Tamlyn
An English feminine name of uncertain meaning, possibly from an Old English element.
Name Census estimates that about 132 living Americans carry the first name Tamlyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tamlyn today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tamlyn births was 1991 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tamlyn. 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
132
~ 1 in 2,596,624 Americans
Peak year
1991
18 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
2014 SSA rank
#18,951
Tracked since 1956
Popularity
Tamlyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tamlyn from the 1950s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 47 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tamlyn 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 Tamlyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tamlyns live
Origin
Meaning and history of Tamlyn
The name Tamlyn has its origins in the Welsh language and culture, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a diminutive form of the name Tamlynn, which itself is derived from the Old Welsh word "tamlyn," meaning "twin." The name was likely given to children who were born as one of a pair of twins.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tamlyn can be found in the medieval Scottish ballad "Tam Lin," which tells the story of a young man who is rescued from the Queen of the Fairies by his true love. In the ballad, the name is spelled "Tam Lin," but it is likely a variation of the Welsh name Tamlyn.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Tamlyn. One of the earliest recorded was Tamlyn ap Rhiwallon (c. 1040 - c. 1090), a Welsh prince and ruler of the Kingdom of Gwynedd in the late 11th century.
Another prominent figure was Tamlyn ap Cadwgan (c. 1120 - c. 1180), a Welsh nobleman and military leader who fought against the Norman conquest of Wales. He is remembered for his bravery and resistance against the Norman invaders.
In the 16th century, Tamlyn Pratt (c. 1520 - c. 1585) was an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Worcester Cathedral. He was known for his contributions to theology and his patronage of the arts and education.
In the 19th century, Tamlyn Muir (1825 - 1899) was a Scottish poet and writer who is remembered for his works celebrating rural life and the natural beauty of his homeland.
More recently, Tamlyn Tomita (born 1966) is a Japanese-American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Day After Tomorrow."
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Tamlyn, showcasing its rich heritage and enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Tamlyn
People
Tamlyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tamlyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tamlyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tamlyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 132 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tamlyn 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 2,596,624 US residents.
Is Tamlyn a common name?
We classify Tamlyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 149 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tamlyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Tamlyn was 1991, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tamlyn is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tamlyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tamlyn 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.