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Evelyn

♂ Boy

Pronounced EV-uh-lin /ˈɛv.ə.lɪn/High

Meaning: Evelyn began as an English surname (from the given name Aveline, likely 'desired; wished-for' or 'little bird'), historically used for boys as well as girls. Today it is strongly a girl's name; used here for a boy, we note the lean.Low

In 30 seconds: A name with old unisex roots: Evelyn likely means 'desired; wished-for' (said 'EV-uh-lin'). Now strongly a girl's — we note the lean.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningEvelyn began as an English surname (from the given name Aveline, likely 'desired; wished-for' or 'little bird'), historically used for boys as well as girls. Today it is strongly a girl's name; used here for a boy, we note the lean.

U.S. rank (2025)#9161 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1930

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,906

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Evelyn comes from an English surname, itself from the given name Aveline ('desired; wished-for'). It was historically unisex — diarist John Evelyn is a noted male bearer — but is now strongly a girl's name; used here for a boy, we note the lean (said 'EV-uh-lin').

For boys it appears only rarely in the U.S. today, against very heavy girls' use. Rare-for-boys, classic, and cross-sex.

Did you know? Evelyn was once given to boys too — writer John Evelyn is a famous male bearer — from a surname tied to Aveline ('desired'). Today it's strongly a girl's name, so here it's cross-sex, which we note (said 'EV-uh-lin').

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Evelyn — English surname/Aveline; historically unisex, now girl-leaning

Variations

EvelinEvelyneEveline

Nicknames

EvEvs

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Evelyn…

Emerson— a like historically unisex name

Ellis— a like soft surname-style pick

Everett— a like classic '-ev' choice

Madelyn— the same classic feel

Emersyn— shares the -yn ending

Explore names like Evelyn

By themeclassic cross-sex

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Evelyn mean?

Evelyn is from a surname tied to Aveline, likely 'desired; wished-for.' It was historically unisex.

How do you pronounce Evelyn?

It's said EV-uh-lin /ˈɛv.ə.lɪn/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Evelyn a boy or girl name?

Here Evelyn is used as a boy's name; it was once unisex but is now strongly a girl's name — we note the lean.

How popular is Evelyn?

Evelyn is very rare for boys in the U.S. today and very common for girls.