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Lindsay

♀ Girl

Pronounced LIHN-zee /ˈlɪn.zi/Medium

Meaning: LakeMedium

In 30 seconds: Lindsay is an English name meaning 'lake', once a surname and place name that became a first name for girls and boys.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningLake
U.S. rank (2024)#1982 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births99 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1983
Total births (all-time)≈ 130,283

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198319162024

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

History & Origin

Recorded with the meaning 'lake', the name began in English usage tied to land and family before becoming a given name. Its spellings range widely, from Lindsey to Lyndsay and Lynsey, reflecting long and flexible use. That openness let it move easily across genders.

The two-syllable name has a soft, settled sound that suited its mid-century popularity. Bearers include Emmy-winning actress Lindsay Wagner of The Bionic Woman and Australian Olympic basketball coach Lindsay Gaze.

Did you know? Lindsay likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Lindsay — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

LindseyLinseyLyndsayLyndseyLynsey

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Lindsay Wagner (b. 1949)
    American actress; won an Emmy Award in 1977 for her title role in the TV series 'The Bionic Woman'.
  • ★Lindsay Gaze (b. 1936)
    Australian basketball player and coach; coached the Australian national men's team at four Olympic Games and was a Hall of Fame NBL coach.

If you like Lindsay…

Lindsey— The most common alternate spelling of the same name
Ramsey— A comparable English surname-style name with '-sey'
Kelsey— Shares the soft two-syllable surname-turned-given feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lindsay mean?

Lindsay is usually explained as meaning 'lake' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Lindsay?

It's commonly said LIHN-zee /ˈlɪn.zi/.

Is Lindsay a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Lindsay is used as a girl name.

How popular is Lindsay?

In 2024, Lindsay ranked #1982 in the U.S. for girls, with 99 births recorded.