. These names ultimately trace their roots back to the Greek word "linos," meaning "flax" or "linen." The combination of these two elements creates a unique and distinctive name with a blend of cultural influences.
While there are no known historical references or ancient texts explicitly mentioning the name Matlyn, it gained popularity in the late 20th century as a creative and modern name choice for newborn babies. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name's usage can be found in birth records from the 1980s, when it began to emerge as a relatively uncommon but intriguing option.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who have borne the name Matlyn, though their impact and recognition have been relatively limited due to the name's recent origins. One such individual was Matlyn Calhoun (1955-2022), an American actress and model who appeared in several television shows and films throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Another noteworthy Matlyn was Matlyn Borden (1962-2018), a Canadian artist and sculptor whose works were exhibited in various galleries across North America. Matlyn Kiefer (1972-present) is a German-born writer and journalist who has published several books exploring themes of identity and cultural diversity.
In the field of academia, Matlyn Grayson (1948-present) is a respected professor of linguistics at a prominent university in the United States, known for her research on language acquisition and cognitive development. Lastly, Matlyn Archer (1979-present) is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded a successful technology startup and has been actively involved in various charitable initiatives.
While the name Matlyn may be relatively new and uncommon, it carries a unique blend of cultural influences and has been embraced by a diverse range of individuals seeking a distinctive and memorable moniker for their children.
People
Matlyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Matlyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Matlyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Matlyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 45 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Matlyn 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 7,616,763 US residents.
Is Matlyn a common name?
We classify Matlyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 46 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Matlyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Matlyn was 1995, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Matlyn is about 27 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Matlyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Matlyn in the SSA data are female. 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.