Holding steady.
Popularity of Layman since 1915
Babies named Layman per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Layman's real moment was 1916.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 45 |
| 1920s | 53 |
| 1930s | 54 |
| 1940s | 40 |
| 1950s | 40 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Layman is a rare given name derived from an English surname, first recorded in U.S. births in 1915. Its peak year was 1916, though it never entered the top 1000 rankings. The name has remained stable in low usage, never exceeding a handful of births per year. Its meaning as 'man of the law' or 'non-clergyman' gives it a distinctive occupational origin. While not widely used today, it appears as a surname and was occasionally given to boys in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1910s decade.
Layman derives from an English surname, itself from Middle English 'lay' (from Old French 'laie', meaning 'secular' or 'non-clerical') and 'man'. Historically, 'layman' referred to a person not belonging to the clergy. As a given name, it has been used sparingly, possibly as a transferred use of the surname, which sometimes indicated a servant or follower of a lay person.
Sibling names for Layman
Names that share Layman's style, for a brother or sister.
