Unisex name · Welsh
Lynn
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: lakeLynn is a gender-neutral name that comes from Welsh and means "lake". It is used in English and Welsh.
- Meaning
- Lake
- Origin
- Welsh
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #2558 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Lynn
As a gender-neutral name, Lynn comes from Welsh and means "lake". It is used in English and Welsh.
As a girl's name, Lynn comes from Welsh and means "lake". It is used in English.
Lynn is also a surname: the 932nd most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 36,656 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Lynn on our names that mean water or sea list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Lynn on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Lynn on 2 lists.
“Lake; Welsh, a short classic for anyone”
From Gender neutral names, classic and vintage unisex names
“Lake; Welsh. Classic mid-century middle”
From Girl middle names, one-syllable girl middle names
How popular is Lynn?
In 2025, 69 girls and 15 boys in the US were named Lynn.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #2,558
- 69 babies, 43 per million girls
- Best rank
- #58 in 1956
- 7,736 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 182,387
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 11 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 21 per million |
| 1900s | 41 per million |
| 1910s | 54 per million |
| 1920s | 75 per million |
| 1930s | 374 per million |
| 1940s | 2,029 per million |
| 1950s | 3,434 per million |
| 1960s | 2,843 per million |
| 1970s | 1,140 per million |
| 1980s | 395 per million |
| 1990s | 138 per million |
| 2000s | 72 per million |
| 2010s | 53 per million |
| 2020s | 39 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,105 | #2,138 | #2,497 | #2,004 | #2,272 | #2,577 | #3,059 | #3,165 | #2,811 | #2,558 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #6,032
- 15 babies, 9 per million boys
- Best rank
- #141 in 1941
- Most babies: 1,781 in 1947
- Babies since 1880
- At least 52,391
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 248 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 305 per million |
| 1900s | 305 per million |
| 1910s | 357 per million |
| 1920s | 372 per million |
| 1930s | 571 per million |
| 1940s | 954 per million |
| 1950s | 681 per million |
| 1960s | 331 per million |
| 1970s | 141 per million |
| 1980s | 61 per million |
| 1990s | 25 per million |
| 2000s | 13 per million |
| 2010s | 10 per million |
| 2020s | 9 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,934 | #4,863 | #5,688 | #5,079 | #6,873 | #4,447 | #6,698 | #6,385 | #6,072 | #6,032 |
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 Lynn
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
- LunaThe moon (Latin, girl)
- LyleIsland (Old French, boy)
- LanOrchid (depends on characters) (Chinese, girl)
- LaneA narrow path (English, unisex)
- LaniSky, heaven (Hawaiian, girl)
- LayanSoft, delicate (Arabic, girl)
- LenaShort form of Helena or Magdalena (Greek, girl)
- LennyBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Lynn
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- BenedictBlessed one (Latin, boy)
- ElizabethGod is my oath (Hebrew, girl)
- FenellaWhite shoulder (Scottish Gaelic, girl)
- GraceGrace, divine favor (Latin, girl)
- MichaelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- PoppyPoppy flower (Old English, girl)
- ReubenBehold, a son (Hebrew, boy)
- SaoirseFreedom, liberty (Irish Gaelic, girl)
More names from Welsh
- SabrinaFrom Sabrina, the Latin name of the River Severn (Welsh, girl)
- DylanTide, flow (Welsh, boy)
- GwenWhite, fair, blessed (Welsh, girl)
- GwendolynBlessed ring (Welsh, girl)
- HowellEminent, conspicuous (Welsh, boy)
- LloydGrey (Welsh, boy)
- MeganA pearl (Welsh, girl)
- OwenAnglicized form of Owain, possibly from Latin Eugenius (Welsh, boy)
- ReeseArdor, enthusiasm (Welsh, unisex)
- RhiannonGreat queen (Welsh, girl)
- RhysArdor, enthusiasm (Welsh, boy)
- TeganFair, beautiful (Welsh, girl)
- WynnFair, white, blessed (Welsh, unisex)
- AngharadMuch loved (Welsh, girl)
- AnwenVery fair, very blessed (Welsh, girl)
- ArianwenSilver white (Welsh, girl)
- BedwyrWelsh form of Bedivere, a knight of King Arthur (Welsh, boy)
- BerwynWhite head (Welsh, boy)
Lynn: common questions
What does the name Lynn mean?
Lynn comes from Welsh and means "lake". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language.
Is Lynn a boy or girl name?
Lynn is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 69 girls and 15 boys in the US were named Lynn, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Lynn come from?
Lynn comes from Welsh and means "lake". Today it is used in English and Welsh.
How popular is the name Lynn?
Lynn ranked #2,558 in the US in 2025, with 69 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Lynn?
Names spelled like Lynn include Leon, Luna, Lyle, Lan and Lane.
What middle names go with Lynn?
Middle names that flow well with Lynn include Benedict, Elizabeth, Fenella, Grace and Michael. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.