Lynn Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: lin //lɪn//
Origin: English; Welsh
Meaning: English: lake; Welsh: waterfall
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Lynn has its roots in the Welsh language, derived from the word "llyn," which means "lake" or "pool." This etymological origin reflects a connection to nature, particularly bodies of water, which are often significant in Welsh culture and geography. The name made its way into English usage through the influence of the Welsh language, particularly during the periods of increased interaction between the Welsh and the English, especially from the 12th century onward.
The name has also been associated with various locations in England, such as Lynn in Norfolk, which is derived from the same Welsh root. Historically, the name Lynn has been borne by notable figures, including Saint Lynn, a lesser-known saint in early Christian history.
The name gained further recognition in the 19th century, coinciding with the Romantic movement, which celebrated nature and the pastoral ideal. Literary works from this period often featured characters named Lynn, emphasizing the name's association with tranquility and natural beauty.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and documents, contributing to its longevity in the English-speaking world. Culturally, Lynn has been embraced for its simplicity and melodic quality, making it a favored choice in various English-speaking regions.
The name has also been used in various diminutive forms, such as Lynne or Lyn, which have emerged over time. These variations reflect the adaptability of the name across different cultures and languages.
The enduring appeal of Lynn can be attributed to its serene connotations and its connection to the natural world, which resonate with many cultural traditions.
Famous people named Lynn
In this section, you will find notable people named Lynn. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Lynn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Lynn who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Lynn Redgrave was an actress best known for Georgy Girl, Shine, and The Happy Prince.
Lynn Anderson was a country music singer best known for Rose Garden, How Can I Unlove You, and Listen to a Country Song.
Lynn Swann is a former professional football player best known for his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and winning four Super Bowl titles.
Lynn Shelton was a filmmaker and actress best known for Humpday, Your Sister's Sister, and Little Fires Everywhere.
Lynn Nottage is a playwright best known for Intimate Apparel, Ruined, and Sweat.
Fictional characters named Lynn
The following list of fictional characters named Lynn is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Lynn is a fictional character from the animated series The Loud House. She is the athletic and competitive middle child of the Loud family, known for her love of sports and games.
Lynn is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. She is a skilled swordsman and one of the main protagonists in Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, known for her speed and agility in battle.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lynn, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lynn. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Lynn was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Lynn has ranked as high as #107 nationally, which occurred in 1956, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Lynn has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Lynn is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Lynn was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Lynn (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 | |
| TX | 6 | |
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Lynn.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 60 |
| 2023 | 51 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2021 | 68 |
| 2020 | 79 |
| 2019 | 96 |
| 2018 | 71 |
| 2017 | 90 |
| 2016 | 93 |
| 2015 | 84 |
| 2014 | 88 |
| 2013 | 92 |
| 2012 | 92 |
| 2011 | 110 |
| 2010 | 111 |
| 2009 | 94 |
| 2008 | 107 |
| 2007 | 137 |
| 2006 | 119 |
| 2005 | 151 |
| 2004 | 126 |
| 2003 | 142 |
| 2002 | 138 |
| 2001 | 153 |
| 2000 | 169 |
| 1999 | 164 |
| 1998 | 168 |
| 1997 | 181 |
| 1996 | 209 |
| 1995 | 211 |
| 1994 | 260 |
| 1993 | 264 |
| 1992 | 287 |
| 1991 | 339 |
| 1990 | 397 |
| 1989 | 420 |
| 1988 | 469 |
| 1987 | 475 |
| 1986 | 514 |
| 1985 | 603 |
| 1984 | 706 |
| 1983 | 788 |
| 1982 | 834 |
| 1981 | 953 |
| 1980 | 1,016 |
| 1979 | 1,070 |
| 1978 | 1,107 |
| 1977 | 1,099 |
| 1976 | 1,147 |
| 1975 | 1,424 |
| 1974 | 1,644 |
| 1973 | 1,933 |
| 1972 | 2,251 |
| 1971 | 2,671 |
| 1970 | 3,264 |
| 1969 | 3,648 |
| 1968 | 4,103 |
| 1967 | 4,196 |
| 1966 | 4,306 |
| 1965 | 4,668 |
| 1964 | 5,675 |
| 1963 | 5,826 |
| 1962 | 6,217 |
| 1961 | 6,440 |
| 1960 | 6,851 |
| 1959 | 7,058 |
| 1958 | 7,215 |
| 1957 | 7,442 |
| 1956 | 7,736 |
| 1955 | 7,354 |
| 1954 | 6,780 |
| 1953 | 5,997 |
| 1952 | 5,818 |
| 1951 | 5,628 |
| 1950 | 5,019 |
| 1949 | 4,880 |
| 1948 | 4,609 |
| 1947 | 4,994 |
| 1946 | 3,884 |
| 1945 | 2,730 |
| 1944 | 2,260 |
| 1943 | 2,065 |
| 1942 | 1,749 |
| 1941 | 1,259 |
| 1940 | 957 |
| 1939 | 871 |
| 1938 | 722 |
| 1937 | 498 |
| 1936 | 384 |
| 1935 | 339 |
| 1934 | 305 |
| 1933 | 289 |
| 1932 | 244 |
| 1931 | 178 |
| 1930 | 157 |
| 1929 | 112 |
| 1928 | 115 |
| 1927 | 128 |
| 1926 | 92 |
| 1925 | 100 |
| 1924 | 80 |
| 1923 | 71 |
| 1922 | 77 |
| 1921 | 59 |
| 1920 | 62 |
| 1919 | 64 |
| 1918 | 69 |
| 1917 | 58 |
| 1916 | 56 |
| 1915 | 44 |
| 1914 | 45 |
| 1913 | 32 |
| 1912 | 28 |
| 1911 | 25 |
| 1910 | 23 |
| 1909 | 18 |
| 1908 | 18 |
| 1907 | 14 |
| 1906 | 14 |
| 1905 | 14 |
| 1904 | 11 |
| 1903 | 9 |
| 1902 | 9 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1900 | 8 |
| 1899 | 9 |
| 1898 | 8 |
| 1897 | 7 |
| 1896 | 6 |
| 1893 | 11 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1886 | 5 |
| 1885 | 5 |
| 1880 | 5 |