Lynn Name Meaning, Origins & History

Lynn

Pronunciation: LIN

Meaning Lake or pool Origin surnames Gender Unisex
GIRLS RANK
#2,558
TREND
246
BOYS RANK
#6,032
TREND
15

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Lynn in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Lynn

  • More than 234 thousand babies named Lynn: U.S. records list 234,775 babies given the name Lynn from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 52,390 boys received the name Lynn - about 1 boy for every 3 girls.

What Does the Name Lynn Mean?

Lynn is an English given name usually explained as "lake" or "pool," from Welsh llyn. It is a transferred use of the surname Lynn, a habitational name from places in Britain, especially King's Lynn in Norfolk. The Norfolk place name is often derived from Welsh llyn, though some accounts connect it to Old English hlynn, "stream" or "torrent." That alternative is uncertain, so the meaning commonly attached to the personal name remains "lake" or "pool."

Lynn is not related to Linda, which comes from a separate Germanic or Spanish source. The spellings Lynne and Lyn are variants or short forms of Lynn, not independent names with different etymologies.

Lynn Name History & Origins

The surname Lynn is habitational, taken from the Norfolk town of King's Lynn. That town appears in Domesday Book as Lenn and grew as a port on the Wash. People who left the town or other places named Lynn carried the surname, which later became a given name.

In Wales, llyn is the ordinary word for "lake" and appears in place names such as Llyn Tegid. The first name Lynn can also be understood as a direct use of that Welsh word, apart from the English surname route.

As a given name, Lynn has been used for both men and women, with Lynne as a feminine variant. The given name is a transferred use of the surname.

How Popular is the Name Lynn?

Lynn recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1956. Its best rank was #58 in 1956.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Lynn Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Lynn's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lynn's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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