Declining since 1985.
Popularity of Lon since 1880
Babies named Lon per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1948, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lon's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 491 |
| 1890s | 314 |
| 1900s | 170 |
| 1910s | 420 |
| 1920s | 664 |
| 1930s | 648 |
| 1940s | 1,452 |
| 1950s | 2,396 |
| 1960s | 1,723 |
| 1970s | 898 |
| 1980s | 367 |
| 1990s | 148 |
| 2000s | 78 |
| 2010s | 51 |
| 2020s | 16 |
Meaning & origin
Lon is a concise, masculine name that has seen steady but modest usage in the United States since 1880, when it was first recorded. Its popularity peaked in 1880, the earliest year for which Social Security data is available, but it has been in decline since around 1985. In recent years, the name has become quite rare, with fewer than five births per year since the early 2000s. Lon is typical of the pattern of short, informal names that were historically used as nicknames but sometimes given as legal first names. Its top states are limited, but it has appeared across the Midwest and South. Though its etymological root is debated, Lon's straightforward spelling and sound give it a strong, no-nonsense appeal.
Lon is a given name of uncertain origin. It may have originated as a short form of Alonzo, the Spanish and Italian form of Alfonso, or as a variant of Lonnie, which itself is often a diminutive of Alonzo or a nickname for names like Lonsdale. The name has seen sporadic use in the United States since the late 19th century.
Where Lon is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Lon
Names that share Lon's style, for a brother or sister.
