A 1960s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Lyn since 1896
Babies named Lyn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 | 5 |
| 1900s | 0 | 0 |
| 1910s | 25 | 29 |
| 1920s | 80 | 41 |
| 1930s | 266 | 147 |
| 1940s | 1,387 | 379 |
| 1950s | 2,448 | 439 |
| 1960s | 1,787 | 302 |
| 1970s | 699 | 146 |
| 1980s | 252 | 54 |
| 1990s | 127 | 19 |
| 2000s | 73 | 0 |
| 2010s | 48 | 0 |
| 2020s | 28 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Lyn enjoyed its greatest popularity in the mid-20th century, peaking in 1962. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 2020, though it remains uncommon with a current rank of 10,107 and about 1 in 178,585 babies receiving the name in 2025. As a short form of names like Evelyn and Carolyn, Lyn fits a modern trend toward concise, simple names. It is among the many -lyn suffix names that saw revival in recent decades.
Lyn emerged in the 20th century as a diminutive or independent short form of longer names ending in -lyn, such as Evelyn, Carolyn, and Marilyn. The -lyn suffix itself derives from Welsh llyn 'lake' but is primarily used as a fashionable ending. As a standalone name, Lyn gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States.
Where Lyn is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Lyn” around the world
Where Lyn lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Lyn
Names that share Lyn's style, for a brother or sister.
