Unisex name · Old English
Lindsay
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: Lincoln islandLindsay is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old English and means "Lincoln island". It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Lincoln island
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #2208 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Lindsay
As a gender-neutral name, Lindsay comes from Old English and means "Lincoln island". It is used in English and Scottish.
Lindsay is also a surname: the 1,073rd most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 32,075 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Lindsay on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Lindsay on 4 lists.
“From Lindsey in Lincolnshire, the island of Lincoln”
From Pretty last names, pretty Irish, Scottish and Welsh surnames
“Lincoln island, from Old English; a Lowland clan, now mostly a girls' name in the US.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish clan and surname names for boys
“From Lindsey, the English region named for Lincoln island; a Lowland clan.”
From Scottish girl names, scottish place and clan names for girls
“From Lindsey in Lincolnshire, the island of Lincoln”
From Scottish last names, lowland and Border family names
How popular is Lindsay?
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #2,208
- 84 babies, 52 per million girls
- Best rank
- #36 in 1983
- 8,622 babies that year
- Babies since 1916
- At least 130,365
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 1 per million |
| 1920s | 2 per million |
| 1930s | 3 per million |
| 1940s | 23 per million |
| 1950s | 49 per million |
| 1960s | 32 per million |
| 1970s | 800 per million |
| 1980s | 3,988 per million |
| 1990s | 1,743 per million |
| 2000s | 664 per million |
| 2010s | 188 per million |
| 2020s | 68 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,024 | #1,147 | #1,311 | #1,512 | #1,663 | #1,456 | #1,770 | #2,084 | #1,985 | #2,208 |
As a boy’s name
- Recent US rank
- Fewer than 5 babies in 2025
- Best rank
- #397 in 1893
- Most babies: 152 in 1960
- Babies since 1880
- At least 5,136
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 57 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 73 per million |
| 1900s | 66 per million |
| 1910s | 46 per million |
| 1920s | 41 per million |
| 1930s | 38 per million |
| 1940s | 33 per million |
| 1950s | 52 per million |
| 1960s | 42 per million |
| 1970s | 25 per million |
| 1980s | 36 per million |
| 1990s | 11 per million |
| 2000s | 4 per million |
| 2010s | 2 per million |
| 2020s | 1 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | – | #11,614 | – | – | – | #10,361 | – | – | – | – |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Lindsay
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- LindaSoft, tender (Germanic, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- HolgerIsland spear (Old Norse, boy)
- IonaFrom the island of Iona (Scottish place name, girl)
- IslaFrom the island of Islay (Scottish place name, girl)
- LyleIsland (Old French, boy)
- EydisIsland or good fortune and goddess (Old Norse, girl)
- EysteinIsland or good fortune and stone (Old Norse, boy)
- IslayFrom the island of Islay (Scottish place name, unisex)
- ItamarDate palm island (Hebrew, boy)
- IzaroIsland (Basque, girl)
- KelseyCēol's island (Old English, unisex)
Middle names for Lindsay
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
Lindsay: common questions
What does the name Lindsay mean?
Lindsay comes from Old English and means "Lincoln island".
Is Lindsay a boy or girl name?
Lindsay is used for both boys and girls.
Where does the name Lindsay come from?
Lindsay comes from Old English and means "Lincoln island". Today it is used in English and Scottish.
How popular is the name Lindsay?
Lindsay ranked #2,208 in the US in 2025, with 84 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Lindsay?
Names spelled like Lindsay include Linda.
What middle names go with Lindsay?
Middle names that flow well with Lindsay include David, Elise, Eve, Iris and Jean. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.