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Lynn

♀ Girl

Pronounced LIHN /ˈlɪn/Medium

Meaning: LakeMedium

In 30 seconds: Lynn is an English girl's name meaning 'lake'. It's a clean, one-syllable classic.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningLake
U.S. rank (2024)#2804 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births60 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1956
Total births (all-time)≈ 182,316

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195618802024

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

History & Origin

Lynn is an English name meaning 'lake'. Its variations, Lyn, Lynne, and Lynna, range from the same crisp single syllable to a softer two-syllable form. The watery meaning gives it a calm, natural association.

The name's simplicity has made it useful as both a given name and a middle name. The spelling Lynne adds a quiet, traditional flourish to the same sound.

Did you know? Lynn 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 - Lynn — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

LynLynneLynna

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Lynn Patrick (1912–1980)
    Hockey player, position LW, with the 1934-46 New York Rangers.
  • ★Lynn Swann (1952–present)
    Football player.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lynn mean?

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

How do you pronounce Lynn?

It's commonly said LIHN /ˈlɪn/.

Is Lynn a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Lynn?

In 2024, Lynn ranked #2804 in the U.S. for girls, with 60 births recorded.