Holding steady.
Popularity of Lyell since 1913
Babies named Lyell per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lyell's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 30 |
| 1920s | 57 |
| 1930s | 27 |
| 1940s | 10 |
| 1950s | 6 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Lyell is a rare Scottish name with a long history, first recorded in U.S. data in 1913. While it has never reached the top 1000, its peak use occurred in that same year, reflecting its sustained but minimal presence. The name's trajectory is stable, indicating very few annual births. Lyell's strongest association is with the influential geologist Sir Charles Lyell, making it a choice for families valuing intellectual heritage. Its sound is sleek and modern, yet its roots are deeply Scottish, offering a distinctive alternative to more common surname-names.
Lyell originated as a Scottish surname, derived from the Norman French personal name Lyel, which is a diminutive of the Old French 'liel' meaning 'faithful' or 'loyal'. The name has been used in Scotland since the Middle Ages, and its most prominent bearer was the 19th-century geologist Sir Charles Lyell. As a given name, it has seen modest use, primarily in Scotland and among families honoring Sir Charles.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lye
Sibling names for Lyell
Names that share Lyell's style, for a brother or sister.
