Flynn

♂ Boy

Pronounced FLIN /flɪn/High

Meaning: Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname O'Flynn, meaning 'descendant of Flann', where Flann means 'red' or 'ruddy', referring to a red-haired ancestorHigh

In 30 seconds: Flynn is a crisp Irish surname-turned-given name meaning son of the red-haired one. Its one-syllable punch, Celtic roots, and modern surname-name appeal have made it a rising favorite for boys.

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Origin HighIrish Gaelic

MeaningAnglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname O'Flynn, meaning 'descendant of Flann', where Flann means 'red' or 'ruddy', referring to a red-haired ancestor

U.S. rank (2025)#828 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births299 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,677

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

Flynn is the Anglicized form of the Irish O Floinn (O'Flynn), derived from Flann, an Old Irish word meaning 'red' or 'ruddy-complexioned'. This referred to a red-haired ancestor, a common basis for Irish surnames. The O'Flynn family was historically prominent in Counties Cork and Roscommon. Flynn as a first name follows the surname-migration pattern common in both Irish-American and broader English-speaking culture.

Flynn gained traction as a given name in the English-speaking world in the 21st century, aided by the Pixar/Disney film Tangled (2010), in which the male lead is named Flynn Rider. The name's single syllable, Celtic charm, and surname-name appeal fit perfectly with contemporary naming preferences for boys.

Did you know? Actor Errol Flynn (1909–1959), the swashbuckling Hollywood star of the 1930s and 1940s, made the name synonymous with dashing adventure — giving rise to the phrase 'in like Flynn', meaning to be effortlessly successful.

Overall data confidence 93%

Behind the Name — Flynn — Irish Gaelic etymologyMacLysaght, E. — Irish Families — O'Flynn surname history

Variations

FlinFlinn

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Flynn Berry (fl. 2016–present)
Flynn Berry is an American novelist known for atmospheric psychological crime fiction, having graduated from Brown University and studied at the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. Her debut novel Under the Harrow (2016) — a psychological thriller set in rural England about a woman's obsession with solving her sister's brutal murder — won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America in 2017 and reached the New York Times bestseller list. She followed it with A Double Life (2018), Northern Spy (2021, acquired for a Netflix film adaptation), and Trust Her (2024), establishing herself as one of the most critically respected voices in contemporary literary crime fiction.
★Flynn Downes (born 1999)
Flynn Downes (born January 20, 1999, in Brentwood, Essex, England) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder, coming through the youth academy of Ipswich Town where he made his professional debut in 2017 before moving to Swansea City in 2021. He joined West Ham United in July 2022 and in his first season won the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League — the first major European trophy in West Ham's history — before joining Southampton on loan for 2023–24 and then permanently in 2024. A lifelong West Ham supporter, Downes has earned a reputation for tireless pressing and reading of the game at Championship and Premier League level.

If you like Flynn…

Finn— shares the Irish Gaelic origin and the same crisp one-syllable sound

Reid— same one-syllable, red-related meaning surname-as-given-name

Declan— fellow Irish origin with modern given-name appeal

Liam— same Irish heritage and modern popularity as a boys name

Explore names like Flynn

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Flynn mean?

Flynn comes from Irish Gaelic and means son of the red-haired one, from Flann meaning red or ruddy.

How do you pronounce Flynn?

It is said FLIN, one syllable.

Is Flynn an Irish name?

Yes — Flynn is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname O'Flynn and has clear Irish Gaelic roots.

Is Flynn a popular name?

Flynn has risen steadily in popularity in the U.S. and UK in the 21st century as a surname-style given name.