Declining since 1985, #2,542 for girls today.
Popularity of Lynn since 1880
Babies named Lynn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 | 272 |
| 1890s | 46 | 348 |
| 1900s | 121 | 414 |
| 1910s | 444 | 2,386 |
| 1920s | 896 | 4,096 |
| 1930s | 3,987 | 6,037 |
| 1940s | 29,387 | 14,203 |
| 1950s | 66,049 | 13,774 |
| 1960s | 51,931 | 6,373 |
| 1970s | 17,609 | 2,323 |
| 1980s | 6,778 | 1,120 |
| 1990s | 2,479 | 496 |
| 2000s | 1,336 | 262 |
| 2010s | 927 | 195 |
| 2020s | 382 | 92 |
Meaning & origin
Lynn experienced its peak popularity in 1956, when it ranked highest on the U.S. charts. Since 1985, its usage has been declining. In 2025, it ranked 2,542nd, with a frequency of about 1 in 23,294 girls. The name has been most common in Pennsylvania, California, and Texas. Originally a short form of Linda or a surname, Lynn has been a standalone name for decades, particularly in the mid-20th century.
Lynn has multiple possible origins. It may derive from the Welsh word 'llyn' meaning 'lake', or from an English surname originating from places named Lynn. It has also been used as a short form of Linda, which comes from Spanish 'linda' meaning 'beautiful'. The name gained popularity as an independent given name in the 20th century.
Where Lynn 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.
“Lynn” around the world
Where Lynn lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
55
babies in 2024
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Lynn
Names that share Lynn's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Karen, Jean, Diane, Beth, Janet, Becky, Gail, Gayle, Lisa, Shelley, Sue, Deann, Kaye, Renae, Detra, Jene, Kym, Leeanne, Loree, Raeann, Sharen, Sherilyn, Delynn, Dyann, Gayl, Jolynne, Sharion, Su, Julann, Klyn, Lind, Reene, Ronne, Tamilyn
Brothers: Wayne, Bruce, Dean, Paul, Mark, Brent, Glen, Kent, Lee, Darell, Dee, Ron, Brain, Dyan, Les, Male, Ric, Shan, Duan, Kem, Kenn, Kreg, Lonn, Rohn, Tin, Yeng, Antion, Gar, Mak, Carols, Demarr, Deny, Jontue, Phat, Ran, Rawn, Wen
Names like Lynn
Names whose popularity has moved with Lynn's over the last 50 years.
