Norrin
A masculine name possibly derived from the Irish surname "Nurin".
Name Census estimates that about 157 living Americans carry the first name Norrin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Norrin today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Norrin births was 2016 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Norrin. 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
157
~ 1 in 2,183,149 Americans
Peak year
2016
15 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,500
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Norrin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Norrin from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 100 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Norrin remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Norrin 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 Norrin 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 Norrin
The name Norrin is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic languages spoken in parts of Europe, particularly in the British Isles. It is thought to be derived from the Proto-Celtic root "*ner-" or "*nor-", which means "vigorous" or "strong".
In early Celtic cultures, names were often chosen to reflect desirable qualities or characteristics that parents wished for their children. The name Norrin may have been given to boys in the hope that they would grow up to be strong, hardy, and resilient individuals.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Norrin can be found in the Welsh Triads, a collection of traditional narratives and stories from medieval Wales. In the Triad titled "The Three Horse-Burdens of the Island of Britain", a character named Norrin ap Cynan is mentioned as one of the three noble brothers who carried a significant burden on their journey.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Norrin was primarily used in Wales and other parts of the Celtic regions. It was relatively uncommon in other parts of Europe during this time. However, a few notable individuals with this name can be found in historical records.
One such individual was Norrin the Bard, a Welsh poet and musician who lived in the 12th century. He was renowned for his skillful compositions and is credited with preserving many ancient Welsh legends and folklore through his works.
Another notable figure was Norrin of Llanfair, a Welsh clergyman and scholar who lived in the late 15th century. He was known for his extensive knowledge of Celtic languages and his efforts to promote education and literacy in Wales.
In the 16th century, a Scottish nobleman named Norrin MacLeod played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He was a staunch supporter of the Protestant cause and actively worked to spread the new religious teachings throughout his lands.
During the 17th century, a Welsh military leader named Norrin Vaughan gained prominence for his bravery and leadership during the English Civil War. He fought alongside the Parliamentarian forces and was instrumental in several key battles against the Royalists.
Another notable figure was Norrin Jones, a Welsh-born American pioneer who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was one of the earliest settlers in the territory that would later become the state of Tennessee and played a crucial role in the establishment of new communities in the region.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Norrin, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the regions and time periods in which they lived.
People
Norrin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Norrin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Norrin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Norrin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 157 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Norrin 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 2,183,149 US residents.
Is Norrin a common name?
We classify Norrin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 158 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Norrin most popular?
The single biggest year for Norrin was 2016, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Norrin is about 10 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 Norrin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Norrin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Norrin 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 Norrin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Norrin 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 Norrin 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 common is the name Norrin?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.