Declining since 1985, #6,546 for girls today.
Popularity of Jolynn since 1935
Babies named Jolynn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1962, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Jolynn's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 23 |
| 1940s | 190 |
| 1950s | 584 |
| 1960s | 939 |
| 1970s | 819 |
| 1980s | 637 |
| 1990s | 386 |
| 2000s | 459 |
| 2010s | 437 |
| 2020s | 146 |
Meaning & origin
Jolynn is a modern compound name that blends the familiar short form Jo with the popular suffix Lynn. First recorded in 1935, Jolynn saw its highest usage in 1975, when it ranked 6,546 nationally. Since 1985, its frequency has declined, reflecting broader shifts away from compound coinages. At its 2025 standing of 6,546, the name appears with a 1-in-94,545 frequency, making it a rare choice today. While Jolynn has no strong regional concentration in the U.S., its peak in the 1970s aligns with the era's taste for embellished, lyrical names. The name is a straightforward expression of the affection parents had for combining family names or fashionable syllables.
Jolynn is a modern American coinage combining the popular name elements Jo (derived from Josephine, the feminine form of Joseph, meaning 'God will add' or 'God is gracious') and Lynn (from a Welsh word for 'lake' or 'pool'). The name emerged in the early 20th century as part of a trend of compound names. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1935 and saw its peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the era's preference for melodic, two-part feminine names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jo, Joly, Lynn
Sibling names for Jolynn
Names that share Jolynn's style, for a brother or sister.
